CF Montreal is eagerly preparing for their match against D.C. United this Saturday evening at Audi Field, aiming to break their troubling streak of three consecutive losses to open the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season. Montreal, currently standing at 0-3-0 with no points, faces considerable pressure as they look to secure their first victory.
The season has been tough for CF Montreal, starting with their opener against Atlanta United, where they fought back from being down twice but eventually succumbed to a 3-2 defeat. This was followed by two more losses, first with no shots on goal resulted in a 1-0 loss to Minnesota United and then another setback, falling 2-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps. Despite the rough start, midfielder Caden Clark stressed the need to move past these challenges. "Half your season's on the road, so you can't have half your games (where) you're not playing your style," he said. "So we need to figure out a formula and a way to push forward."
Meanwhile, D.C. United enters this match with positive momentum. Currently holding a record of 1-0-2 and five points, D.C. United picked up their first win of the season last weekend with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Sporting Kansas City. Notably, Christian Benteke has struck gold, scoring consistently through the first three games, which D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne considers pivotal. "Christian is our focal point. He is our guy. We want him to fill it up, and through three matches, he's been able to start off pretty well," Lesesne commented.
The importance of maintaining possession was also cited by Lesesne, who mentioned past struggles when giving away opportunities to the opposition. "We haven't been generous; when we give opportunities away, we've been punished. We need to eliminate those moments to exceed mere goal creation, achieving clean sheets we have been lacking," he added.
Looking at their prior season, both teams faced challenges, with D.C. United boasting a 10-14-10 record overall, finishing with 4 wins and 8 losses at home. Their goal tally of 52 came with a negative differential, underlining their need for solid defensive play alongside effective scoring. Conversely, Montreal concluded their previous campaign at 11-13-10, finding themselves particularly vulnerable on the road, only winning three of their final 17 away matches.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. EDT tonight, with CF Montreal hoping their curses break at the hands of D.C. United. The match is integral not only for securing their first points of the season but also for building momentum among players hard-pressed to adapt . Unfortunately for both teams, injuries have been impacting their rosters. D.C. United will be missing several key players, including Hakim Karamoko and William Conner Antley. With CF Montreal also facing difficulties, names like Hennadiy Synchuk and Caden Clark will be absent.
This highly anticipated match not only sets the tone for both teams as they navigate the tricky waters of the new season but also emphasizes the stakes each side faces: D.C. United will fight to keep their unbeaten run intact, and Montreal seeks redemption, aiming to turn their fortunes around against the odds. With much at stake, the atmosphere at Audi Field promises to be charged with excitement and tension. Whatever the outcome, it's clear this match means more than just points on the table.