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Orlando City vs. Montreal Impact: Final Score 3-0 as Lions Roar Past Impact in Canada

Nani scored his 100th professional goal and Orlando dominated north of the border.

Published

7 years ago

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Dan MacDonald, The Mane Land

Orlando City scored three times in the first half to take full control, beating the Montreal Impact, 3-0 at Stade Saputo. For the Lions (5-7-3, 18 points), it snapped a six-match winless streak against the Impact (7-7-3, 24 points) and improved them to 4-6-2 in the all-time series and 2-8-1 in Canada.

Nani, Tesho Akindele, and Will Johnson provided the offense, but everyone on the team chipped in something good in this one, as the Lions controlled the game from about the 20-minute mark onward.

Dom Dwyer, who suffered a hamstring issue in the team’s final training session before traveling north, was not in the lineup. Sebas Mendez did start, as he wasn’t with his Ecuador teammates in Miami to face Venezuela in a friendly — his national team is in its final preparation for the upcoming Copa America. James O’Connor went with the same exact lineup he used against the LA Galaxy.

An extremely boring first 25 minutes was exactly what Orlando City needed. Both teams stayed organized on defense and waited for the other to make a mistake. As the first half wore on, the Lions started winning the game in the midfield and it paid off.

Akindele forced the first good save of the game with a laser blast that Evan Bush fought off for a corner. On the ensuing set piece, Zakaria Diallo got his arm up while defending Lamine Sané and the handball was seen by referee Chris Penso, who immediately pointed to the spot.

Despite missing penalties in each of the last two games, Nani stepped up and slotted home to make it 1-0 in the 27th minute. It was his 100th career professional goal, as well as his team-leading eighth of the season.

Montreal tried to get forward more just after the goal but a pair of excellent defensive plays by left back Joao Moutinho kept the Impact at bay. He got tangled up with Bacary Sagna on the second such tackle and the veteran fullback was injured on the play, having to be subbed off for Zachary Brault-Guillard.

Chris Mueller tried to double the lead six minutes after Nani’s penalty, cutting inside on his right foot and forcing a save from Bush. Three minutes later, Orlando had its second goal. Cristian Higuita stole the ball in the midfield and sent Mueller down the left side of the area. Mueller crossed to Akindele, who tapped it in to make it 2-0 in the 36th minute.

With five goals now on the season, Akindele is just two shy of his career high of seven.

Montreal’s only shot of the half came in the 38th minute, when Robin Jansson blocked an effort from Anthony Jackson-Hamel. Brian Rowe went high in the air with confidence to catch an ensuing corner to keep the Lions’ lead at 2-0.

Orlando then built on that lead in the 42nd minute. A prolonged possession by the Lions eventually worked its way up the left side of the pitch, with Moutinho and Mueller working the ball back and forth to send the Orlando left back up the outside channel. Moutinho then crossed a ball into the box that found the head of a diving Johnson, who got it on frame and it bounced in to make it 3-0.

Because Bush got a touch on the cross, there were no assists awarded, but the passing of Orlando on the play was the story of the third goal.

That was all the scoring, despite Mueller winning a free kick in a dangerous spot late in the half. Nani tried to play a low ball across the area but Montreal was wise to it and broke away on the counter. Mendez was able to snuff out the counter attack and the Lions took their 3-0 lead to the break.

First half possession was just about even at 50% apiece, with Montreal slightly ahead by a couple tenths of a percentage point. Shots were 7-1 to Orlando (5-0 on goal), with the Impact slightly ahead in passing accuracy, 87%-85%, but most of Montreal’s possession was in its own half, with the Lions only picking up the pressure after the Impact crossed midfield.

The Lions primarily focused on seeing out the game in the second half and didn’t push forward much at all. City stayed compact and organized and the Impact simply couldn’t break the Lions down. But despite Montreal seeing more possession in the attacking half, the Impact couldn’t do much with the ball.

Montreal out-shot the Lions 8-3 in the second half, but only a few were even remotely dangerous, as the Impact only forced one save from Rowe.

The bulk of the play was between the boxes in the second period. The first decent chance for the Impact came in the 65th minute, when Daniel Lovitz made a good, quick move to get past Johnson and sent a cross into the box. Jackson-Hamel flicked it toward goal but it stayed wide.

Orlando had a good opportunity to add a fourth goal through Akindele in the 71st minute, after the ball bounced around in traffic at the top of the Montreal area. It eventually found its way left to Akindele but the Canadian got caught leaning back and drove his shot over the bar from close range.

The Impact’s best chance to grab a consolation goal came in the 84th minute when a cross found Saphir Taider right in front of goal. Rowe was able to reach out a hand to make a spectacular save to preserve the team’s third clean sheet of the season.

The Lions were able to see out the match and win for the second time in three outings as the team heads into the Concacaf Gold Cup break. Montreal held a slim 52%-48% advantage in possession and an edge in passing accuracy, 86%-83%. The Lions led in shots (10-9) and shots on goal (5-1).

It was largely the tireless work of Johnson, Higuita, and Mendez in the midfield that made the win possible, although it truly was a team effort, with individual brilliance from every player on the pitch at one time or another, and it’s the kind of performance O’Connor can hopefully build on the rest of the season.

