New York Red Bulls defender Dylan Nealis and CF Montreal forward Raheem Edwards fight for the ball during the second half at Red Bull Arena. The teams tied 2-2 on July 17, 2024.Brad Penner/Reuters
Josef Martinez scored two second-half goals to help CF Montreal rally for a 2-2 tie with the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.
The game was delayed an hour 44 minutes at halftime because of thunderstorms in the area.
“We watched a little bit of video of the first half, during the weather delay,” Martinez said. “We have to be better because we conceded the first goal but the rain helped us a little bit.
“They pushed a lot in the first half. They were at home so obviously they are more confident but the weather helped us a little bit and you know, it’s soccer.”
Montreal (6-9-9) has three wins and just one loss in its last five games. New York (9-4-11) is unbeaten (with just one win) in seven consecutive games since a 1-0 loss to the New England Revolution on June 8.
Martinez capped the scoring when he converted from the penalty spot in the 81st minute. Jules-Anthony Vilsaint drew a foul in the area, conceded by Sean Nealis.
After video review, Nealis was shown a red card (denial of a scoring opportunity) in the 80th minute and the Red Bulls played a man down the rest of the way.
Wiki Carmona ripped a rolling shot from 25-yards out that slipped inside the post to give the Red Bulls a 1-0 lead in the 18th minute. The 21-year-old, in his fourth MLS season, has three goals this season, surpassing his career total of two coming into the season.
Matias Coccaro tapped a free kick from just outside the area to a near-by Martinez, who blasted a one-touch shot that ricocheted off Montreal’s Nathan Saliba into the net to make it 1-1 in the 67th minute.
Martinez’s goals were the 10th and 11th scored by a Montreal substitute this season, which set a club record.
“I think the fresh legs from Josef Martinez and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint coming on really open the game up for us,” winger Ariel Lassiter said. “I think that all the subs today really showed that they can be playing.
“That’s a really important point for us on the road, and getting a result here in New York is definitely not easy.”
Montreal’s Mathieu Choiniere, making his first appearance since May 29, re-directed a corner kick into the net for an own goal that gave the Red Bulls a 2-1 lead in the 75th.
The Red Bulls and Montreal also played to a 2-2 tie on June 19.
CF Montreal is at home to Toronto FC on Saturday. New York is on the road against Cincinnati.