CF Montréal Secures 1-0 Victory Over New York City FC at Stade Saputo

CF Montréal earned a narrow 1-0 win against New York City FC in a Major League Soccer match played on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Stade Saputo in Montreal. The decisive goal came in the 18th minute when forward Prince Owusu redirected a cross from Matty Longstaff past New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese.

The victory improved CF Montréal’s position in the Eastern Conference standings and marked their second consecutive home win. New York City FC, despite creating several scoring opportunities, were unable to equalize and finished the match with ten men after defender Tayvon Gray received two yellow cards.

Match Summary

CF Montréal began the game with strong pressure, forcing New York City FC goalkeeper Matt Freese into early saves. In the 9th minute, Noah Streit tested Freese with a shot from outside the box, but the American goalkeeper gathered the attempt comfortably.

The breakthrough arrived in the 18th minute. Matty Longstaff delivered a cross from the left flank, which Prince Owusu met with a well-timed redirect inside the six-yard box. The ball slipped past Freese’s outstretched hand and into the net, giving CF Montréal a 1-0 lead.

New York City FC responded with increased aggression. Nicolás Fernández Mercau kept CF Montréal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier busy with a shot from the right side of the box shortly after the goal. Longstaff remained involved, setting up Victor Loturi for a shot from the edge of the area that narrowly missed the post.

Agustín Ojeda emerged as a consistent threat for New York City FC on the right wing. He received a diagonal pass from Kai Trewin, advanced past his marker, and delivered a dangerous cross that flew through Montréal’s six-yard box before being cleared.

Five minutes before halftime, Aiden O’Neill attempted a long-range effort that failed to trouble Gillier. The second half opened with a promising chance for New York City FC’s Maxi Moralez, who turned inside his defender and created space for a shot from a central position. Yet, his effort skewed wide of the target.

The match’s decisive moment came late in the second half when Tayvon Gray was shown a second yellow card for a reckless challenge, reducing New York City FC to ten men. Despite pushing for an equalizer, they were unable to break down CF Montréal’s organized defense.

Key Performances

Prince Owusu’s goal proved to be the difference, marking his continued impact as a key attacking option for CF Montréal. His movement and anticipation on Longstaff’s cross highlighted his importance to the team’s offensive setup.

Matty Longstaff was influential throughout, contributing both the assist and several dangerous forays down the left flank. His vision and delivery created multiple opportunities for CF Montréal.

For New York City FC, goalkeeper Matt Freese made several important saves to keep the deficit to one goal. Midfielder Keaton Parks and defender Arnau Farnós, who were introduced as tactical changes by head coach Pascal Jansen, provided energy in midfield but could not find a way past Montréal’s backline.

Looking Ahead

CF Montréal will next face Atlanta United on Saturday, May 2, 2026, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in an away fixture. New York City FC will look to regroup ahead of their next match as they seek to recover from the loss on the road.

The result underscores CF Montréal’s growing competitiveness at home and their ability to secure results through disciplined defending and timely attacking contributions.