June 14, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; CF Montreal interim coach Marco Donadel reacts during the first half against the Houston Dynamo at Shell Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Image After a rough start to the 2026 MLS season, CF Montreal will be aiming to bounce back quickly when they visit the Chicago Fire on Saturday.
Montreal (0-1-0, 0 points) opened its campaign with a 5-0 loss to San Diego FC last week. An early tally and a stoppage mark left Team Canada down 2-0 at halftime. Then a red card for off-season signing Thomas Aviles in the 50th minute led to a lack of performance for the rest of the game. San Diego scored two goals in 6 minutes immediately after Aviles was forced off, and added another goal in the 85th minute of the second half.
“It might be better to take a cold shower and get up right away,” Montreal coach Marco Donadel said. “We have to have the right mindset when we bring people down, but we have to give it our all to stay in the game and gain momentum from corners.”
Offense was also a problem last season as they only scored 34 goals. They have been kept clean sheet 12 times in 34 games and scored just once on 15 occasions. Montreal also had the second-worst goal differential in the league last season at -26.
Prince Owusu led the team in 2025 with a career-high 13 goals and 38 shots on target. Dante Sealy finished second with nine goals, but Montreal traded the forward to the Colorado Rapids.
The team had just two shots on target against San Diego.
Meanwhile, the Fire are looking to bounce back from a 1-0 first-half lead against Houston before falling to a 2-1 loss after 90 minutes.
“Game management is important,” said midfielder Anton Saletros. “We have to realize that football is a grown-up’s game. We can’t expect the first half to be the same as the second half, when we play and control it with good control. We have to realize that the game can change quickly, especially in this league, MLS. …
“Yes, you can be good on the ball and everything can be good in good times, but in difficult times you have to be a little stronger and read the game better.”
Chicago had six shot attempts in the game, including three on target. But all five of those attempts and three on goal came in the first half.
The Fire, who had one of the best offenses in MLS last season, scored 32 of their 68 goals at home.
–Field level media
