New England vs Montréal: Overview

CF Montréal delivered a stunning 3-1 road victory against New England Revolution in their MLS clash at Gillette Stadium on Friday night, ending their four-match winless streak in emphatic fashion.

The electric atmosphere at Gillette Stadium quickly turned tense for the home supporters as the match unfolded in unexpected ways. Despite the Revolution taking an early lead through Tomás Chancalay in just the third minute, their defensive frailties were exposed once again as Montréal mounted an impressive comeback.

Prince-Osei Owusu continued his remarkable scoring form with an equalizer in the 9th minute, notching his 11th goal of the season and seventh in his last eight appearances. The visitors then seized control when Dante Sealy put them ahead in the 36th minute with a well-taken finish that silenced the Foxborough crowd.

New England pushed desperately for an equalizer but looked disjointed in their approach, extending their concerning winless run to nine consecutive matches. Their defensive woes were highlighted once more as Olger Escobar sealed the result for Montréal with a stoppage-time goal in the 95th minute, scoring his first goal in Montréal colors.

The result deepens the crisis for Caleb Porter's Revolution side, who have now conceded 21 goals during their nine-game winless streak and remain stuck in 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, Marco Donadel's Montréal team showed remarkable resilience just days after issuing an apology to fans for their season struggles. Despite this impressive victory, Montréal still faces an uphill battle, sitting 18 points adrift of the final playoff spot in the East.

This "New England Revolution" vs "CF Montréal" match showcased both teams' current trajectories in the MLS competition, with Montréal finding a much-needed confidence boost while New England's defensive and tactical problems continue to mount.

"This victory represents exactly what we've been working toward all season. The character shown by the players tonight, especially after conceding early, demonstrates the mentality we're trying to build. Prince [Owusu] continues to be a revelation for us up front, and I'm particularly pleased for Olger [Escobar] getting his first goal in our colors," said Marco Donadel, CF Montréal head coach.

"We're in a difficult moment, there's no hiding from that. Taking the lead early should have given us the platform to build, but our defensive organization broke down too easily. Nine games without a win isn't acceptable for this club, and I take full responsibility. We need to find solutions quickly," admitted Caleb Porter, visibly frustrated New England Revolution head coach.

"It felt great to contribute to this important win. We've been working hard despite our position in the table, and tonight everything clicked. The team showed great character to come back after conceding early," explained Prince-Osei Owusu after his impressive performance.

"The situation is extremely disappointing. We started well but lost our way after conceding the equalizer. As captain, I need to do more to help the team through this difficult period. The fans deserve better," stated Carles Gil, Revolution's captain.

"New England seems completely bereft of confidence at the moment. Their defensive structure is a major concern, and unless Porter can find a solution quickly, their season could be effectively over by August," analyzed Taylor Twellman, former Revolution player and current MLS analyst.

Possession: New England Revolution 57% - 43% CF Montréal

Shots: New England Revolution 15 - 12 CF Montréal

Shots on Target: New England Revolution 5 - 7 CF Montréal

Corners: New England Revolution 8 - 4 CF Montréal

Fouls: New England Revolution 10 - 14 CF Montréal

Yellow Cards: New England Revolution 2 (Polster 23', Yusuf 67') - CF Montréal 3 (Waterman 19', Loturi 54', Sealy 82')

Individual Performances:

• Prince-Osei Owusu (Montréal): 1 goal, 3 shots on target, 2 key passes
• Carles Gil (Revolution): 6 key passes, 89% pass completion, 2 shots
• Joel Waterman (Montréal): 8 clearances, 3 interceptions, 1 yellow card
• Leonardo Campana (Revolution): 0 goals from 4 shots, 2 on target
• Dante Sealy (Montréal): 1 goal, 2 shots on target, 3 successful dribbles

Despite New England Revolution dominating possession and creating numerous set-piece opportunities with their 8 corners, CF Montréal proved more clinical with 7 shots on target from their 12 total attempts. The "New England Revolution" vs "CF Montréal" statistics highlight Montréal's efficiency in front of goal, converting 3 of their 7 shots on target, while the Revolution could only manage 1 goal from their 5 shots on target. This clinical finishing proved decisive in the MLS encounter.

3' GOAL (1-0) - New England Revolution took an early lead when Tomás Chancalay found space at the far post to volley home a perfectly weighted cross from Carles Gil. The early strike sent Gillette Stadium into celebrations as the home side appeared to be starting with confidence.

9' GOAL (1-1) - CF Montréal responded quickly as Prince-Osei Owusu capitalized on poor Revolution defending to head home from close range following a well-delivered corner. His 11th goal of the season silenced the home crowd and highlighted New England's defensive fragility.

36' GOAL (1-2) - The visitors completed their first-half comeback when Dante Sealy broke through the Revolution defense after a quick counter-attack. His composed finish past goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič gave Montréal a deserved lead heading into halftime.

57' - Caleb Porter made a tactical adjustment, bringing on Giacomo Vrioni for Leonardo Campana in an attempt to provide more cutting edge in the final third. The Revolution shifted to a more direct approach.

73' - Crucial defensive moment as Joel Waterman made a goal-line clearance to deny Giacomo Vrioni what seemed a certain equalizer. The defender's 125th MLS start for Montréal was proving to be a memorable one.

82' - CF Montréal coach Marco Donadel made defensive reinforcements, introducing Fernando Álvarez to help protect their lead as New England increased pressure in search of an equalizer.

90+5' GOAL (1-3) - Any hopes of a Revolution comeback were extinguished when substitute Olger Escobar scored his first goal for Montréal with virtually the last kick of the game, securing an impressive away victory.

The "New England Revolution" vs "CF Montréal" timeline captured the key events that shaped this dramatic MLS match, with Montréal's clinical finishing and defensive resilience proving decisive throughout the contest.

This latest encounter between New England Revolution and CF Montréal adds another chapter to what has become an increasingly competitive regional rivalry in the Eastern Conference. Prior to this match, the teams had met 25 times in MLS regular season play, with New England holding a slight historical advantage (W11 D6 L8).

However, Montréal has now won three of the last four meetings between these sides, suggesting a power shift in this matchup. The Revolution's last victory against Montréal came in August 2023, a 4-0 home win that now seems a distant memory given their current struggles.

Key individual battles shaped the outcome of this match. The duel between Carles Gil and Montréal's midfield was particularly notable, with the Revolution captain creating numerous chances (6 key passes) but finding his teammates unable to capitalize. Meanwhile, Prince-Osei Owusu continued his dominance against New England, having now scored in both meetings this season.

Joel Waterman vs. Leonardo Campana represented another crucial matchup, with the Montréal defender making his 125th MLS start and effectively neutralizing Revolution's forward, who failed to find the net despite four attempts.

Tactically, Marco Donadel seems to have found a formula for success against Caleb Porter's system. Montréal's counter-attacking approach proved effective once again, with their disciplined defensive shape frustrating New England's possession-based style.

This "New England Revolution" versus "CF Montréal" confrontation demonstrated the contrasting trajectories of these MLS rivals, with Montréal showing greater resilience and tactical cohesion despite their lower league position. The psychological edge in this matchup now clearly belongs to the Canadian side.