Failing at the first hurdle to defend our 2022 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup title, Tuesday’s really poor 1-0 cup elimination to Charlotte FC compounded already strong feelings of Orlando City SC downheartedness.
Also defeated 2-0 at CF Montréal last Saturday, the Lions have now lost four of their eight MLS fixtures. Each loss has been followed by a win in a super inconsistent run under Oscar Pareja who is now fighting to keep his job.
A disappointing campaign that has been frustrating for Orlando City SC supporters to comprehend, City actually started the first-half in convincing style at Stade Saputo.
The protagonist on a picturesque spring evening in Quebec, Orlando City SC popped the ball around with supreme confidence and composure – traits we haven’t seen too frequently so far this season.
All that was missing was a goal to show for our much-improved first-half efforts.
The best chances, albeit not clear-cut, fell to Iván Angulo, Martín Ojeda, and Facundo Torres.
CF Montréal’s Chinoso Offor, Sean Rea and Bryce Duke were inactive in a low key first-half from Hernán Losada’s men.
The first goal was always going to be key last Saturday.
Unfortunately for the Lions, it was the home side who grabbed it through fortuitous circumstances.
Shooting inside City’s 18-yard box, Aaron Herrera’s shot cannoned off Robin Jansson at high speed with the Swede absolutely powerless but to shrug his shoulders in frustration at this unfortunate own goal.
With Romell Quioto starting the game from the bench, the Honduran was always an ace up CF Montréal’s sleeve.
Quioto added the crucial cushion to the scoreline just four minutes after Robin Jansson’s own goal.
This strike completely took the game away from an Orlando City SC side who have been anything but free scoring this year.
They say football is a game of two halves, and the CF Montréal game was exactly that.
Unfortunately, Orlando City SC didn’t make their first-half domination count.
This only served to hand a lifeline to CF Montréal.
Hanging tough, they struck the vital second-half blows when they presented themselves.
With Orlando City SC also eliminated from the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 32 at Charlotte FC on Tuesday, City finish a tough three-game road streak with this visit to Lower.com Field to face Columbus Crew.
Wilfried Nancy’s Crew side were in U.S. Open Cup action themselves on Wednesday, defeating Loudoun United 1-5 to progress to the Round of 16.
Rotating their lineup for the cup, Crew’s last MLS game was a 1-2 home loss to Inter Miami on April 29.
Danger men Cucho Hernández, Darlington Nagbe, and Lucas Zelarayán are suitably rested having sat out their Loudoun United victory.
With the Inter Miami loss being Crew’s second MLS defeat in a row, the Ohio side currently sit sixth in the Eastern Conference but on the same points (14) as ninth-placed Orlando City SC.
Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 27, 2021: Columbus Crew 3 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
- April 16, 2022: Columbus Crew 0 Orlando City SC 2 (MLS)
- October 9, 2022: Orlando City SC 2 Columbus Crew 1 (2022 MLS Decision Day)
2015/22 head-to-head stats
- It was 2-1 to Orlando the last time the sides met (October 2022)
- Played Crew 17 times in MLS – Crew 6, Draws 3, Orlando 8
- Orlando have won 7 of the last 8 MLS head-to-heads
- Seven of the last 10 MLS head-to-heads have been separated by 1 goal
- Crew are undefeated in 4 of their 5 MLS home games so far this season
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Watching the game
Columbus Crew vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, May 14.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2023 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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