The Cardiac Cats are back, baby! Banishing Audi Field ghosts of the past, David Brekalo‘s first ever City goal and Duncan McGuire‘s 91st minute game winner dramatically sealed a morale-boosting and much-needed 2-3 comeback win at D.C. United in stoppage time.
After experiencing this high in the nation’s capital, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now fly north to face CF Montréal in our second Canadian road trip of the year.
Currently eighth in the Eastern Conference on 10 points, Laurent Courtois’ CF Montréal side come into this game re-energised after a 2-1 victory against FC Cincinnati last weekend. A game that was actually CF Montréal’s 2024 home opener following six road fixtures, this win ended their streak of three consecutive MLS defeats.
Last time out
In a stunning turn of events, Orlando City SC clinched a 2-3 victory at D.C. United last Saturday, with substitute Duncan McGuire netting his third goal of the season in the opening minute of second-half stoppage time.
McGuire’s goal followed David Brekalo‘s 82nd minute equaliser from a corner kick, which levelled the score for the Lions for the second time in the match.
Earlier in the first-half, Dagur Dan Thórhallsson also found the net to equalise for Orlando City SC, marking our first away win of the season after two previous defeats where we were painfully outscored 7-0.
Christian Benteke, with his sixth MLS goal of the season, and Gabriel Pirani, scoring his first, gave D.C. United a temporary lead, but they failed to secure a win despite holding the lead for four times in five matches.
Despite an early mistake by Pedro Gallese leading to Benteke’s opener, El Pulpo made crucial saves late in the game, including two that helped preserve City’s victory.
The decisive moment came when McGuire capitalised on Nicolás Lodeiro’s precise pass over the top, catching D.C.’s defence off-guard and staying ice cool one on one to secure the dramatic win for the Lions.
Duncan McGuire‘s 91st minute game winner was his 19th MLS goal for Orlando City SC.
This scoring tally ties him with former Lions Daryl Dike and Benji Michel for eighth all-time in club history.
Last head-to-head
The last time that Orlando City SC faced CF Montréal in MLS, the Lions had to settle for a frustrating 0-0 draw in our 2024 MLS home opener.
Indeed, it was the Canadian side who settled into the first-half more convincingly than the Lions.
On Laurent Courtois’ debut as an MLS head coach, his side started the game on the front foot.
Very aggressive with their press, CF Montréal forced four early shots on Pedro Gallese‘s goal in the opening exchanges.
Defensively resilient too, Orlando City SC really struggled to fashion any high quality chances on Jonathan Sirois’ goal with Duncan McGuire and Wilder Cartagena both visibly frustrated.
Each picking up first-half yellow cards, Oscar Pareja needed to tweak something tactically at half-time to turn the tide and force a breakthrough.
Pareja proactively took no risks with Wilder Cartagena, subbing the booked Peruvian off for Martín Ojeda in a bold attacking move.
In fairness to Papi, Orlando City SC pushed and pushed more convincingly in the second-half.
Agonisingly however, we just couldn’t break down CF Montréal’s stingy centre back trio of George Campbell, Gabriele Corbo, and Joel Waterman who all put in valiant shifts to stifle the home side.
Orlando City SC teased another Cardiac Cats moment as the clock moved towards full-time.
On 80 minutes, sub Felipe Martins thought he’d finally opened the scoring, but after the linesman’s flag and video review, the goal was ruled out because Facundo Torres was offside.
Agonisingly, after Felipe’s header struck Jonathan Sirois’ bar, the ball fell to El Cuervo who was in an offside position when tapping home on the goal line.
Then, two minutes into second-half stoppage time, City thought they’d earned a last-gasp penalty when Samuel Piette felled Iván Angulo in the box.
Painfully however, the linesman correctly flagged Jack Lynn offside in the build-up.
