March 8, 2026; Harrison, New Jersey, USA; CF Montreal midfielder Bickelmann Carmona (16) celebrates with teammates after scoring a first-half goal against Red Bull New York at Sports Illustrated Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images Wiki Carmona scored a first-half goal and a brace against his former club as visiting CF Montreal beat the New York Red Bulls 3-0 on Sunday in Harrison, New Jersey.
Montreal has been underwhelmed in the first two weeks of the young season, losing to San Diego and Chicago by a combined 8-0.
Sunday’s match against a Red Bulls team that had won their first two games was expected to be much the same, but it was the hosts who lost early.
Montreal’s Ivan Jaime had the ball in the penalty box and was trying to block between two Red Bulls defenders when New York’s Justin Che nicked him enough to bring him down for the penalty kick.
Prince Owusu converted an eighth-minute penalty kick as Montreal became the final MLS team to do so this season.
New York responded immediately and in the 9th minute Emil Forsberg fired a shot from just outside the box, but Thomas Gillier saved wide of the goal.
In the 32nd minute of the first half, 17-year-old wonder Julian Hall, who scored three goals in New York’s two wins, fired a direct hit at Gillier.
Nine minutes later, Hall’s teenage teammates were nearly level. Adri Memeti’s header deflected a cross from a corner kick by Matthew dos Santos.
The Red Bulls claimed momentum and possession and looked to equalize in the first half, but once again Montreal’s quick response put New York behind.
Carmona, who has scored five goals for the Red Bulls over the last five seasons in MLS, was brought down outside the box on the right side by Jorge Rubalcaba in the 43rd minute.
Carmona opened Montreal’s account with the ensuing free kick. He sent a hard, low shot that was passed by Owusu, catching New York goalkeeper Ethan Horvath by surprise. The ball went inside the far post, and Montreal doubled their lead to 2-0 at halftime despite New York having a 67.1%-32.9% possession advantage over the first 45 minutes.
The Venezuela international doubled his tally in the game thanks to a poor decision by Horvath in the quick build-up at the back.
He threw the ball to Memeti, who lost possession, and Carmona finished to give Montreal a massive three-goal deficit.
The clean sheet is Montreal’s first since a 1-0 win over New York City FC in 17 league games on June 28 last year.
Gillier had five saves for Montreal and Horvath had one for the Red Bulls.
–Field level media
