(VERSION FRANÇAISE SUIT)
MONTREAL — Hugo Ruat scored the game-winner in the 73rd minute as the Sherbrooke Vert & Or stunned the McGill Redbirds 2-1 in RSEQ men's soccer action Sunday at Percival Molson Stadium, snapping McGill's seven-game undefeated streak and handing the Redbirds their first home loss of the season.
The setback ended McGill's 6-0-1 unbeaten run and dropped its home record to 4-1-0.
The result left McGill at 6-3-1, tied with UQTR (6-3-1) for second place in the seven-team Quebec conference. The Redbirds currently hold the head-to-head tiebreaker over the Patriotes, giving them the edge in the standings with two games remaining.
McGill can no longer catch the division-leading Montreal Carabins (8-0-2), who have clinched first place. The battle for second place and home-field advantage in the opening round of the playoffs remains undecided.
Sherbrooke, meanwhile, improved to 4-5-2 and kept its slim playoff hopes alive. The fifth-place Vert & Or can still catch fourth-place Laval (5-3-2), but would need to win their final game and have the Rouge et Or lose both remaining contests.
Sherbrooke opened the scoring in the 22nd minute when Etienne Tremblay pounced on a rebound and unleashed a high, arcing shot from 17 yards that glanced off the far right side of the crossbar and bounced down into the net at 21:21. The unassisted marker ended McGill's streak of four consecutive shutouts.
McGill responded just 68 seconds after the restart with a slick five-player passing sequence that culminated in a two-on-one give-and-go between Maher Fares and Nicholas Minchillo. Fares slipped the ball to Minchillo, who returned the pass into the box for an easy tap-in by Fares at 46:08, drawing the Redbirds even at 1-1.
Sherbrooke regained the lead in the 73rd minute on a five-player passing sequence that began with a throw-in. Victor Dolbec eventually received the ball on the left flank, made a nifty move past a McGill defender and delivered a pass across the box to Ruat, who was left unmarked near the right goalpost for an easy tap-in at 72:57. The goal stood as the winner.
McGill's comeback hopes suffered a further setback in the closing minutes when defender Renaud Fleury was shown a red card in the 85th minute. Substitute Gustave Therrien-Berry was also ejected in the 89th, leaving the Redbirds with just nine men for the final moments.
The Vert & Or held a 9-7 advantage in attempted shots and a 6-3 edge in shots on goal. McGill generated six corner kicks to Sherbrooke's three.
Goalkeeper Ludovyck Ciociola finished with four saves for McGill, while Sherbrooke's Jules Le Bail made two stops to earn the victory.
The physical contest featured six yellow cards and two red cards. Spencer Neil, Fleury and Samy Rzig were cautioned for McGill, while Matheo Giroux and Alexi Marier-Masse received yellow cards for Sherbrooke. Fleury received a second yellow and was subsequently sent off, along with Therrien-Berry..
McGill closes out its regular-season schedule with a visit to cross-town rival Concordia (1-9-0) on Oct. 23 before hosting Montreal on Oct. 25.
UQTR, which holds an identical 6-3-1 record, visits Sherbrooke on Oct. 23 before hosting Concordia in its season finale two days later.
The Vert & Or, meanwhile, need a victory over UQTR and help from elsewhere to remain in playoff contention. Laval finishes its schedule with a visit to Montreal on Oct. 23 and a home game against UQAM on Oct. 25.
SCORING SUMMARY
RSEQ STATS & STANDINGS
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SOURCE:
Earl Zukerman
Sports Information Officer
Athletics & Recreation
McGill University
CELL: 514-983-7012
E-MAIL:earl.zukerman@mcgill.ca