Even before this late drama, the 75th minute saw Dagur Dan Thórhallsson strike just inches over Jonathan Sirois’ bar after a perseverant Martín Ojeda kept a play alive to send a dangerous cross to CF Montréal’s back post.
I’d be lying if I said CF Montréal didn’t have their own chances to steal away all three points in a second-half where they soaked up a lot of City pressure.
Heart-stopping moments included a 79th minute scuffed shot wide from sub and City villain Josef Martínez who was set up perfectly by former lion Ruan.
Could you imagine?
A huge let off, Orlando City SC also survived the 93rd minute where Pedro Gallese came up big to deny Mahala Opoku who ran clear through on City’s goal one on one.
Having to be content with a point in the end, it was a disappointing way to open 2024.
What’s at stake this time?
Now that Orlando City SC have secured their first away victory of the MLS season, this should give our squad some much-needed confidence.
With the recent bye week giving our players time to reflect, rest, and recuperate, hopefully we can look back at this period and pin-point it as the moment we started to turn our 2024 campaign around.
Sure, Luis Muriel is still waiting desperately for his first City goal but Duncan McGuire reminded everybody of his clinical finishing at D.C. United.
Oscar Pareja‘s decision to temporarily bench Duncan McGuire in the nation’s capital, setting aside the Muriel – McGuire experiment, was intriguing.
However, McGuire’s impactful second-half cameo and subsequent goal brought immense satisfaction to both the player and us City supporters.
It’s now up to Orlando City SC to carry on this positivity and momentum as we attempt to climb our way back up the Eastern Conference standings as quickly as possible.
Opposition danger men
When it comes to CF Montréal danger men, Orlando City SC have been handed a boost in the lead up to this game.
A goalscoring nemesis to City over the years, Josef Martínez limped out of CF Montréal training on April 17 and will be absent on Saturday.
Laurent Courtois has confirmed the situation with Martinez is less serious than Matías Cóccaro’s current knee injury but the team is being cautious.
Truly a pantomime villain among Orlando City SC fans, no player has scored more goals against the Lions than Josef Martínez – with 9 strikes to date.
As for CF Montréal players who will figure in this game, City must keep tabs on former Lion Ruan.
The Brazilian right back has already faced Orlando City SC three times in MLS since departing Inter&Co Stadium at the end of 2022.
Replacing Zachary Brault-Guillard in the off-season, City supporters know 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.
Injuries and suspensions
Heading into this game, Orlando City SC should have Ramiro Enrique available again after he successfully recovered from his right ankle injury.
Nevertheless, the April 19 MLS Player Status Report still lists Enrique as being ‘OUT’ so it appears that the Argentine’s gameday inclusion is touch and go.
Besides Enrique, Oscar Pareja has the rest of our roster fit and available for selection in a huge boost.
As for CF Montréal however, they are extremely short-handed in attack.
Strikers Matías Cóccaro (knee), Josef Martínez (knee), and Mahala Opoku (ankle) are all definitely out for the Quebec side.
Additionally, fellow striker Jules-Anthony Vilsaint has recovered from a knee injury that kept him out since March 10 but hasn’t reached the required fitness to feature in this game.
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CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC
Last 3 head-to-heads
- May 6, 2023: CF Montréal 2 Orlando City SC 0 (MLS)
- September 30, 2023: Orlando City SC 3 CF Montréal 0 (MLS)
- February 24, 2024: Orlando City SC 0 CF Montréal 0 (MLS)
2015/24 head-to-head stats
- It was 0-0 the last time the sides met (February 2024)
- Played Montréal 23 times in MLS – Montréal 10, Draws 4, Orlando 9
- The home side has won 4 of the last 6 MLS head-to-heads ‘to nil’
- Montréal have lost 3 of their last 4 MLS fixtures
- Orlando have conceded 4 goals within the opening 10 minutes so far this MLS season
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Watching the game
CF Montréal vs Orlando City SC will be shown live on Apple TV at 00:30 (GMT) on Sunday, April 21.
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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