After a short, breathless, and exciting off-season of refreshment, anticipation fills the air as Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC kick off the 2024 Major League Soccer campaign.
Starting at home for a tenth consecutive MLS season, City open against CF Montréal (just like we did in 2022) after our crushing 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs defeat to Columbus Crew back in November.
2024 ambitions and new arrivals
Orlando City SC‘s mission this year is to be a top four seed in the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs before winning MLS Cup – plain and simple.
Falling two games short of appearing in 2023 MLS Cup, our Eastern Conference Semi-Final defeat to Columbus Crew (0-2 A.E.T.) stung on so many levels – notably the sliding doors moment of Rodrigo Schlegel‘s reckless red card at 0-0.
The pain that players, supporters, and ownership felt that night should fuel City to go even further this year.
In all my years watching Orlando City SC in Major League Soccer, Oscar Pareja‘s class of 2023 genuinely felt like a roster that could go all the way to lifting MLS Cup as second seed, given our subsequent home field advantage last year.
Even MLS pundits were starting to agree!
For me, ripping up the Oscar Pareja era and starting fresh would’ve been a mistake.
So the fact that Papi extended his contract in December with continuity in terms of coaching staff, this should help us go even deeper in the post-season.
Don’t get me wrong; this is not a formality.
Especially with longtime Lions and locker room leaders Antônio Carlos, Mauricio Pereyra, and Júnior Urso having all departed this winter.
Nevertheless, with the personnel that remains, we should have more than enough to have another tilt at 2024 MLS Cup.
In Pedro Gallese, Orlando City SC have, for me, the best goalkeeper in all of Major League Soccer.
Then there’s Robin Jansson, our newly appointed club captain, our Orlando City UK ‘Player of the Year’ for 2023, and a player harshly not named a 2023 MLS Defender of the Year finalist.
In Facundo Torres – now under contract through 2026 and our new #10 – Orlando City SC have a mercurial talent and a player who is entering his prime, ready to improve upon his 14 MLS regular season goals and four assists last year.
Then there’s Duncan McGuire, now back in Central Florida after his Blackburn Rovers loan move collapsed and ready to make a difference at the sharp end of the pitch – for the next six months at least.
Add in the permanent arrivals of Iván Angulo and Wilder Cartagena, not to mention new boys David Brekalo, Nicolás Lodeiro, and Luis Muriel who will all bring experience, leadership, and a winning mentality to our locker room, and Orlando City SC are looking good for 2024 – at least on paper.
Even if adversity comes our way, just like it did with our inconsistent start to 2023, Oscar Pareja has proved time and again that he is more than capable of reversing poor form and righting the ship.
Of course, should we reach the post-season again, the microscope will be cast on Orlando City SC and our tendency to become overly emotional in the heat of make-or-break games.
For me, this is 100% where the Lions need to improve, but first, let’s concentrate on the journey and not the finish line.
Last time out
Orlando City SC should be fully up to match speed compared to some of their fellow MLS teams on opening weekend.
After all, Oscar Pareja‘s side just visited British Columbia on Wednesday when defeating Cavalry FC 0-3 in Round One (leg one) of the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.
Not only a convincing result but a convincing performance too, our passage through to the Round of 16 looks safe barring an absolute catastrophe in leg two next Tuesday.
Reflecting on leg one, bleach blonde Duncan McGuire got the ball rolling on 21 minutes.
Prodding home a pin-point Martín Ojeda cross at Marco Carducci’s near post, McGuire timed his run to perfection.
For McGuire, it must’ve felt amazing scoring again, especially after the rigmarole of seeing his six-month loan move to Blackburn Rovers collapse.
Hopefully the first of many more goals for Orlando City SC this season, it was great to see McGuire knuckle down and get back to doing what he does best – rippling the opposition net.
Facundo Torres then doubled our advantage on 38 minutes.
Facing up William Akio on the right wing, he cut inside the South Sudan international before striking a fierce left-footed strike beyond Carducci.
