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Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Final Score 2-2 as Lions’ Transition Defense Fails in Road Draw

For the second straight week, the Lions fell behind twice only to fight back. However, there was no winner this time..

Published

11 months ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City came from behind twice for the second consecutive road game. However, this time, there was no late winner in a 2-2 draw against CF Montreal at Stade Saputo in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The teams split the points in both meetings this season, although at least there were goals in this one.

Facundo Torres and Ivan Angulo scored for Orlando (2-3-3, 9 points), offsetting strikes by Mason Toye and Ariel Lassiter of Montreal (3-3-2, 11 points). The Lions are unbeaten in four straight games (2-0-2), although the play of the defense continues to be puzzlingly poor. Orlando conceded multiple goals for the fourth consecutive road match, including another early one.

“We’re happy with the performance and tying the game at the end seems like it could be a good result, but we were eager to win it at the end as well, and we could have walked out with three points against a good team,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the game. “But the game itself was very competitive. I thought we played an excellent first half but we could maybe be clearer in those last actions there, but we really played well. The second half, they got some momentum from (when) they got the goal (late), but after that, I think we dominated the game.”

Pareja’s lineup had only one change from the starting XI that defeated D.C. United a week ago. Pedro Gallese started in goal behind a back line of Kyle Smith, Robin Jansson, David Brekalo, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo and Wilder Cartagena took their usual spots in the defensive midfield behind an attacking line of Angulo, Nico Lodeiro (in for Martin Ojeda), and Torres, with Luis Muriel up top.

Both teams started the match probing the other’s defenses, so much of the play early was between the penalty boxes. Jansson was booked early for something early in the match while looking to restart play after an infraction on Montreal, which seemed to surprise the Swede.

The opening goal came out of nowhere on the first real chance for either side. Montreal’s Samuel Piette was in his own half of the field, but wasn’t closed down. Toye timed his run well and roasted the Orlando City back line, which was caught sleeping. Toye took down the pass from Piette, rounded Gallese, who had come off of his line, and slammed the ball into the empty net from the left. It was the kind of sleepy play from the defense that has been on display since the season started, and it bit the Lions again, putting Montreal on top just 16 minutes in.

Orlando City pulled the goal right back with some help from Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. Lodeiro slipped the ball into the area for Muriel, who arrived at the ball at the same time as Sirois. The Montreal goalkeeper appeared to get a touch to the ball but then got a lot of Muriel in the 19th minute, and referee Jon Freemon wasted no time pointing to the spot. The play was checked and the penalty call was upheld.

Torres sent Sirois the wrong way and blasted the ball into the upper left corner of the net to make it 1-1 in the 22nd minute.

Torres’ goal was the first by an Orlando City Designated Player in 2024, although it was from the penalty spot.

Thorhallsson had an opportunity to put the Lions ahead a minute after the penalty conversion on a ball into the box that ricocheted into his feet. The Icelandic fullback, however, could not find the handle and lost control of the ball right in front of goal. A minute after that chance, Muriel came close to scoring his first MLS goal from the top of the area, sending his shot just wide of the upper left corner.

Montreal defender George Campbell wasn’t closed down from long range in the 29th minute, so he had a hit. Campbell’s shot didn’t miss by much, but it was always high and buzzed the back of the top of the net on the way down.

Smith had a golden opportunity in the 41st minute, getting into the left side of the box. But the fullback hit his shot/cross just wide of the far post and out of play. Orlando had a few set piece opportunities in the later stages of the second half but could do nothing with them.

Similarly, Montreal had a free kick in a dangerous spot, courtesy of an unnecessary foul by Cartagena. Choiniere went for goal or the back post in the 45th minute, but either way it was comfortable for Gallese to stop.

Orlando got a bit sloppy with the ball late in the half, allowing Montreal to get a lot of late possession, but little came of it. The last chance of the half fell to Torres from long range, but the Uruguayan hit his shot poorly and sent it soaring high over the goal.

The teams went to the break all tied up at 1-1. Orlando’s biggest problem in the first half, aside from falling asleep to allow the opening goal, was getting into promising situations and then delivering passes either slighly off line or too close to a defender to easily knock away.