The Lions’ next game will be in U.S. Open Cup play, as they’ll visit Memphis 901 FC on June 12 at 8:30 p.m. ET. The next league game for Orlando will be June 26 at D.C. United.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Diego FC: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions welcome San Diego FC to Orlando for the first meeting ever between the two clubs.

Published

10 hours ago

on

September 5, 2026

By

Image of Joran Gerbet playing against Minnesota United.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match preview and live thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (7-11-4, 25 points) and San Diego FC (8-8-6, 30 points) at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando (7:30 p.m., Apple TV). It’s the first-ever meeting between these two teams from different conferences

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

As mentioned above, tonight’s meeting between the Lions and San Diego is the first in the series history, so there is no history. The Lions are 2-2-1 against Western Conference teams this season, which means little to nothing in this particular match, and San Diego is going to be Orlando City’s final opponent from the opposite conference in MLS regular-season play this season.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a wild 3-3 road draw at Minnesota United a week ago, in which Daryl Dike and Antoine Griezmann scored on either side of halftime on Orlando’s first two shot attempts to put their team up 2-0 in the 64th minute. Minnesota stormed back with three goals off defensive errors in a four-minute span to take a late 3-2 lead. Just when the Loons appeared to be headed for all three points, Tyrese Spicer scored in stoppage time, forcing Minnesota to split the points. Orlando has a modest 1-0-1 unbeaten streak entering tonight, and the Lions are 5-4-2 at home in 2026.

San Diego is coming off a 3-1 home win over the LA Galaxy despite having Jeppe Tverskov sent off. Tonight’s visitors have won two straight games, but both were at home. They lost their last home game 3-1 at Portland on Aug. 19 and are 2-5-3 away from home this season.

The key for Orlando City tonight will be to mark Anders Dreyer, which is far easier said than done, as he has emerged as one of the league’s best playmakers. His eight goals and 11 assists give him 19 total goal contributions to lead his team. Marcus Ingvartsen is Dreyer’s favorite teammate to combine with, as the Danish forward has converted 11 times, leading San Diego in goals, and has added five assists. However, Ingvartsen is listed as out with a lower body injury. Midfielder Onni Valakari has chipped in four goals and seven assists.

“We respect San Diego, but as well we prepare our game,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “We know how strong we are, especially at home, so now we go.”

Orlando City will be without Braian Ojeda (foot) and Adrian Marin (thigh), while Bernardo Rhein (thigh), has been upgraded to questionable. San Diego will be without the aforementioned Ingvartsen (lower body) and Tverskov (suspension).

Match Content

Official Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Maxime Crepeau.

Defenders: Bernardo Rhein, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Joran Gerbet, Eduard Atuesta, Justin Ellis.

Forwards: Antoine Griezmann, Daryl Dike.

Bench: Javier Otero, Zakaria Taifi, Iago, Wilder Cartagena, Luis Otavio, Tiago, Marco Pasalic, Martin Ojeda, Tyrese Spicer.

San Diego FC (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: C.J. dos Santos.

Defenders: Kieran Sargeant, Ian Murphy, Manu Duah, Oscar Verhoeven.

Midfielders: Gabriel Pirani, Anibal Godoy, Alejandro Alvarado.

Forwards: Elias Achouri, Onni Valakari, Anders Dreyer.

Bench: Duran Ferree, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, Christopher McVey, Bryan Zamble, David Vazquez, Ian Pilcher, Alex Mighten, Bryce Duke, Amahl Pellegrino.

Referees:

REF: Joe Dickerson.
AR1: Corey Parker.
AR2: Justin Howard.
4TH: Rodrigo Albuquerque.
VAR: Daniel Radford.
AVAR: Jeff Muschik.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter.co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Streaming: Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish), Nossa Rádio 1160 AM-WRLZ (Portuguese).

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. San Diego FC: Three Keys to Victory

Here’s what Orlando needs to do in order to return to winning ways against San Diego.

Published

1 day ago

on

September 4, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

After the disappointment of two dropped points against Minnesota on Saturday, Orlando City is back home with an opportunity to get things back on track. The Lions need to keep picking up points if they want to keep pace in an increasingly crowded Eastern Conference, and Saturday’s game is a good chance to start September off on the right note. San Diego FC stands in the way of that good start, and what follows are three things that I believe Orlando needs to do in order to emerge victorious from this game.

Stay Strong on the Left

The left side of the defense has been a question mark for the Lions for much of the year. Adrian Marin, Bernardo Rhein, and Zakaria Taifi have all spent time at left back lately and have done so with varying degrees of success. Regardless of who suits up there on Saturday, that area of the field will be under scrutiny once again, since they’ll be tasked with stopping San Diego right winger Anders Dreyer. He has eight goals and 11 assists in 21 appearances this year, has played 60 key passes during that time, and is generally the lynchpin through which the San Diego offense operates. He hasn’t quite been on the same pace that saw him bag 19 goals and 19 assists in the regular season last year, but with four goal contributions in his last three MLS appearances, he’s extremely capable of wreaking havoc from the wing. A lot of the goals OCSC has conceded lately have come down the left side of the defense, and if that area of the field can’t be taken care of better, the Lions will likely be in for a difficult night.

