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Gameweek 25 proved to be absolutely huge for Orlando City SC with Kaká‘s brace enough to overcome 2015 expansion rivals New York City FC 2-1 in a must-win encounter.

Prevailing in torrential conditions at Camping World Stadium, the Lions now face an away trip to Quebec to take on Montreal Impact on Wednesday night with just seven games remaining thereafter.

In another boost for Orlando City SC, Gameweek 26 kicked off in the best possible fashion as well with New York City FC defeating MLS Cup Playoff qualification rivals D.C. United 3-2 at Yankee Stadium last Thursday.

Heading into the international break, that result left Ben Olsen’s D.C. United only just above the line on 32 points (27 played) and Orlando City SC just a point beneath them (31 points, 26 played) but crucially with a game in hand.

That said, New England Revolution are hot on the Lions’ tail again (30 points) having defeated Colorado Rapids 2-0 at the weekend but Jay Heaps’ men have played two games more (28 played) than City at present.

Considering Jason Kreis‘ men are yet to face D.C. United with two meetings scheduled across September and October, it could well prove to be a dramatic finish with both sides meeting at Camping World Stadium on the final day of the 2016 regular season.

But for now, Orlando City SC travel to Montreal Impact with renewed confidence and with Jason Kreis having now grabbed his second victory in charge of City, he’s also made the Lions more of a difficult side to beat when playing on the road.

Orlando City SC can also take heart from the fact they’ve got the better of Mauro Biello’s Montreal Impact on the last two occasions the sides have faced one another with City taking a liking to 2-1 victories over the Canadians at home.

But what about the other stats heading into this international encounter? Scroll down to reveal all!

2015/16 head-to-head stats

As already discussed at the outset, Orlando City SC enjoy positive memories from the last time they faced Montreal Impact.

Running out 2-1 victors when facing Mauro Biello’s men at Camping World Stadium back in May, a brace from the ever dependable Cyle Larin sealed the deal.

All the more impressive considering the Lions were immediately caught on the back foot when the prolific Ignacio Piatti put Impact 0-1 up in just four minutes.

Not only that but Cyle Larin‘s comeback winner was registered late, late on in the 87th minute sending both Adrian Heath and The Wall into ecstasy following a six-game winless streak!

Orlando City SC 2 Montreal Impact 1 – Highlights – May 21, 2016 (Credit: Major League Soccer)

We’re still very early on into Orlando City’s Major League Soccer journey of course but thus far, the Lions have got the beating of Montreal Impact in league play.

Registering two victories to Impacts’ one while playing out a 2-2 draw in their first ever league meeting at Montreal’s Olympic Stadium back in March 2015, this psychology will prove important heading to Stade Saputo this time.

That said, Orlando City SC are yet to achieve a victory at the Canadian venue so here’s hoping a little history can be made this time around.

Cyle Larin has scored against all three Canadian teams in Major League Soccer to date with the 21-year-old scoring THREE goals over the course of the last TWO meetings with Montreal Impact.

The unfortunate news however is that somebody else will have to come up with the goals on Wednesday night with Larin still on midweek international duty with Canada.

Registering that fantastic brace against Mauro Biello’s men last time out at Camping World Stadium, the 2015 MLS Rookie of the Year also opened the scoring in October 2015’s must-win 2-1 triumph over Impact in Central Florida.

Forget star man Didier Drogba who has fortunately missed a lot of game time against Orlando City SC so far!

It’s actually Dominic Oduro who has proved a thorn in the Lions’ side in games gone by.

The one-cap Ghanaian international has actually scored in TWO of the last THREE meetings between the sides with the 31-year-old registering in Impact’s 2-1 loss to City in October 2015 while also striking late in stoppage time to hand the Canadian side a 2-0 victory back in June 2015.

Dominic Oduro makes it Montreal Impact 2 Orlando City SC 0 – June 20, 2015 (Credit: Impact de Montréal)

Montreal Impact form

With the games running out for Orlando City SC, it is absolutely crucial that Jason Kreis‘ men continue to pick up points from every single one of their eight remaining fixtures.

The good news for City is that Montreal Impact have stuttered in their two last home fixtures at Stade Saputo.

Surprisingly trounced 0-3 by Eastern Conference basement boys Chicago Fire back on August 20th before tying 1-1 with D.C. United just four days later, Orlando City SC will look to cash in on this form.

That said, Mauro Biello’s men should be brimming with confidence having defied the odds to overcome principal rivals Toronto FC at BMO Field 0-1 last time out, made all the more impressive considering they achieved that feat with just 10 men!

Toronto FC 0 Montreal Impact 1 – Highlights – August 27, 2016 (Credit: Toronto FC)

Orlando City SC form

As we all know, July 2016’s crushing 4-0 defeat away to FC Dallas was the straw that broke the camel’s back in regards to Adrian Heath‘s Orlando City SC reign.

However, an interesting observation is that in the FIVE City away games played since that forgettable night in Frisco, Orlando City SC have only lost one fixture.

That was under interim head coach Bobby Murphy at New York Red Bulls (2-0) in July 2016 but since then, Murphy earned TWO draws at Vancouver Whitecaps and Columbus Crew while Jason Kreis then oversaw draws at Chicago Fire and Colorado Rapids.

Definitely becoming harder to beat on the road, these points would be considered even more admirable if we hadn’t drawn so much at home but nevertheless, it’s definitely an improvement.

This Orlando City SC stat just isn’t disappearing any time soon!

A theme underpinning the entire 2016 campaign, the simple fact of the matter is that Lions fixtures always produce goals and plenty of them!

With the exception being that rare 0-0 away draw against Colorado Rapids back on August 20th, the 2-1 victory over New York City FC last time out now means there’s been OVER 2.5 GOALS scored in SEVEN of our last EIGHT MLS fixtures.