CF Montreal put on a convincing performance against Orlando City SC and posted a 4-1 win at Stade Saputo on Saturday to set a team record.
Wilfried Nancy’s staff continued their lift to the Eastern Association standings by overtaking Orlando City SC in 3rd place.
The Montrealers are unbeaten in their last seven games (5-0-2), a first for them in MLS. The team has not lost since March 12, against New York City FC.
Despite the absence of midfielders Victor Wanyama and Ismaël Koné, suspended due to the accumulation of yellow cards, CF Montreal controlled the ball and gave themselves several chances to score.
Joel Waterman, who scored his first career goal in MLS, as well as Djordje Mihailovic, Joaquin Torres and Zachary Brault-Guillard moved the ropes for CF Montreal (5-3-2).
CF Montreal had little moment of hesitation midway through the second half and João Moutinho scored for Orlando City SC (5-4-2).
The Florida team came to Stade Saputo unbeaten in their last four games (2-0-2). His last visit to Montreal was on November 7, 2021, when he ended Bleu-blanc-noir’s hopes of getting into the playoffs by winning 2-0.
One of the negative points of CF Montreal at this meeting was their lack of discipline, especially after the whistle. Waterman, who will be suspended, Mihailovic and Romell Quioto received yellow cards.
The Montrealers will resume action next Saturday, visiting Charlotte FC.
Not disturbed
After a fairly methodical start to the match, CF Montreal entered second gear and gave their opponents a lot of trouble.
In quick succession, within two minutes, Quioto and Lassi Lappalainen had great chances to open up the scoring. Quioto’s header hit the Orlando City SC net when Lappalainen ran into goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
The home side stepped up the pressure and saw their efforts rewarded in the 21st minute. With a corner kick, Waterman inherited the ball into the mouth of the net and sent it to Gallese.
Initially there were protests for the offside, but the video replay confirmed that everything took place in terms of art.
In the 36th minute, Lappalainen had his second goal at the end of the right foot, but his low shot went to the left of the post.
In the second half, CF Montreal took where they left off and their speed to counterattack did more damage. Lappalainen became a passer this time around and served a perfect cross to Mihailovic, who only needed to redirect the ball to an empty net to make it 2-0.
CF Montreal played a bad trick in the 72nd minute, on a corner kick. Mouthino accepted the cross from Mauricio Pereyra and he tricked Sebastian Breza’s watch.
CF Montreal, however, hit at lightning speed, in the 81st and 84th minutes of play. New to the field, Brault-Guillard saw Torres in the box and the Argentinian hit the mark by turning. Torres then returned the favor to Brault-Guillard, who fired a missile into the side netting to Gallese’s right.
Source: Radio-Canada