Do Damage in Transition

Orlando’s current style of positionless, fluid, attacking soccer is at its best when it comes up against teams that want to come out and play. It struggles mightily against defensive bunkers but shines when the Lions can get out and run, target open spaces, and combine with teammates in unexpected areas. Fortunately for OCSC (in theory), San Diego is a team that likes to have the ball, as it has the highest average possession in the league. That means the Lions will have opportunities to force turnovers and break the other way at pace. In order to make that happen though, OCSC will need to be both disciplined and effective when it comes to applying its press. Then, if/when the Lions win the ball, correct decision-making and clinical execution in the final third will be key to avoid letting any chances slip through their fingers (paws?).

Clean Up the Self-Inflicted Errors

Orlando has dealt with more than its fair share of general defensive struggles this year, but avoidable errors have been a particular problem in recent weeks. Whether it’s been an ill-advised challenge, passing to the opposition in the defensive third, or leaving men unmarked in the box, unnecessary mistakes have cost OCSC points time and again. Against lesser opposition it hasn’t always mattered, as the Lions were able to rescue three points against Real Salt Lake, but if Orlando wants to make a playoff push, it needs to make a habit of playing cleaner games, plain and simple. San Diego is a good team with dangerous offensive players, and Saturday’s visitors will very likely take advantage of any opportunities that the Lions gift-wrap for them. Keeping things mistake-free will go a long way.

We’ve got ample proof this season that nothing is guaranteed, but if the Lions can lock down the left side of the defense, make hay in transition moments, and limit unforced errors, then they should be in a good position to take all three points from Saturday’s game. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 9/4/26

Martin Ojeda details his recovery from injury, Anna Moorhouse loaned to Manchester City, Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup journey, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

September 4, 2026

By

Image of Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal against New England.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Three straight days of Orlando soccer starts tonight with Orlando City B’s road match against Inter Miami II at 7 p.m. Hopefully, Orlando’s teams do well over the next few days as crunch time is upon us when it comes to making the playoffs, especially for MLS NEXT Pro. For now though, let’s jump right into today’s links from around the soccer world!

Orlando City Prepares for San Diego FC

Orlando City will take on San Diego FC on Saturday in the first-ever game between the two clubs, and one of the storylines to keep an eye on is how much Martin Ojeda plays as he works his way back from injury. The Designated Player came off the bench late in Orlando’s 3-3 draw against Minnesota United in his first appearance since May 23. Not often injured, Ojeda spoke on how being off the field for over a month has shifted his perspective while training to return.

“You learn to value the moment much more. You learn to value every training session because, when you’re training on your own and you’re not available to your teammates, you feel uncomfortable,” Ojeda said. “You value being healthy more. It’s like everything in life. When you feel good, you live life almost on autopilot, so to speak. You go to work, you go home, you come back, you sleep. However, when you or someone close to you goes through an illness or something like that, you value the moment much more and become more conscious of what you’re experiencing.”

Pride Loan Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City

The Orlando Pride loaned goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse to Manchester City through January of 2027. Moorhouse joined the Pride prior to the 2022 season and helped the club win both the NWSL Championship and Shield in 2024. However, she has struggled this year alongside the rest of the Pride’s defense. Moorhouse hasn’t played in the past two games for the Pride, with Cosette Morche starting in her place. Her current contract with the Pride lasts through the 2027 NWSL season, so we’ll have to wait and see what her future with the club is when the loan ends.

Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup Journey

Between the World Cup, regular season, and Leagues Cup this summer, it can be easy to forget that Orlando City is still in contention to win this year’s U.S. Open Cup. The Lions are in the semifinals of the tournament after crushing Atlanta United 4-1 in the quarterfinals back on May 19. The Lions won much tighter affairs prior to that win, with Javier Otero coming up with seven saves in a 1-0 win over FC Naples and Zakaria Taifi scoring in stoppage time to beat the New England Revolution 4-3 in the following match. Orlando will be on the road for its semifinal match against the Columbus Crew on Sept. 16, but the offense has received a boost due to the arrivals of Antoine Griezmann and Daryl Dike this summer.

MLS Transfer News Roundup

MLS signings continue to pour in as teams look to improve their squads for the rest of this season and beyond. The Colorado Rapids signed Ghanaian winger Ibrahim Sadiq from AZ Alkmaar, where he recorded 18 goals and seven assists in 85 appearances across three seasons with the Dutch club. San Diego also added an attacker by signing forward Cedric Bakambu, who joins as a free agent after playing at Real Betis. As for other notable moves from across the league, Real Salt Lake signed winger Dusan Zagar as an MLS U22 Initiative player, forward Lyle Foster joined the Houston Dynamo on loan, and the Columbus Crew continued to improve on offense by signing Moroccan winger Anass Zaroury on loan from Panathinaikos.

Free Kicks

  • Former Orlando Pride player Christina Burkenroad is retiring from professional soccer and Monterrey will have Saturday’s game against Toluca be a send-off match for her.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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