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Orlando City vs. Montreal Impact: Final Score 3-0 as Lions Still Can’t Finish

The Lions couldn’t overcome a slow start in Montreal.

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7 years ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City has now matched its six-game winning streak earlier this season with a six-game losing streak after falling on the road to the Montreal Impact, 3-0. The Lions (6-8-1) were unable to score, despite forward Dom Dwyer returning to the starting lineup for the first time since May 13. Meanwhile, the Impact improved to 5-11-0 and will try to begin to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings.

Impact forward Ignacio Piatti scored a brace in the match — including from the spot to set the tone early — continuing his dominance over Orlando with seven goals in eight appearances. Montreal’s second goal came off an own goal after left back Daniel Lovitz sent in a low cross that bounced off Amro Tarek and beat Joe Bendik.

Orlando had plenty of chances to answer, but poor finishing, bad passing, and dumb luck cost them yet another game.

Here’s the lineup Head Coach Jason Kreis fielded, with Jonathan Spector getting his first start in an MLS game since April 8:

Montreal started the game with its foot on the gas and Orlando City didn‘t look like it was ready for the match. Orlando City nemesis Piatti and Raheem Edwards spent the early minutes of the match causing mayhem and it didn’t take long for the pressure to cause Orlando City to crack. Montreal’s moment came after a corner caused by an Edwards’ shot that Joe Bendik had to deflect out of play.

In just the fifth minute, Cristian Higuita made a grave mistake while desperatley trying to stop Montreal’s Saphir Taider and clipped him inside the box. The referee took little time to give Montreal a penalty for the foul as Orlando City got off to perhaps its worst start of the season, which is saying something given how sluggish Orlando is to start games.

Piatti converted the penalty, with Bendik diving the opposite direction and Montreal taking an early 1-0 lead.

Down a goal, Orlando City began to see more and more of the ball as the team searched for an equalizer. But the Lions weren‘t able to make anything happen with the ball at their feet. Any time the Lions looked dangerous, the target was always Dwyer. The forward was chasing every long ball and cross sent his way and was close many times.

A chance came in the 11th minute when Justin Meram found Tony Rocha out wide and the left back delivered a pass that danced in front of Montreal’s net. Dwyer slid to try to get on the end of it but was inches away from making contact, possibly due to the wet field that caused the ball to quickly skid past the center of goal.

Frustration seemed to set in for Dwyer after the miss and he picked up a yellow card after a late, and frankly, unnecessary, tackle. Higuita then followed up Dwyer’s performance with one of his own, giving a signature hard foul and being issued a yellow card as well. But unlike Dwyer, Higuita’s yellow card will now have him sitting out of Orlando’s next MLS game thanks to accumulation.

Orlando City‘s first shot didn’t come until the 31st minute, when Dwyer got his head on the end of a cross by Oriol Rosell. Dwyer had to come back to the ball to make contact, sacrificing some power behind the attempt and Montreal goalkeeper Evan Bush comfortably collected the shot.

Gaining some confidence on the pitch, the Lions had another opportunity in the 34th minute with a set of nifty passes between Meram and Sacha Kljestan that ended with an open shot outside of the box from Rosell that sailed just wide of the goal. It would‘ve been unexpected for Rosell to score from that far out, but it was a nice sign to see from the trailing Lions desperate to end their losing streak.

In the 42nd minute, the Lions were given a chance to level the game before the half after Dwyer was fouled just outside the box. After earning the foul, Dwyer fired a curving shot from the set piece that curled over the wall and beat Bush but wasn’t able to dip into the goal.

That was the last real chance the Lions had before the break, finishing the first half ahead in possession (51%) after finding a good amount of momentum and looking the better team outside of the first 15 or so minutes. Despite looking like the better team for the latter stages of the first half, the Lions finished with just three shots.

Orlando City started the second half right where it left off with a sense of urgency, but momentum came to a halt in the 49th minute when Rosell slid in for a ball and was issued a yellow card and the game was stopped by the referee and he went to video review to see if the challenge was worthy of more discipline. After probably taking the rainy conditions (and common sense) into account, the referee decided a yellow was enough and the game continued.