With Cavalry FC having a mountain to climb, Orlando City SC‘s superior quality told at Starlight Stadium.
City’s loyal band of travelling supporters were treated to one more goal in the second-half.
It was that man Facundo Torres yet again who headed home the Lions’ third on 75 minutes.
Despite some rather comical Cavalry FC defending, the build-up to this goal was beautiful.
Starting the play within his own half, a determined Iván Angulo beat two Cavalry FC players before combining with Nicolás Lodeiro and Ramiro Enrique.
With Enrique reversing a smart pass to Angulo on the byline, the Colombian stood up a perfect cross for El Cuervo to duly head home.
A super unique away day that’ll live long in travelling supporters’ memories, let’s professionally take care of business in leg two next Tuesday.
Last head-to-head
Last meeting in MLS at Inter&Co Stadium back on September 30, Orlando City SC controlled the entire tempo of the game against a CF Montréal side really lacking in intensity and belief.
Winning 3-0 in a professional, impressive, and dominant performance, Facundo Torres gave the Lions a 1-0 first-half lead with a rebound that cannoned off Jonathan Sirois’ back
Officially a Sirois own goal, this denied Facundo Torres his thirteenth MLS goal of the season – albeit temporarily.
The 50th minute saw Rafael Santos turn provider again when sending another dangerous ball right across CF Montréal’s penalty area.
Reaching Dagur Dan Thórhallsson at Jonathan Sirois’ back post, the Icelander sprinted all the way forward from right back to simply prod home his fellow full back’s cross (2-0) – a goal Oscar Pareja would’ve loved!
Our two-goal lead became a three-goal lead just four minutes later with the Lions starting the second-half like a train.
A sublime counter attack saw Iván Angulo race into open space towards goal before laying in Facundo Torres who was criminally in acres of space inside CF Montréal’s penalty area.
El Cuervo simply tapped home past Jonathan Sirois (3-0) to draw him to within two goals of the MLS Golden Boot summit.
What’s at stake this time?
Starting any new MLS campaign with all three points obviously does wonders for belief, confidence, and optimism.
This is true for players and supporters alike.
Having remarkably contested all nine of our previous MLS opening fixtures in Central Florida, Orlando City SC have an opening day record to protect.
Indeed, the Lions are undefeated in all nine of their MLS opening fixtures so far, going 3-6-0 in this streak.
Last year, a solitary second-half penalty from Facundo Torres was enough to overcome New York Red Bulls 1-0 in Gameweek 1.
With inconsistencies marring our start to 2023 thereafter, Oscar Pareja will be aiming for a more convincing opening month this time around.
Opposition danger men
When it comes to CF Montréal danger men, Orlando City SC unfortunately know Josef Martínez all too well.
The Venezuelan international striker recently joined the Quebec side as a free agent back on February 6.
With former talisman Romell Quioto departing Stade Saputo in the off-season, CF Montréal now have a plethora of striking options to make up for the Honduran’s absence.
These include Matías Cóccaro, Sunusi Ibrahim, Mahala Opoku, Mason Toye, and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint who, alongside Martínez, are now all vying to be the main man up top.
With Inter Miami declining Martínez’s option at the end of 2023, this tells you all you need to know about Josef’s fall from grace.
Ultimately, Martínez hasn’t been the same player since returning from a long-term ACL injury that came on the heels of a 27-goal season at his beloved Atlanta United a year before
Nevertheless, he’s undoubtedly been a goalscoring nemesis to Orlando City SC over the years and is truly a pantomime villain among City fans.
Someone who knows how to get under our skin, no player has scored more goals against the Lions than Martínez – with 9 strikes to date.
Despite losing his pace and prowess, Josef Martínez always relishes facing the Lions with an extra pep in his step.
Having personally leaned into rivalry fixture narratives in the past, he’s risen to the occasion far too many times for our liking.
