An 80th-minute equalizer from Matia Coccaro helped CF Montreal secure a 1-1 Major League Soccer draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps on Saturday night at Stade Saputo. Brian White, with his fifth goal in the last three games, opened the scoring for Vancouver (9-7-4), while Coccaro’s marker capped off a second-half charge that helped Montreal (5-9-7) remain unbeaten at home in their last six games. “Sometimes it’s as if the guys pick one half where we’re not lacking and the other where we pay well, but I have faith that we can apply ourselves and start every half the same way,” said Montreal coach Laurent Courtois.
“If we can get into the half still at 0-0, then we’re in a great position to be positive.” The first chance came Vancouver’s way at the 20-minute mark when Fafa Picault found space in behind and sent a beautiful chip off the underside of the crossbar. The flanks would continue to be a problem area defensively for Montreal, leading to them conceding the opening goal from the left side.
After a lapse in concentration, a deflected cross from Ryan Gauld found an unmarked White at the first post, giving the visitors the lead. “I just think we needed to be closer together when we pressed, and I personally could’ve stayed wider to make sure that I can stay on Fafa and Lassi (Lappalainen) can stay more in the middle,” said defender George Campbell. “In the end I just think we need to press better as a collective, myself included.
” Montreal began .
