After thumping rivals Atlanta United 4-1, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC head to Harrison, New Jersey to face Thierry Henry’s Montreal Impact.
The Canadian side currently call Red Bull Arena home due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. The Lions will be chasing another win to solidify a top four place and a home game seeding for the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
After going four games without a victory, Orlando City SC‘s emphatic 4-1 win over Atlanta United was ultra satisfying.
Not just because it was the Lions’ first home victory over The Five Stripes but the fact we bounced back after the Inter Miami loss.
This season, Oscar Pareja has not only instilled greater belief but mental toughness in this City roster too.
Undefeated at home and losing just three fixtures, the joint fewest in all of MLS, anyone facing Orlando City SC knows they’re in for a tough game.
In Daryl Dike and Chris Mueller, City have two potential future USMNT stars playing with supreme confidence right now.
Both scoring in the rout of Atlanta United on Wednesday, Mueller’s sensational free-kick helped Orlando City SC to a commanding 2-0 half-time lead.
With three regular season games remaining, it’s all about keeping performance levels high so we hit the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs in top gear.
Our next opponents Montreal Impact are only just clinging onto a post-season spot at the moment.
Currently in ninth place (23 points), just two points above eleventh-placed Inter Miami (21 points), Thierry Henry’s side desperately need all three points in this one.
The legendary former Arsenal striker has endured an average start to life as an MLS coach, and will know that his reputation is on the line in regards to playoff qualification.
Losing 0-1 at home to Nashville SC on Tuesday, the Quebec side will be hurting and it’s up to Orlando City SC to keep it that way.
Montreal Impact vs Orlando City SC – 2015/20 head-to-head stats
Orlando City SC have only faced Montreal Impact once this year – a memorable 1-0 triumph over the Canadian side at the #MLSisBack Tournament.
Meeting at the Round-of-16 stage in the bubble, a single goal by Canadian Tesho Akindele was enough to carry Oscar Pareja‘s side into the quarter-finals.
Orlando City SC supporters were only just starting to find out how mentally tough this Lions team is with 2020 getting better and better beyond this triumph.
Orlando City SC 1 Montreal Impact 0 – Highlights – July 25, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Including that 1-0 win over Montreal Impact at the #MLSisBack Tournament, Orlando City SC have faced the Quebec side 13 times in MLS.
We rarely get draws in this international MLS affair with Impact holding SIX wins to City’s FIVE.
Although we won’t be visiting Stade Saputo this year, the last time Montreal Impact hosted Orlando City SC was super memorable for Lions supporters.
A game Orlando City UK was lucky enough to attend live, James O’Connor‘s City side won 0-3 in a hugely convincing performance in Quebec.
Racing into a rare 0-3 first-half lead, Will Johnson effectively ended the contest with a diving header that followed a long passage of unchallenged Orlando City SC passing.
This was honestly like watching Barcelona’s tiki-taka at its best, so much so that even Matt Doyle couldn’t help but applaud, and I quote, a “gorgeous” play and our “best team goal” scored to date.
Montreal Impact 0 Orlando City SC 3 – Highlights – June 1, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
When Montreal Impact meet Orlando City SC, we usually get plenty of goals!
Besides the Lions’ aforementioned 1-0 victory at the #MLSisBack Tournament, there have been at least TWO goals scored in FOUR of the last FIVE league head-to-heads.
Fortunately for Orlando City SC, Ignacio Piatti is no longer an Impact player.
Missing for Impact in our 0-3 2019 triumph in Quebec, the Argentine helped inflict defeat on City in three consecutive MLS head-to-heads making up this streak.
- June 2018 – Montreal Impact 3 Orlando City SC 0
- June 2018 – Orlando City SC 0 Montreal Impact 2
- March 2019 – Orlando City SC 1 Montreal Impact 3
Despite no longer being in MLS, no single player has scored more league goals against the Lions than Montreal Impact’s Ignacio Piatti (10).
Montreal Impact form
It’s not been a happy relocation for Montreal Impact since they departed Stade Saputo for Red Bull Arena mid-season.
Playing in Harrison, New Jersey due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, Thierry Henry’s side haven’t adapted that well.
Winning only ONE of their FIVE games at the home of New York Red Bulls, Impact have drawn ONE and lost THREE in their temporary surroundings.
Their solitary win came three games ago against Inter Miami (2-1) with the Quebec side losing FOUR of their last FIVE league fixtures.
Montreal Impact 0 Nashville SC 1 – Highlights – October 27, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Orlando City SC form
Another amazing stat to demonstrate just how far Orlando City SC have come under Oscar Pareja this season!
Playing the role of protagonist, whether home or away, the Lions have scored the first goal in ELEVEN of their last THIRTEEN MLS fixtures.
With the exception games being the 0-0 draws at FC Dallas and Atlanta United, this shows you just how strong City have been out of the gate.
The last time Orlando City SC conceded the first goal in an MLS match was way back on August 26.
With David Romney giving Nashville SC a 0-1 lead at Exploria Stadium, a Chris Mueller equaliser and Daryl Dike brace sealed an impressive comeback win.