Atlanta United rout Montreal 3-0 to keep playoff hopes alive
Key takeaways
- Atlanta United beat CF Montreal 3-0 on Wednesday night in Montreal.
- Miguel Almiron, Giuliano Galoppo, and Breel Embolo scored the goals.
- The win kept Atlanta's playoff hopes alive. Montreal neared elimination.
Atlanta United beat CF Montreal 3-0 on Wednesday night. The game was at Saputo Stadium in Montreal. Miguel Almiron scored first.
Giuliano Galoppo added the second. Breel Embolo closed the scoring.
The win was Atlanta's biggest of the season by margin. It kept the club's thin playoff hopes alive. Montreal, in contrast, moved to the edge of elimination.
One more bad result ends their playoff race.
Atlanta controlled the night after a slow start. Montreal had the early ball. But Atlanta scored with its first real attack.
From there, the visitors never looked back.
What happened
Atlanta opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. Almiron shot from outside the box. The ball moved through traffic in front of goal.
It hit the near post and went in. The goal was Almiron's sixth of the season. Young defender Elias Baez and Galoppo set up the play.
Montreal had started well. The home side pushed early. Jalen Neal made a key block to stop an early scare.
Montreal held the ball with ease. But the team could not break into the last third. Atlanta then scored with its first trip forward.
The second goal came in the 42nd minute. Embolo headed at goal from close range. Goalie Sebastian Breza saved the first shot.
Galoppo pounced on the loose ball. He scored from close range. It was Galoppo's second goal in four games for Atlanta.
He plays for Atlanta on loan from River Plate. River drew 1-1 with Sarmiento on the same night.
The third goal came in the 60th minute. Almiron shot again. Breza saved the shot but could not hold it.
Embolo scored from the rebound. It was Embolo's second goal in seven games for Atlanta. He joined as a Designated Player in August.
Atlanta then went into cruise control. The visitors looked more likely to score a fourth than Montreal did to score one. Montreal's best chance came in added time.
Sub Olger Escobar hit the crossbar. Hennadii Synchuk also hit the post late. But Montreal never scored.
Goalie Lucas Hoyos made two saves for Atlanta. He earned his fourth clean sheet of the season. Breza made three saves for Montreal.
He has now made 45 starts for the club without a clean sheet.
Atlanta outshot Montreal 18-9. Atlanta led shots on target by 6-2. The numbers show a clear win.
Montreal missed star striker Prince Owusu. He was not in the lineup. The attack looked lost without him.
Why it matters
The win kept Atlanta alive in the playoff race. Atlanta now have 30 points from 29 games. The record reads 8 wins, 15 losses, and 6 draws.
The club sits in 14th place in the East. But it is only six points from the last playoff spot. The race is still open.
The win also showed real progress in attack. Atlanta scored only 14 goals in its first 15 games. The team has now scored 22 goals in its last 14 games.
New signings made the change. Galoppo and Embolo both scored on Wednesday. The attack looks fresh at last.
Montreal face the reverse story. The club has 24 points from 29 games. The record reads 6 wins, 17 losses, and 6 draws.
Montreal sit last in the East. They lost seven of their last eight games. They are on pace for the worst season in club history.
That is what TSN reported.
The loss also hurt Montreal's pride at home. The team led early but fell apart. Three goals came from loose balls in the box.
The defense could not clear the ball. Each goal came from a second chance. That is a soft way to lose.
The playoff race in the East stays wide open. Atlanta are 5-3-3 in their last 11 games. The form is strong.
If Atlanta keep this run going, they can close the six-point gap. The next game is huge.
See the LAFC playoff race story. For the Eastern race, see Inter Miami vs New York City FC on playoff night.
What happens next
Atlanta host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami on Saturday. That is the biggest test of the season. A win there would lift the playoff push.
A loss would hurt it badly. The home crowd will play a big part.
Montreal travel to Seattle on Saturday. They face the Sounders on the road. A loss there could end their playoff hopes for good.
The team must find a goal from somewhere. The attack has gone quiet at the worst time.
Atlanta's path is clear. Win games and chase the gap. Six points is a lot with few games left.
But the form gives hope. Three goals in Montreal show the attack can fire.
Montreal's path is almost closed. The team must win and hope for help. But seven losses in eight games show a team in free fall.
The season may end with a club record for the wrong reasons.
Saturday will tell us much more. Atlanta host Messi. Montreal visit Seattle.
Both games kick off the final push.
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