Montreal held a slight edge in possession (50.3%-49.7%), passed more accurately (84.2%-82.3%), and put more of its shots on target (2-1). Orlando City attempted more shots (4-3), and won more corners (2-0).

The hosts held possession for most of the first four minutes of the second half. Montreal played direct more out of the break and nearly created something just seconds after the restart. Smith had to be sharp to knock away a dangerous cross from the left in the 46th minute.

Thorhallsson nearly found Angulo on Orlando’s first attack of the half in the 50th minute. The fullback sent a ball to the top of the six but Sirois got there just ahead of Angulo to smother the chance.

Montreal then attacked quickly and got in behind down the left. Gallese made a vital save with his left hand to deny Lassiter at the other end.

Lodeiro nearly picked out Thorhallsson with a dangerous cross in the 52nd minute but the defense arrived just in time to knock it behind for a corner. The Lions took the corner short and made a complete mess of it.

Jansson provided a vital block in front in the 55th minute to deny a cross getting in to Toye after Thorhallsson lost track of Raheem Edwards on the wing. The corner was headed away by Jansson. Edwards gathered and fired from distance but his shot was well wide of the left post.

Muriel conceded a set piece in the 59th minute, dropping back to help when Orlando was struggling to break out of its own end. The ball in was knocked away by Gallese, but he needed a visit from the trainers at the next play stoppage. The Peruvian was able to continue, and Muriel was subbed out for Duncan McGuire.

A good ball out of the back sprung McGuire down the left in the 69th minute. The striker picked out Torres crashing into the box but the Uruguayan’s shot was blocked by Joaquin Sosa.

Montreal appeared to score the late game-winning goal in the 88th minute and once again it was a direct play that sliced the Orlando defense open. A diagonal ball somehow got through Brekalo, who seemed to have it measured. Instead, it ended up on the foot of substitute Sunusi Ibrahim, who curled back to the top of the area and fired a shot. Gallese got down to parry it away but Smith got caught ball watching and did not have Lassiter marked, allowing him to swoop in and score an easy goal. Montreal led 2-1 with just two minutes remaining in normal time.

“We are trying to have more cohesiveness with the players that are starting or playing the game,” Pareja said of his defense. “Our lines have to be better. Conceding early goals or conceding goals especially in the first half for us is something we need to resolve and we need to figure it out. How can we be more solid? Not just a defender’s problem. It’s a collective problem. We all have to be in charge.”

It didn’t look like Orlando’s night when McGuire missed the net moments later. Off a set piece, the ball was headed by Jansson to his right, where McGuire volleyed it out of the air. His shot looked to be headed inside the top left corner but he missed the net wide by inches in the 90th minute.

No matter though. The Lions scored two minutes into stoppage time instead. McGuire played the ball out to Ojeda on the left and the Argentine drove toward the end line and sent a cross into the area in front of Sirois. Angulo won the race to the ball and put it in the net, scoring his first league goal of the season and tying the game in the 92nd minute.

“I saw ‘Tincho’ bringing it up into space on the left wing,” Angulo said through a club interpreter. “He found himself in a good spot and I saw a space that I could attack. I was able to attack the space right behind the fullback, and thankfully Tincho was able to get me the ball, and all I had to do was to push it in to get that tying goal,”

“The good news is that we are scoring now, that we are overcoming difficult moments, and the forwards are stepping up as well,” Pareja said.

The Lions nearly pulled off a mirror image of that goal five minutes later. Ojeda again got to the end line on the left and sent in a cross toward Angulo. This time the cross was just inches out of Angulo’s reach and skipped through the box.

Orlando ended the game with a series of corner kicks, but could not score on the set pieces and the game ended deadlocked.

Montreal’s stronger second half was reflected on the stats sheet. The hosts held the advantage in possession (53.5%-46.5%), shots (10-8), shots on target (5-2), and passing accuracy (84.6%-81.6%). The Lions won more corners (8-1).

“It was very tough game, very disputed game,” Angulo said. “A bunch of running. The way they like to play, they love to attack through the wings, so there was a lot there. But I feel like we rose to the level of the game. The way we played, we probably deserved three points, but happy to walk out of here with a point tonight.”

