CF Montreal Faces Daunting Task Against FC Cincinnati

After holding Kei Kamara and the Chicago Fire at bay on Saturday night, CF Montreal prepares to face the best team in the league, FC Cincinnati, on Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium.

“When we play at home the team plays better,” Losada said Monday morning at his media availability. “We hope that even if FC Cincinnati is right now the best team in the league we hope to have a good game but I am sure of it.”

The reason for their success is their two-star players in Luciano Acosta and Brandon Vasquez, who have wreaked havoc on the pitch with both scoring goals and leading their team to the top of the Eastern Conference standings.

“We want to do something that we already did eleven times this season, and it’s having a very good collective defensive shape, especially against a team that if you give them an opportunity they will put the ball into the back of the net.”

On the injury front Losada confirmed the only two players out are Robert Thorkellson and Aaron Herrera, who are out with their respective injuries while Sean Rea is back from dealing with a stomach bug that kept him out on Saturday.

“I think every opponent is different. We need to focus on Wednesday night, and we know our team is better at home. We just need to be a bit more efficient than on Saturday.”

The media also got to talk to Joel Waterman and George Campbell ahead of the big game on Wednesday night.

“I think we can beat anybody at home right now,” Waterman said in his opening answer. “We have done really well at home keeping clean sheets and making sure everyone is on the same page and we are up for the challenge.”

Waterman was asked what makes Luciano Acosta so dangerous and the best way to keep him off the scoresheet.

“His skill, his vision, his movement off the ball, and his ability to create space, score goals…he basically does it all and he’s one of the best players in the league. We need to keep him at bay and not give him space so it will be a massive challenge.”

George Campbell was asked if the fact CF Montreal has beaten teams that were ranked higher than them if it gives them any confidence going into Wednesday night.

” Absolutely,” Campbell responded. “We have full confidence in our team, especially at home to try and get a win and we need to push for the three points.”

I had a chance to ask Campbell what is going to be the biggest challenge facing players like Acosta and Vasquez.

“I think it’s about communicating, staying in our positions, and once we are organized and especially at home. Hopefully we can score the first goal and contain everybody.”