Ruan scores with header as CF Montreal beats Atlanta United 1-0

MONTREAL — Brazilian winger Ruan scored in the 51st minute and CF Montreal beat Atlanta United FC 1-0 in Major League Soccer on Saturday night.

Raheem Edwards sent a perfectly-weighted cross towards the far right post before Ruan headed the ball across goal and into the net as a sellout crowd of 19,619 fans at Stade Saputo erupted.

Montreal (6-9-8) extended its unbeaten home streak to seven games, earning its third victory in that stretch.

The victory allowed Montreal, which was 11th in a very tight Eastern Conference, to take a two-point lead over Atlanta in the standings.

Atlanta (6-11-6) found itself down to 10 men in the 55th minute when Stian Gregersen was shown a red card with his second yellow of the night drawn by Ruan.

The visitors lost their fourth straight game in all competitions, including a surprise 2-1 defeat to lower-tier Indy Eleven in the US Open Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday.

Despite a one-man lead, Montreal struggled to put the game out of reach.

Atlanta winger Saba Lobjanidze made a nice run in the 70th minute and nearly deflected a shot from Montreal’s Joaquin Sosa, but his shot was blocked.

Josef Martinez and Ruan had consecutive golden chances to end the game in the 75th.

Substitute Mason Toye passed to Martinez, who was wide open in the middle of the box, but Atlanta goalkeeper Brad Guzan stopped the Venezuelan forward. The ball fell to Ruan, who had a gaping net, but he sent his ball over the net.

Jules-Anthony Vilsaint created a chance after coming on as a substitute. He beat his defender on the left flank to attempt a counter-attack, but Guzan closed the door again.

In the final minutes, Vilsaint tried a counterattack again. This time, he passed the ball to Toye, who sent a shot at goal that Guzan deflected over the bar.

Montreal dominated play in the first half, holding 65 percent of the possession and attempting nine shots (three on target) to Atlanta’s one.

The home side piled on the pressure early on when Ruan sent a ball into the box which Kwadwo Opoku almost got his foot on in the second minute.

In the 20th, Ariel Lassiter intervenes from the left flank for a low shot stopped by Guzan.

Montreal continued to control the ball while patiently waiting for an opening.

Edwards created a chance in the 33rd minute that was Montreal’s best chance of the first half. He turned on the left side of the box to shake off a defender, but Guzan made a solid save on his shot toward the top corner.

A few minutes later, Martinez set up Lassiter with a chance on the edge of the box that went wide. Lassiter fouled the play, which led to a dangerous free kick from Martinez that also missed the net as Montreal continued to press.

FOLLOWING

Montreal: Visit the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday.

Atlanta: Hosts New York City FC on Wednesday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 13, 2024.

Daniel Rainbird, The Canadian Press