Dominic Iankov scored the tiebreaking goal in the 89th minute and Ruan added insurance three minutes later as CF Montreal recorded a 4-2 victory over the visiting Philadelphia Union on Saturday night.
Bryce Duke had a goal and an assist and Josef Martinez registered his 108th career goal for Montreal (5-8-7, 22 points), which snapped a four-match winless streak (0-1-3).
Quinn Sullivan and Jesus Bueno scored goals for Philadelphia (4-8-8, 20 points). The Union dropped their fourth consecutive match and are winless over their past seven (0-4-3).
Montreal’s decisive goal was set up by Raheem Edwards, who delivered a pass to Iankov, and the latter kicked it past Philadelphia goalkeeper Andrew Rick. It was Iankov’s second goal of the season.
Then Montreal put the match away when Ruan got the ball on the doorstep of the net and knocked it past Rick for his first goal of the season.
Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois made three saves, while Rick had two.
CF Montreal outshot the Union 14-8 and put six attempts on target to Philadelphia’s five.
Union leading scorer Daniel Gazdag (10 goals) entered the match in the 62nd minute but only took one shot. He just returned to the team after missing three matches while playing for the Hungarian national team.
Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute when Sullivan’s right-footed shot hit the left post and caromed into the net. It was Sullivan’s second goal of the season.
Montreal knotted the score seven minutes later on a corner kick. Duke sent a boot toward the goalmouth, and Martinez jumped up and ferociously smacked a header into the net. It was his third goal of the season.
Philadelphia took a 2-1 lead in the 41st minute in a scramble situation following Leon Flach’s corner kick. The ball went toward the right corner of the net, and Bueno knocked it past Sirois.
CF Montreal tied things in the 56th minute on another freak play. Duke took a free kick and sent a right-footer into the box toward Martinez, but it sailed over the forward’s head.
Rick was focused on Martinez and jumped to try and thwart any attempted header. But the ball went to his right with a direct path to the net. Philadelphia’s Jack Elliott gave chase and was unable to clear the ball, giving Duke his second goal of the season.
–Field Level Media
