D.C. United edge CF Montreal, maintain home success

Updated: May 17, 2023, 05:05 am

D.C. United continued their recent stretch of home success with a 2-1 win against a depleted CF Montreal squad on Sunday.

Behind goals from Andy Najar and Ola Kamara, D.C. won its fourth consecutive home game and improved its overall unbeaten run to five games.

Montreal is winless in its past five games, four of those results being losses.

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Already without several key starters out due to suspension, an hour before the match, Montreal announced that goalkeeper James Pantemis had entered COVID-19 protocol.

D.C. United tested Montreal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza, making his first MLS appearance, early and often.

A free kick landed right in his arms in the third minute. In the seventh minute, there was a diving save on Kevin Paredes to deflect the ball away from the net. In the 10th minute, Paredes was denied again with a straight-on shot, and five minutes later, Breza smothered a short-side shot by Paul Arriola, at the left side of the net.

Despite being outplayed, Montreal struck first in the 16th minute. Zachary Brault-Guillard attempted a cross from the right side that floated over goalkeeper Jon Kempin and into the net to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

D.C. tied it 1-1 when Najar headed in Julian Gressel's free kick in the 40th minute.

Sunusi Ibrahim came within inches of putting Montreal back on top in the 44th minute. Ibrahim had a wide-open net after drawing Kempin far out to play the ball, but his shot hit the outside of the right side of the net.

D.C. United again put the pressure on to start the second half, and the push paid off in the 54th minute. Kamara's shot from the top left of the box went far side on Breza, giving the home side a 2-1 lead.

Gressel nearly extended D.C.'s lead in the 67th minute from the right flank, but his cross attempt rolled through the goalmouth and out the other side.