“After we have our results at home and we come out to this journey to go two games away against rivals who are direct and difficult rivals, and now we get these four points, just leaves us with the feeling that we are much more like us,” Pareja said. “The team is raising the confidence and everybody’s raising the level, and now we have two games at home where we have a big responsibility to keep adding and keep getting closer to the (top) of the standings.”

Orlando City returns home to face another Canadian side, as Toronto FC visits Inter&Co Stadium next Saturday.

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Orlando City vs. Toronto FC: Final Score 4-2 as Lions Pick Up First Win of 2025

Lions bounce back from their opening day loss in a big way by drubbing Toronto as four different players found the net.

Published

12 hours ago

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March 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Jeremy Reper

The Lions found the net four times and avoided most of the mistakes that plagued them a week ago, as Orlando City (1-1-0, 3 points) pounded Toronto FC (0-1-1, 1 point) 4-2 at Inter&Co Stadium. Cesar Araujo and Alex Freeman scored two minutes apart just past the half-hour mark to push Orlando out in front, with Martin Ojeda and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson twice extending the Lions’ lead to three goals. Sigurd Rosted and Deybi Flores scored late for the Reds, but Orlando was in control after Freeman’s strike.

“A great night for us,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “Today, we had a much more complete performance. We played well, we scored goals, and we have our first win in front of our fans. So, it’s very healthy for the group. “

Pareja’s staring lineup included Pedro Gallese in net behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Kyle Smith, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Freeman, as neither Robin Jansson nor David Brekalo dressed. Araujo and Eduard Atuesta started in midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Ojeda, and Marco Pasalic, with Ramiro Enrique up top.

The first half hour was a cagey, probing, and kind of dull affair as the teams sized each other up. Toronto held more of the ball but did less with it than Orlando’s forays up the field.

Freeman had the game’s first shot attempt in the 15th minute. The right back got his head to a good back-post cross from Ojeda but sent his effort well wide of the right post.

Three minutes later, Freeman nearly scored into the wrong net. Tracking back, he did well to chest down a cross for Gallese, but his effort was a bit off line. Gallese did well to get down and get a hand to it to keep it out before collecting it.

Former Lion Richie Laryea picked up a knock and had to sub off for Toronto in the 22nd minute after receiving treatment for a second time. Zane Monlouis came on for the Canadian international, eating up one substitution window for the visitors.

Not much happened between the 20th and 30th minutes but then business picked up when Pasalic was fouled just outside the box in the middle of the field. Unlikely free kick takers Araujo and Santos stood over the ball. When the referee blew his whistle, Araujo smashed a gorgeous shot in off the left post to make it 1-0 in the 33rd minute.

“It was training,” Pareja said, referring to how Araujo got his opportunity on the set piece. “He was spending a lot of time with Eduard (Atuesta), with Rafael (Santos), Martin (Ojeda), Luis (Muriel). And curiously, on Friday here in the stadium, they were practicing with a lot of responsibility. But we as footballers, sometimes it’s casual, But they were not (casual). They were doing it very serious, and when they were going to take that (free kick), we had much more confidence, and it really happened.”

The Lions doubled the lead just two minutes later. A long ball from Smith from left to right found Freeman isolated on his defender. Freeman muscled his way past and got in behind on goal, blasting a left-footed shot past Sean Johnson to make it 2-0 in the 35th minute. It was his first MLS goal on his first MLS start.

“I feel like their line was high all game, and I feel like they pressed too high,” Freeman said. “Me and Kyle talked about it before the game, he’s really got that long ball to be able to just curve it right inside, so it’s toward goal so I can get the run in, and that’s what I did. He looked up, and I already knew. And I was just running, and then I took a good first touch with my thigh. And then it was just looking at the goalie to see where I could place it with my left foot. And then I scored and I went wild. Great ball from Kyle Smith.”

“Alex today is just demonstrating one more time something that we see in the training ground,” Pareja said. “That he’s ready, that he can become one of the best fullbacks in this country. I don’t have any doubt about that.”

