CF Montreal supporters shame team after 3-0 loss to Atlanta United

Explainer

CF Montreal suffered a 3-0 home defeat to Atlanta United on Wednesday night, a result that prompted angry supporters to hold up a sign reading "Shame on you" and confront the head coach after the match. The loss leaves Montreal with a record of 6-17-6 and on pace to have the worst season in club history. Miguel Almiron, Giuliano Galoppo and Breel Embolo scored for Atlanta, which improved to 8-15-6. Head coach Philippe Eullafroy met with the Collectif IMFC supporters' group for a heated exchange following the final whistle.

Eullafroy acknowledged the internal frustration after the game. "There’s a feeling, even internally, that some have given up. For professional athletes, giving up on a competition is unacceptable," he said. The coach described his post game meeting with the supporters as a very animated and passionate discussion. "At my core, I’m an ultra, and I’m a fan of this club," Eullafroy said. The loss followed a late collapse against Toronto FC on Saturday, which saw Montreal surrender a lead and three points to their bitter rivals.

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How did the match unfold?

Montreal controlled the early stages of the game after an early scare that required a desperate block from defender Jalen Neal. The team struggled, however, to create dangerous chances in the final third of the pitch. Atlanta opened the scoring with its first meaningful venture forward. Almiron was left unmarked at the top of the penalty area and finished a broken play, sneaking a low shot past goalkeeper Sebastian Breza off the right post and into the net. Defender Brendan Craig said the team started poorly. "We came out flat, and honestly I don’t understand why; it’s not like we haven’t played (midweek games) before," Craig said.

The situation worsened for Montreal just before halftime. After the team failed to clear a set piece on three occasions, Galoppo pounced on a loose ball from close range to double Atlanta's lead. The third goal came at the hour mark following more disorganization in Montreal's penalty area. A failed clearance and an uncleared rebound allowed Embolo to score from just a few feet away. After that, Atlanta managed the game comfortably as Montreal offered little fight back. Substitute Olger Escobar had Montreal's best chance for a consolation goal in stoppage time, but his shot hit the crossbar.

What did the players and coach say about the performance?

Defender Brendan Craig called the performance embarrassing. "It’s tough when we conceded because it almost feels like we don’t have enough to get back into games at times. Today was quite frankly embarrassing," he said. Head coach Philippe Eullafroy pointed to a lack of willpower as a central issue. He did highlight the effort of substitutes Hennadiy Synchuk and Olger Escobar as a rare positive. "If there was one good thing, it was the effort and level given by (Hennadiy) Synchuk and Escobar, who came in and did what they could to change the match in any way," Eullafroy said.

Despite the bleak outlook, Eullafroy said he would continue to believe in his team. "I may be a bit naïve, but I’ll believe until the end. Willpower and desire are some of the most important criteria. The will to win for the team and for the club," he said. The coach's comments followed a visibly heated exchange with members of the Collectif IMFC, the supporters' groups located behind the west goal at Stade Saputo who displayed the "HONTE À VOUS" sign during the match.

What does this loss mean for Montreal's season?

The 3-0 loss puts CF Montreal on a path to finish with a worse record than last season, which currently stands as the worst campaign in club history. The team's record of 6-17-6 leaves them with 24 points from 29 matches. The defeat extends a negative trend that began with a late collapse against Toronto FC just days earlier, a match where Montreal threw away a lead and three points. The performance against Atlanta reflected a sentiment that the season has taken a darker turn, with players and coaches alike citing a lack of fight and embarrassing errors.

The reaction from the club's most vocal supporters was immediate and stark. The Collectif IMFC, an agglomeration of supporters' groups, made their displeasure clear with the "Shame on you" banner. Their post game meeting with Eullafroy showed the depth of frustration surrounding the club. With the season progressing, Montreal's efforts to change course have so far proven insufficient. As Eullafroy noted, the team's efforts against Atlanta were too little and too late.

With files from The Canadian Press, Sportsnet and TSN