The break was apparently all Montreal needed to put itself back in the driver’s seat. Montreal started to see more of the ball and found the back of the net for the second time when Piatti found open space down the left side, cut toward the middle and sent Lovitz down the left. Orlando couldn’t close in on him before he whipped a ball into the box. Neither Bendik nor Montreal‘s Matteo Mancosu got on the end of the ball. Instead, it was Tarek who made the slightest bit of contact and caused an own goal, giving Montreal a 2-0 lead in the 55th minute and making the uphill climb for Orlando that much steeper.

Down two, Kreis made his first substution of the match by putting Jose Villarreal in for Higuita in the 57th minute. The midfielder had an immediate impact, his first touch of the game being a cross to Dwyer that was just behind the forward and making him unable to get enough power to drive the ball into the goal yet again.

Villarreal delivered another good ball, finding Rocha down the left side as the left back weaved his way towards the goal but the final pass just wasn’t good enough and the chance was lost. I bet you’re starting to see a theme here.

But Orlando City didn’t stop pressing forward. Meram was finally able to give Dwyer a cross he wanted in the 65th minute, but the shot went inches wide and the scoreline remained the same.

After having little impact on the match for the most part, Josué Colmán’s opportunity finally came in the 66th minute as the Young Designated Player chased down a long ball. The Paraguayan was able to fight past two defenders but he couldn’t hit his shot cleanly and sent it harmlessly wide and over the bar.

Seeing enough, Kreis took Colmán out immediately after the missed shot, electing to put rookie Chris Mueller into the game for an injection of energy. That move was followed by a similar one as Meram came off for Stefano Pinho.

In a night full of bad, there was at least something to smile about in the 70th minute when Piatti was in a one-on-one situation with Spector and the American center back was able to hold his own against the potent attacker. He may not have been able to stop the onslaught of three goals, but it’s nice to have Spector back in the lineup.

Like every chance it had in the game, Orlando City simply couldn’t catch a break in 78th minute when Rosell had a wide open shot that was sure to go in but was accidentally deflected by Pinho right into the belly of Bush, who was down on his side.

Orlando City’s assualt continued just minutes later when Dwyer got on the end of a cross for his best scoring chance of the night but the header went off target and Orlando remained scoreless.

Another chance came shortly after with Pinho making contact with the ball directly in front of the net, but the shot somehow went high and over the bar. It would be almost comical how close Orlando was to scoring if not for the frustration that comes from Orlando City squandering opportunities yet again.

Bendik was able to stop Montreal from extending its lead on two occasions late in the game, with two big saves where he had to come out and make the stop. However, third time was the charm for the Impact when Piatti caught the tired Orlando City defense sleeping. Alone behind the defense with the ball after a through ball, Piatti dribbled around Bendik and easily tucked the ball into the goal to secure his brace and put Montreal up 3-0.

A few late chances by Dwyer and Pinho were unsuccessful and the Lions were shut out for the third time this season.

The chances were there for Orlando City, but like so many games during this six-game losing streak, the Lions simply weren’t able to score. Orlando City ended the game with 57% possession and led Montreal in shots, 12-11. Both teams had four shots on target but the game obviously came down to finishing with Orlando City unable to score.

The Lions continue their five-game road trip with only a U.S. Open Cup victory to show for it so far. Orlando City will hope to keep its run in the tournament alive on the road against D.C. United next Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. The Lions will then look to end their MLS skid at home a week from Saturday in a rematch against Montreal on June 23.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/4/25

Haley Carter joins the Washington Spirit, Celtic hires Wilfried Nancy, Philadelphia Union sign Ezekiel Allodah, and more.

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12 hours ago

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December 4, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? It’s been a bit of a hectic week for me, but I’ve at least been able to get quite enough done that should take out some of the stress that usually comes around this time of the year.

Haley Carter Joins the Enemy

Haley Carter, who departed the Pride on Nov. 18 to pursue new career opportunities, was announced as the Washington Spirit’s president of soccer operations. She joins an organization that’s come up short in the past two NWSL Championship and one of Carter’s top priorities will be retaining American forward Trinity Rodman. Helping the Spirit get over the hump will be a different kind of task than the rebuild she orchestrated with the Pride, so it will be interesting to see how she does.

