Whitecaps beat CF Montreal 2-0 to end regular season

The Vancouver Whitecaps closed the MLS regular season with a 2-0 win over CF Montreal on Saturday, securing second place in the Supporters’ Shield standings and leaving Montreal to end the worst season in its history.

Cheikh Sabaly scored in the 50th minute and Mihail Gherasimencov added a second in the 83rd at Stade Saputo, The Canadian Press reported. Vancouver, which finished 19-8-8, goes into the playoffs on the back of another clean sheet from goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka.

The first half was quiet. Both teams passed the ball around in long, harmless stretches and went to the break scoreless.

The second half began very differently. Sabaly and Noah Streit both hit the crossbar from point-blank range inside the first two minutes, and Rayan Elloumi forced a quick save from Montreal goalkeeper Samsy Keita.

Vancouver did not have to wait much longer. On the break, Sabaly got the ball in the penalty area, Keita saved his first shot, and Sabaly was first to the rebound and finished into the empty net.

Montreal had some positive moments after falling behind, but nothing that troubled Takaoka. Gherasimencov then sealed it in the 83rd minute with a finish from a difficult angle.

The result was the 14th time this season Montreal was shut out, according to The Canadian Press. The crowd was also uncharacteristically flat. Both of Montreal’s main supporters’ groups, Collectif IMFC and 1642MTL, announced they would not attend the club’s final two home games in any capacity.

The club’s off-field future is also in question. Owner Joey Saputo has put the team up for sale and has not ruled out a move, as we reported Monday.

For Vancouver, the finish caps a season in which it clinched the top seed in the MLS West for the first time and routed the Seattle Sounders 5-1 a week earlier. Centre back Ralph Priso joined Canada’s camp after the match and was to fly to Guatemala for the Concacaf Nations League quarterfinal series, as we reported when Jesse Marsch named his squad.

Vancouver’s playoff opponent and dates are set by the MLS bracket. Check back for the Whitecaps’ first-round preview once it is confirmed.

Via The Canadian Press and the Associated Press.

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