Orlando City B vs. FC Montreal: Final Score 3-1 as Lions Climb to Seventh in Eastern Conference

They had to go all the way to Complexe Sportif Claude-Robillard in Montreal to do it, but Orlando City B (6-6-3) took all three points against a struggling FC Monteal (2-12-1) in USL action Sunday afternoon.

The match started with Montreal attacking early, with Mark Ridgers being called on to keep the scoreboard clear. Pierre Da Silva was active and influential, but couldn’t seem to threaten much until Hadji Barry made a great move past the Montreal goalkeeper to get on the board in the 31st minute, putting OCB ahead, 1-0. Barry looked very confident and poised under a lot of pressure, impressively keeping his dribble alive.

Montreal began pressing when play resumed, and found themselves with a corner in the 34th minute. Zach Hayden-Ellis simply couldn't help himself when Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé went up for a header, clinging to his arm like a child clings to the nearest adult in a haunted house. The official noticed, calling the penalty, which Alessandro Riggi had no problem burying low to the right, despite Ridgers diving the right way.

Aron Mkungilwa found himself helping the good guys, chesting a Da Silva cross past his own keeper in the 42nd minute to give OCB a 2-0 lead. Richie Laryea was pressuring from behind but it was simply a howler by Mkungilwa.

Barry nearly had a brace in the 61st, as Hayden played him in well, but the former UCF Knight couldn’t make lightning strike twice in this one, knocking the ball off a defender and onto the right goal post. Michael Cox came on just afterwards, perhaps to save Barry for the U.S. Open Cup match this coming Wednesday.

In the 84th minute, Lewis Neal was tossed from yet another game, receiving red for going high with his boot trying to block a clearance in the offensive box. Within a minute, we’d see Montreal’s captain tossed as well, when Louis Béland-Goyette received his second yellow on a questionable challenge.

The boys from Melbourne showed their affinity for stoppage time in this one, with Tony Rocha splitting two defenders on the left wing and feeding Mendoza beautifully to put the game out of reach, 3-1, at the death.

The three points slide Orlando City B into seventh place, level with Rochester on points but with the lesser goal differential of the two teams. The young Lions will look to keep the good times rolling when the Charlotte Independence come to town July 2.

Starting XI: Ridgers; Hayden, Donovan, Garcia, Ambrose; Laryea (Mendoza, 46'), Heath, Rocha, da Silva, Neal (c); Barry (Cox, 62')

Unused Subs: Fenlason, McFadden, Matarazzo, Ribeiro, Obekop.

Goals: ORL – Barry (31'), Mkungilwa (42' OG), Mendoza (95') MTL – Riggi (35' PK)