Celtic Hires Wilfried Nancy

Wilfried Nancy is officially headed to Europe, with Celtic hiring him as its next manager. The Scottish club signed him to a two-and-a-half year contract and he’ll start today. Nancy leaves MLS after success with CF Montreal and the Columbus Crew, winning the MLS Coach of the Year award with the Crew in 2024. Celtic has won its past five games across all competitions and is currently tied on points with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership. It will be Nancy’s first time coaching in Europe and we’ll see if he can help Celtic secure a spot in the next round of the Europa League.

Philadelphia Union Sign Ezekiel Allodah

The Philadelphia Union didn’t waste much time adding some firepower to the club’s roster for the 2026 season, signing Ezekiel Allodah from IF Brommapojkarna for a club record fee. The 20-year-old forward joins on a contract through 2028 with options for 2029 and 2030. Allodah has recorded eight goals and added an assist in 32 appearances with Brommapojkarna, which plays in Sweden’s top flight. Although I’m not looking forward to Orlando City having to deal with him on the field, it’s nice to see more young talent coming to the league.

Preparing for the World Cup Draw

The draw for next summer’s World Cup is on Friday and we’ll get to see just how unlucky the United States Men’s National Team is when the groups are revealed. The U.S., like Canada and Mexico, is in the first pot and gets to avoid some of the biggest contenders, but dangerous teams like Croatia, Morocco, and Norway are possible opponents. Drawing Ghana from the fourth pot seems inevitable to me. The lack of clarity in who will advance out of the playoffs adds some mystery and worry to it all as well. Fingers crossed!

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That’s all I have for you all this time around. I hope you all have a wonderful Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 12/3/25

The Orlando Pride sign Hailie Mace, USMNT announces 2026 friendlies, USWNT news, and more.

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1 day ago

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December 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s a little hard to believe it’s already December, but hopefully the weather will cool off a bit so at least it feels like winter — or as close as we get to it in Florida. We want to wish Orlando City defender David Brekalo a very happy birthday. It might be the off-season, but that doesn’t keep the news from happening, so let’s get to the links.

Pride Sign Hailie Mace

The Orlando Pride signed USWNT and former Kansas City Current defender Hailie Mace to a three-year deal through 2028. Mace brings a ton of experience both internationally and in the NWSL to an already good Pride defensive unit. In her career Mace has played right back, some center back and even forward in college. She is the type of versatile player that Seb Hines loves to have on his roster. Welcome to the Pride, Hailie.

USMNT Friendlies Announced

The USMNT will play four friendlies ahead of the World Cup, facing Belgium, Portugal, Germany, and one opponent yet to be determined. The first two matches will take place in Atlanta against Belgium and Portugal on March 28 and March 30, respectively. Then the team heads to Charlotte for a match on May 31 and finishes the slate against Germany at Soldier Field in Chicago on June 6. Those are some pretty good tests ahead of the World Cup.

USWNT Notes

It’s been quite a year for the Emma Hayes and the USWNT. Hayes has worked on building a deep pool of players for the 2027 Women’s World Cup. She has given so many young players their first caps, including the Orlando Pride’s Emily Sams. Several players made a case for a spot in the friendly against Italy. Hayes is also trying to bolster the U-23 squad so she can build long-term stability in the team.

MLS Technical Staff News

There have been a lot of front office moves in MLS recently. New York City FC hired Todd Dunivant as the club’s new sporting director. Elsewhere, Sporting Kansas City announced that the club “mutually agreed to part ways” with interim coach Kerry Zavagnin.

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That will do it for today. It might be the off-season, but we’ll keep bringing you all the soccer-related news in the City Beautiful. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 12/2/25

Robin Jansson signs new contract, Orlando Pride roster update, Alex Freeman earns impressive nomination, and more.

