CF Montreal continues poor start to MLS season, loses home opener 2-1 to Union

CF Montreal's Ivan Jaime (10) is upended by Philadelphia Union's Japhet Sery (5) during first half MLS soccer action in Montreal, Saturday, April 11, 2026. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

MONTREAL — Two Philadelphia Union goals in 15 minutes spoiled CF Montreal’s home opener at Stade Saputo on Saturday afternoon, with the 2-1 loss adding to their worst start in club history.

Japhet Sery Larsen and Jesus Bueno’s scored as Philadelphia (1-6-0) posted their first win of the Major League Soccer season.

Ivan Jaime opened the scoring for Montreal (1-6-0), which lost its fourth straight game. The club announced after the match that it would not have a post-game availability and had no other comments at this time.

Montreal appeared to have an early opportunity when Jaime was brought down in the Philadelphia box and a penalty was called. After video review, it was deemed that Union goalkeeper Andre Blake made contact with the ball and the penalty call overturned.

Over the next 10 minutes Montreal increased the pressure third through Jaime and Luca Petrasso, then Jaime capitalized on that momentum to score the opener in the 23rd minute.

After winning possession in the middle of the park, Efrain Morales sent a long ball to Jaime, who found himself in open space before coolly placing the ball into the bottom corner.

While Montreal opened the second half with renewed pressure and created multiple scoring opportunities, it was the Union who scored next. A total breakdown in defence left Sery Larsen all alone to get on the end of a free kick and head the ball past a helpless Thomas Gillier.

After the equalizer, the tempo of the game slowed significantly, as neither team committed many numbers forward. Philadelphia was the first to regain their edge, catching Montreal out from a throw-in and allowing Bueno to give the visitors their first lead of the season.

The final 20 minutes of play saw a frustrated Montreal side struggle to mount any kind of comeback, with the Union looking more likely to add a third than the hosts were to draw level.

Up next

Montreal: Will host the New York Red Bulls on Apr. 18.

Philadelphia: Will return home to face D.C. United on Apr. 18.


This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 11, 2026.

Elias Grigoriadis, The Canadian Press