CF Montreal benefited from goals from Caden Clarke and Josef Martinez to claim a 2-0 win over New York City FC at Stade Saputo on Saturday night.
Thanks to this victory, the Montreal team secures participation in the MLS Cup playoffs by closing the regular calendar in eighth place in the Eastern Association. Laurent Courtois’ side will play a play-off match next Tuesday against Atlanta United, still at the Stade Saputo.
If Montreal wins over Atlanta, the team will then face Inter Miami in a best-of-three series in the first round of the playoffs.
Clark is glowing
While New York, generally Montreal’s bête noire, appeared to be in control of the contest in the early moments, it was Clark who opened the scoring in the 18th minute off an assist from teammate Bryce Duke.
It was the fourth goal in nine games with Montreal for the 21-year-old American, who arrived in the metropolis thanks to a transaction completed last August.
Clark wasn’t done: in the final moments of the first half, he served up a perfect pass to striker Josef Martinez, who doubled CF Montreal’s lead with a deft deflection (watch in the main video).
Montreal was then in the driver’s seat and knew how to stay in control throughout the second half as NYC FC tried in vain to get back into the game as best they could.
This is Montreal’s second playoff appearance in three seasons after a drought in that regard from 2017 to 2021.
