Dante Sealy scored a stunning free-kick goal in the first half and completed his brace in the second half as CF Montreal coasted past host 10-man Charlotte FC 4-1 on Saturday evening.
Fabian Herbers and Prince Owuso also scored for Montreal (6-17-9, 27 points), who snapped a two-match losing streak while ending a three-match overall winless streak (0-1-2).
Charlotte (17-13-2, 53 points) has now lost back-to-back matches a week after its nine-match winning streak came to an end. The loss also stopped its six-match home winning streak and eight-match unbeaten streak (6-0-2) at Bank of America Stadium.
With Charlotte FC up 1-0 in the 20th minute, Adilson Maildana was sent off after video review determined he had prevented an obvious goal-scoring opportunity.
Montreal ultimately cashed in with the man-advantage in the 41st minute, as Sealy laced a free kick just underneath the crossbar past Charlotte goalkeeper Kristijan Kahlina. It was Sealy’s seventh goal of the season.
Montreal then took the lead less than 10 minutes into the second half, as Luca Petrasso’s delivery into the box was met with a perfect diving header by Herbers to make it 2-1. It was Herbers’ first goal of the season.
Sealy added his second of the match — and eighth of the season — in the 86th minute, powering one past Kahlina just inside the box.
Owusu capped the scoring in the 90th minute, upping his team-high total to 13 goals.
Charlotte’s lone goal came in the 10th minute through Wilfried Zaha, his eighth of the season.
Montreal enjoyed a significant statistical advantage as it played much of the match 11-versus-10. It held an 18-6 edge in shots, putting nine of its shots on frame to Charlotte’s one.
Kahlina ended the night with five saves for Charlotte. Montreal’s Thomas Gillier finished with zero saves.
Charlotte lost at home for just the second time all season and for the first time since May 17, a 4-1 defeat against the Chicago Fire.
Montreal improved to 3-8-4 on the road.
–Field Level Media
