After a sickening 0-1 home loss to LA Galaxy last Friday, Orlando City SC now head to Montreal Impact away – a game Orlando City UK is attending live.
With the start of the 2019 CONCACAF Gold Cup meaning there is no Orlando City SC fixture until June 26 following this fixture, it’s important to head into the break with a positive result at Stade Saputo.
The way in which Orlando City SC threw away all three points to LA Galaxy was extremely difficult to take, especially considering the Carson side registered a single effort on target all game.
With Jonathan Dos Santos’ screamer agonisingly separating the sides at full-time, James O’Connor‘s Orlando City SC paid the ultimate price for no cutting edge in the final third and a lack of ruthlessness in front of goal.
We could’ve witnessed a different outcome altogether had Nani converted his 30th minute penalty kick that was saved by David Bingham who enjoyed an inspired night in goal for the visitors.
Orlando City SC had 19 attempts on Bingham’s goal but with just seven of these on target, each of Tesho Akindele, Nani and Chris Mueller never really looked convincing at any stage.
The Lions will now have to banish their demons from that game ahead of their trip to Quebec with Montreal Impact currently enjoying an impressive MLS campaign.
Rémi Garde suffered a slow start as Impact boss but the Frenchman has now stamped his authority on the Canadian side.
Adding key cogs such as Zakaria Diallo, Saphir Taider and Orji Okwonkwo, Montreal Impact still boast influential long time talisman Ignacio Piatti on the roster who struck a brace at Orlando City Stadium earlier this March.
Fortunately for the Lions however, the Argentine will miss this game following another setback in his recovery from a knee injury that will keep him out for a further two to three months.
Having scored 10 goals against Orlando City SC so far in MLS, Montreal Impact’s loss is a huge gain for the Lions.
It’s key that the Lions stay resilient and make this match a scrappy affair on a Stade Saputo pitch that has just fully recovered from winter’s snowfall.
With Sky Sports Football showing live coverage of Montreal Impact versus Orlando City SC, the original kick-off time of 21:00 (GMT) has been pushed back to 22:00 (GMT) so those wanting to watch part of the UEFA Champions League Final can do so.
GOOD NEWS 🙌🏽 | We’ll be at Stade Saputo providing in-game content but @impactmontreal 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC will be shown LIVE on @SkyFootball this Saturday night! 😁📺
Hopefully you guys can spot me & the travelling @RuckusOrlando on TV! 👍🏽#MTLvORL #FaceOfCity #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/8oMWxe2ia2
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) May 28, 2019
2015/19 head-to-head stats
Last facing each other at Orlando City Stadium in mid-March, Orlando City SC put in their worst performance of the season so far as Montreal Impact prevailed by a convincing 1-3 scoreline.
After encouraging battling displays against New York City FC (2-2) and Chicago Fire (1-1), James O’Connor‘s Lions were terribly off the pace in this game.
The fixture was effectively put out of reach as early as the fifteenth minute as a criminal Shane O’Neill short back pass handed Ignacio Piatti a free opportunity to round Brian Rowe and make it 0-2 to the away side.
Considering Orji Okwonkwo had put the Canadian side 0-1 up only a minute prior to this, Orlando City SC shot themselves in the foot and were punished ruthlessly.
With goalscoring nemesis Piatti adding a third Impact goal in the second-half, a stoppage time consolation strike from Dom Dwyer couldn’t bring any smiles to City supporters’ faces.
Orlando City SC 1 Montreal Impact 3 – Highlights – March 16, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
With double the amount of Major League Soccer victories to Orlando City SC, Montreal Impact are somewhat a bogey team for the Lions.
Undefeated in their last SIX league head-to-heads with Orlando City SC, the Quebec side have won FIVE of those games.
Last season’s two head-to-heads were contested back to back within just 10 days of each other as Rémi Garde’s side inflicted a damaging 3-0 loss on City at Stade Saputo on June 13.
To make matters worse, Orlando City SC drew another blank against Impact ten days later at Orlando City Stadium as a Lamine Sané own goal and Ignacio Piatti (him again!) strike handed the Canadian side a 0-2 victory.
Orlando City SC 0 Montreal Impact 2 – Highlights – June 23, 2018 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Since entering Major League Soccer in 2015, no single player has scored more league goals against Orlando City SC than Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti.
The 34-year-old Argentine has long been one of Major League Soccer’s top talents and the veteran striker has chalked up TEN goals against Orlando City SC over the past four-and-a-bit years.
His rich vein of form against the Lions had shown no signs of abating with EIGHT of these TEN goals being scored over his last FIVE MLS appearances against City.
Fortunately for Orlando City SC, his latest knee injury setback means he will definitely miss this encounter.
Montreal Impact form
Enduring a delayed start to the beginning of their home season due to winter’s snowfall in Quebec, Montreal Impact played their first game at Stade Saputo seven fixtures into 2019.
Performing admirably to pick up eight points on the road prior to their home opener against Columbus Crew (1-0), Rémi Garde’s side have won THREE homes games, drawn ONE and lost ONE so far.
Much has been made of the poor state of the playing surface at Stade Saputo following what winter left behind but these unfavourable conditions seem to have improved judging by its condition for Impact’s midweek game with Real Salt Lake.
The Lions are benefitting from just over one week’s rest compared to Montreal Impact who overcame Real Salt Lake 2-1 at Stade Saputo on Wednesday night thanks to goals from Omar Browne and Saphir Taider.
Montreal Impact 2 Real Salt Lake 1 – Highlights – May 29, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
A big difference in Orlando City SC‘s 2019 form is the fact we’re staying in games far more than we did last season.
Suffering heavy defeats on too many occasions in 2018, James O’Connor‘s Lions have only been defeated by more than one goal twice this season.
On the road, FOUR of Orlando City SC‘s last FIVE away league fixtures have been separated by one goal.
While this is no consolation for the fact we’ve lost four of our last five MLS fixtures, this particular Orlando City SC roster seems to be more resilient and headstrong than before.
Nevertheless, the Lions are truly lacking a ruthless and consistent centre forward to turnaround our narrow deficits with Orlando City SC currently over reliant on Nani to produce goals.
…
Don’t forget, Orlando City UK is attending this game live so stay tuned to our Twitter account throughout Saturday as we bring your pre-game, in-game and post-game content direct from Stade Saputo, Quebec.
NEW #OrlandoCityUK blog | If you haven't heard, we're taking in our FIRST @OrlandoCitySC away game at @impactmontreal next weekend! 😄🚌🇨🇦
READ 📕: https://t.co/eBHxYJ83BN#MTLvORL #FaceOfCity #OCSC #MLS pic.twitter.com/pwMH0y6NL3
— Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) May 25, 2019