Heroics from Jesús Bueno help the Union snap a six-game MLS slump at CF Montréal

After suffering through the worst start to a Major League Soccer season in club history, the Union picked up their first win of the season with a 2-1 victory over CF Montréal on Saturday afternoon.

Montréal held a 1-0 lead over the Union at Stade Saputo at halftime, but the Union scored two second-half goals to claim all three points in a 2-1 win.

Japhet Sery Larsen scored from a Milan Iloski free kick in the 55th minute to tie the game at 1, and Jesús Bueno scored the winning goal in the 70th minute.

Saturday’s win puts an end to a six-game league losing streak for the Union (1-6-0, 3 points) and gives the club its first win in its last seven matches across all competitions.

“Today was a performance of a team,” Union manager Bradley Carnell said. “I’m really happy for them … It just shows what it means now, going down to the locker room and just seeing the joy and relief on their faces. I know it’s only three points, but it’s a step in the right direction.”

Iván Jaime opened the scoring for Montréal (1-6-0, 3 points) in the 23rd minute, beating Andre Blake with a right-footed shot into the right side of the net after collecting a long ball forward from Efraín Morales.

There was a brief Video Assisted Referee (VAR) check before play restarted to see if Montréal committed a foul in the buildup of Jaime’s goal, but the goal stood.

The Union have conceded first in all seven of their league matches this season, and in six of those games, they have gone down before halftime.

The Union had some opportunities to draw themselves level after the goal. Iloski went for goal on a free kick from outside the 18-yard box, but his shot was straight at Montréal keeper Thomas Gillier. Frankie Westfield had a chance from the left side of the penalty area, but his left-footed shot soared wide right of Montréal’s net.

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Bueno nearly beat Gillier with a long-distance left-footed volley after the ball leaked out from a Union corner in first-half additional time, but Gillier dove to his right and pushed the ball wide of the net.

After eight minutes of first-half additional time, the Union entered the locker room at Stade Saputo down, 1-0.

Montréal had a chance to increase its lead from a corner kick in the 52nd minute, but Blake made a save on a close-range headed attempt at the near post to keep the deficit at one.

Sery Larsen tied the game for the Union in the 55th minute. Bueno earned a free kick on the right wing, which Iloski crossed into the 18-yard box. Sery Larsen made a well-timed run toward the near post and connected with Iloski’s pass, beating Gillier with a header.

“We’re really happy for [Sery Larsen]” Carnell said. “He’s got the buy-in of his teammates. He works every day. He’s communicating. He tries to bring the group together in ways that others maybe don’t. He has a few more experiences than others, and we have to tap into that a little bit more.”

With the Union still chasing for their first win of the season, Carnell made an offensive substitution in the 66th minute, swapping a midfielder for a striker. Ezekiel Alladoh came on for Ben Bender, who earned a start in midfield.

The change paid off for Carnell, as Alladoh played Bueno forward on his winning goal in the 70th minute. Bueno laced a right-footed shot past Gillier for his second goal of the season and his first in league play.

“[Bueno] plays with a lot of pride,” Carnell said. “He plays with a lot on the line, and he gives everything every single day. I’m really happy for Jesús … He was in the right spacing [in] the right moments.”

Alladoh, the striker who joined the Union for a club-record fee in December, made his first goal contribution in an MLS game with the assist.

Bueno’s goal gave the Union their first lead of the season, which they were able to hold onto until the final whistle. Blake finished with four saves to help seal the win for the Union.

“We’ve been close for so many games now,” Carnell said. “We finally got one over the hump.”

The Union will return to Subaru Park to face D.C. United on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

The match against United (2-3-1, 7 points) will be the only remaining Union game at Subaru Park in April. The Union will play back-to-back road games before returning to Chester to face Nashville SC on May 2.