CF Montreal matched their season high for goals in Saturday’s 3-2 home win over Austin FC on Saturday.
Hennadii Synchuk, Dante Sealy and Prince Owusu each scored for CF Montreal, who won for just the second time in 14 home matches (2-7-5) this season.
Montreal (5-15-8, 23 points) is one of the lower-scoring teams in MLS, while Austin FC is one of the league’s top defensive clubs. However, CF Montreal became just the third club this season to collect at least three goals against the Verde.
The loss snapped Austin’s five-match (2-0-3) unbeaten streak in MLS regular-season play, and cost the Verde an opportunity to improve their playoff standing. Austin FC (9-9-8, 35 points) are still over the playoff line, but only in a play-in position in the Western Conference.
Myrto Uzuni and Owen Wolff each scored their fourth goals of the season for Austin. All four of Wolff’s goals have come in his last five matches.
Synchuk’s first MLS goal opened the scoring in the ninth minute. The 19-year-old received the ball in the middle of the field, and some light defending from Austin FC allowed Synchuk plenty of space in front of the box to bury a left-footed shot.
The Verde did little on attack in the first half until Uzuni converted a close-range header for the equalizer in the 40th minute.
Three minutes into first-half stoppage time, Sealy restored CF Montreal’s lead. A beautiful passing play sent the ball down the field to Dawid Bugaj on the near wing, and Bugaj sent a perfect cross to Sealy in front.
It was Sealy’s fifth regular-season goal, and his third in his last four matches. The only Montreal player on a bigger roll is Owusu, whose 67th-minute penalty kick was his eighth goal in his last 11 matches.
The penalty kick was awarded due to a poor challenge from Mikkel Desler, who committed a handball foul in the box on a Synchuk corner. Owusu made Austin pay with a stutter-step move on goalkeeper Brad Stuver to convert the kick.
Owusu’s insurance goal was critical, as Wolff’s 77th-minute tally on Uzuni’s assist narrowed Austin’s deficit.
Stuver and Montreal’s Thomas Gillier each made four saves.
–Field Level Media