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2 days ago

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December 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. I don’t know how we’re in the month of December, and the fact that we are is, quite frankly, a little terrifying. Regardless, we have no time to slow down and smell the roses, because there’s still plenty of things happening. We’ve got some important Orlando City and Orlando Pride news to cover today, so let’s get into the links.

Robin Jansson Returns

Orlando City announced on Monday morning that the team has re-signed captain Robin Jansson. The center back inked a deal that will keep him in an Orlando jersey through 2027 after the team declined his 2026 option at the end of this season. His return handles one piece of pending business for the Lions, with the team now only needing to wrap up negotiations with Kyle Smith over a new contract, before it can fully turn its attention to other areas of the roster. That being said, while Jansson remains a capable MLS starting center back, other positions around him need to be strengthened. OCSC’s spine needs reinforcing after the departure of Cesar Araujo, and Jansson could use a quick and athletic partner next to him in central defense as he climbs into his mid-30s. For now though, it’s simply good to see him back.

Orlando Pride Postseason Roster Update

Continuing the theme of a busy news day, on Monday afternoon the Orlando Pride announced the club’s roster update following the conclusion of the NWSL season. A lot of contract negotiations were completed during the season, as Zara Chavoshi, Ally Lemos, Luana, Haley McCutcheon, Anna Moorhouse, and Rafaelle all had their contract situations handled over the course of the season. Meanwhile, Amanda Allen, Simone Charley, Elyse Bennett, Mariana Larroquette, Aryssa Mahrt, Morgan Gautrat, Carson Pickett, and Bri Martinez are all out of contract, while Ally Watt is joining the Denver Summit. The Pride did not announce that negotiations are happening with any players who are out of contract with regards to a new deal.

Alex Freeman Garners Big Nomination

The year of Alex Freeman continues, as Orlando City’s young fullback has been nominated for the U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year! The right back seized his chance with both hands in OCSC’s season opener all the way back in February and never looked back, as he locked down a starting spot with the Lions, earned a first United States Men’s National Team call-up, continued to earn more, and capped his year off by scoring his first two goals with the national team. The other nominees for the honor are Max Arfsten, Matt Freese, Chris Richards, and Malik Tillman, so Freeman is up against some stiff competition (particularly from Arfsten and Richards, in my opinion). Regardless, it’s damn good to see him getting more of the recognition he so rightly earned this year.

USWNT Completes Sweep of Italy Friendlies

After blanking the Italians 3-0 in Orlando on Friday, the United States Women’s National Team completed the sweep with a 2-0 win over Italy in Fort Lauderdale Monday night. Cat Macario and Jaedyn Shaw scored the goals in the first half, and the U.S. hit the crossbar twice. Lily Yohannes put the ball in the net but was correctly deemed offside on the play, and Macario should have had a second if not for a dubious whistle chalking off what would have been a second brace in the window. It was a dominant final window of 2025 for the U.S. women, as Emma Hayes got looks at a lot of young players.

Americans in Midweek Action

As usual, there are a number of American players who will be playing games during the working week, with league and domestic cup action being the overarching theme. Things get started later today when Johnny Cardoso and Atletico Madrid travel to Barcelona for a big La Liga match, while Weston McKennie and Juventus host Udinese in the Coppa Italia. Chris Richards and Crystal Palace have a Premier League road match against Burnley on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic and AC Milan square off against Lazio in the Coppa Italia on Thursday, and things finish up on Friday with Folarin Balogun and Monaco taking on Brest in Ligue 1 on Friday.

Free Kicks

  • Christian Benteke has announced he’s leaving D.C. United, although Tom Bogert says D.C. hopes to pull a Jansson and re-sign him after declining his option.
  • Mr. Scoops also reports that CF Montreal is finalizing a deal to sign defender Brayan Vera from Real Salt Lake for a hefty sum of General Allocation Money.

Sources: CF Montréal finalizing deal to acquire center back Brayan Vera from Real Salt Lake. Deal is for $1.5m GAM. That & more: www.nytimes.com/athletic/685…

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-12-01T19:10:59.620Z
  • Bogert also reports that Michael Bradley is the favored candidate for the New York Red Bulls’ vacant head coaching position.

That does it for me today. Vamos Orlando!

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