There’s no doubting that Martínez’s Inter Miami move was a bust.
But he still scored a controversially-awarded penalty to help eliminate us from the 2023 Leagues Cup!
He’s just been that guy against Orlando City SC down the years and will need to be stopped yet again.
Elsewhere, CF Montréal’s diminutive midfielder Bryce Duke is also an underrated player for the Quebec side.
Wearing the #10 jersey, Duke now has a regular opportunity to shine outside the Inter Miami goldfish bowl after being traded by The Herons in April 2023.
Knowing Josef Martínez from their brief time together in South Florida, cutting off Bryce Duke’s supply line to Josef will be key.
New opposition faces
Besides the aforementioned Josef Martínez, CF Montréal arrive in Central Florida with a former Orlando City SC fan favourite in their ranks.
Back on December 12, the Quebec side announced the signing of Ruan from D.C. United in a player plus General Allocation Money trade for Aaron Herrera.
A like-for-like replacement for the outgoing Zachary Brault-Guillard this winter, The Wall knows all about the jet-heeled Ruan and his attacking prowess from right back.
Revisiting Inter&Co Stadium with D.C. United last season, the Brazilian assisted Taxiarchis Fountas for his goal in a disappointing 1-3 win for the visitors.
Eager to prove a point again, Ruan will be need to be marshalled closely.
Also re-signing Raheem Edwards this off-season, CF Montréal have a new head coach too.
Frenchman Laurent Courtois succeeded Hernán Losada on January 8 and is aiming to get CF Montréal back into the MLS Cup Playoffs again.
Last season, the Canadian side missed out on a place in the Eastern Conference Wild Card match by just two points.
Courtois is no stranger to MLS having previously played for LA Galaxy as well as coaching at Columbus Crew since 2019 and CF Montréal supporters should identify more with him as a native French speaker.
Last but not least, Dominic Iankov is another danger man in the CF Montréal ranks.
Signed from Ludogorets Razgrad back on January 29, he is a senior Bulgarian international of 17 caps.
Born in Toronto, Canada, the 23-year-old has been tipped for a strong debut season in MLS.
Injuries, absentees, and suspensions
Heading into our 2024 MLS home opener, Oscar Pareja has a fully fit squad but there are still some definite and potential absentees.
The Lions will be without Rodrigo Schlegel who is serving a one-game suspension following his infamous red card in our Eastern Conference Semi-Final elimination to Columbus Crew last November.
Elsewhere, other potential absentees are David Brekalo and Luis Muriel.
These new boys missed Wednesday’s trip to Cavalry FC because they are still waiting for their P-1 Visas to clear.
We’re hoping they both get the green light in time for Saturday.
As for CF Montréal, Róbert Thorkelsson (groin) and Lassi Lappalainen (groin) are unlikely to feature on Laurent Courtois’ debut as an MLS coach.
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Orlando City SC vs CF Montréal
Last 3 head-to-heads
- October 16, 2022: CF Montréal 2 Orlando City SC 0 (2022 MLS Cup Playoffs)
- May 6, 2023: CF Montréal 2 Orlando City SC 0 (MLS)
- September 30, 2023: Orlando City SC 3 CF Montréal 0 (MLS)
2015/23 head-to-head stats
- It was 3-0 to Orlando the last time the sides met (September 2023)
- Played Montréal 22 times in MLS – Orlando 9, Draws 3, Montréal 10
- The home side has won 4 of the last 5 MLS head-to-heads ‘to nil’
- Orlando are undefeated in all 9 of their MLS opening fixtures so far (3-6-0)
- Montréal have gone 4-0-5 in their last 9 MLS opening fixtures
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Watching the game
Orlando City SC vs CF Montréal will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, February 25.
Remember, UK supporters can watch all of Orlando City SC‘s 2024 MLS regular season fixtures by subscribing to Apple TV’s “MLS Season Pass”.
Subscribe now by clicking here.
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