(Montreal) Who’s making shutouts at home and not waiting? Jonathan Sirois.
Intractable at home and ready to seize his chance. Those would be the appropriate terms to describe CF Montreal’s new number one goaltender. In fact, the jailer hasn’t allowed a single goal in his last 494 minutes at home, the equivalent of more than five games – we’ll get to that.
Still imperial in his surface, Sirois allowed the Impact to preserve the shutout. Thanks to his performance, the success of Chinonso Offor and a little help from the posts, the Montrealers won 1-0 against Inter Miami, Saturday night at Saputo Stadium.
Almost three months ago to the day, Sirois made his MLS debut. He came to replace James Pantemis, injured in a shoulder, in the first game of the campaign. It was precisely against Miami.
First, it’s a season that was meant to be transitional, noted Sirois during training camp. Parachuted into the starting role, he nevertheless forced Hernán Losada to keep him in net now that Pantemis is back.
His progress is notable, especially in the reading of the game of one who is in his first season in MLS. If his discounts are still to work on, he is reckless and above all very quick to react in his area, as he demonstrated by blocking a shot at close range a few minutes before Offor’s goal.
“I’m the same person, but with a few more games in my pocket”, he illustrated to explain the evolution of his performances.
“I’m a lot more comfortable on the pitch, more mature, I think I analyze things a lot quicker. I see actions more quickly. [But] I still have a long way to go to perfect all of that and be dominant in this league. »
It is this dose of humility, of “professionalism” as Hernán Losada mentioned, that helps Sirois never be satisfied even though he has established himself as one of the anchors of the team this season. .
This wisdom, we must remember, comes in his first season in MLS. However, if he says he is “very satisfied” with this first season, he is never satisfied.
Since Clement Diop took the job from Evan Bush, no goalkeeper has been able to establish himself as a starter for more than one campaign. It was in 2019.
Meanwhile, Diop, Pantemis and Sebastian Breza all caught fire at times, but came down to earth afterwards. Sirois has the background of a goalkeeper who is ready to leave a long-term impact. After two seasons on loan in the Canadian Premier League, including one where he was named the league’s top goaltender, he arrived here unassuming.
“I have to note the work of Romuald Peiser and Luca Bucci [the goalkeeper coaches], they are excellent. They’re doing a good job, not just with Jonathan, but with all the keepers. It is a collective work. We have not forgotten, this is his first season and his first games in MLS, and yet he is playing with a lot of confidence and with experience. »
Despite the busy schedule, multiple trips and cup matches, Sirois has established himself as a goalkeeper on which the club can build. In recent weeks, opportunities have arisen to send Pantemis into the fray, especially in the Canadian Championship, but Losada has a man of confidence and it is Jonathan Sirois.
Nevertheless, Sirois and the defense will have to do better on the road. After this victory against Miami, the Bleu-blanc-noir returned to winning ways at home in MLS after two successive failures on the road.
This season, the club have scored seven wins in eight home games in all competitions. On the road, it’s the opposite with two wins in nine outings. In short, it’s a bit like The Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, soccer version.
Sirois is more consistent.
Not only was the defensive midfielder in the right places defensively, but he was also able to project himself forward and be the attacking metronome. A performance on which he can build.
Not his kind of encounter. Entering in the 71st minute, he was taken off during stoppage time. This very vertical and aerial play didn’t quite suit him and his exit for Róbert Thorkelsson made more sense.
After 363 minutes without allowing a goal at home in MLS, Jonathan Sirois has written a new club record.