“I think it was the intensity,” Angulo said about the change in Orlando City’s play after the half-hour mark. “I think that was something that we were lacking in the first 30 minutes, and it was something where we knew that we were lacking that intensity and that intention to show show who we are and the respect that they need to put on playing in our house, in our stadium. I think it was the intensity and the shift in mindset that we had that really set us apart, and the confidence that we had after scoring that first goal.”

Toronto regrouped and went on the attack on its next possession, with Federico Bernardeschi firing well over the bar in the 37th minute from near the left corner of the box.

Atuesta made a great move in the 43rd minute to break Toronto’s lines and then delivered a pass to Angulo on the left. The Colombian cut inside and fired a shot that deflected off a defender and just missed wide of the right post. Atuesta then had the last good look of the half when he hit the left post from the right side of the box in stoppage time, and the Lions took their two-goal edge into the locker room.

At the break, the visitors had the advantage in possession (51.3%-48.7%) and passing accuracy (83.5%-82.8%), while Orlando attempted more shots (5-3) and put more on target (2-0). Each team won one corner in the opening period.

The first half-chance of the second half went Orlando’s way when Ojeda made a great move to fake out Monlouis and get down the left with speed. He had Enrique breaking in front but the cross didn’t quite have enough bend on it, allowing Johnson to catch it in the 50th minute.

Orlando had a couple more half chances before Ojeda made it 3-0 in the 63rd minute. Araujo picked up the ball in his own end and made a great pass to send Ojeda through the gap between the center backs. The Argentine faked Johnson to the turf, stepped around the keeper, and slotted it home with his right foot.

It was an emotional goal celebration for Ojeda, who pulled up his jersey to reveal a t-shirt honoring his late grandmother, who passed away recently.

Toronto pulled one back shortly after a nasty collision between Atuesta and Rosted going for a 50/50 aerial. Both players were able to continue, and it was an unfortunate free kick given to the visitors for two guys arriving at the ball together. That free kick turned into a corner, and that allowed the Reds to get on the board. Rosted had a free header at the back post, leaving Gallese no chance, as the marking on set pieces for Orlando City continues to be poor early in the season. Rosted’s goal cut the lead to 3-1 in the 72nd minute.

Bernardeschi nearly pulled the Reds within a goal two minutes later, firing a shot through traffic from near the top of the area. Gallese didn’t appear to see it initially but was able to get down and make the save.

Thorhallsson made it 4-1 with what may have been his first touch of the match after coming on for Ojeda in the 80th minute. Fellow sub Luis Muriel, who came on for Pasalic, made a perfect pass to send the Icelandic international in behind, and he finished calmly to extend the lead back to three goals.

Freeman had a chance for a brace three minutes later. He got in past the back line on the right but was at a severe angle. The right back unselfishly tried to pick out Enrique at the penalty spot but his pass was a bit too far behind the striker.

Toronto bagged a second goal in the 86th minute. Toronto sent a ball into the box from the right and three Lions converged on it to knock it away. They got in each other’s way a bit, and the ball fell outside the area for Flores to run onto. Taking it in stride, Flores blasted a shot just inside the right post to make it 4-2.

“Our priority as coaches is to see what is that area that we need to get better, and I’m not happy with conceding two goals,” Pareja said. “But we will work on it.”

From there, the Lions had little trouble seeing out the final minutes, although Toronto fought to the end to try to get back into the game, even forcing a nice save from Gallese late in stoppage time off a blast from Bernardeschi.

Gustavo Caraballo was a late subsitute for the Lions, becoming the youngest player to play in a match for Orlando City at just 16 years old.

Toronto finished with the advantage in possession (54.5%-45.5%) and passing accuracy (88.5%-84.8%), while the teams each finished with nine shot attempts, four shots on target, and two corners.

With four goals tonight, the Lions have six across their first two matches of the season. That’s the most goals scored by Orlando in its first two games in the team’s MLS era.

“If we score goals, we’re going to win,” Pareja said. “And six goals in the first two games, that’s great. I’m very happy, and how we scored, and the variety of the players that are participating on the scoring, too. So, very positive.”

After falling at home on opening day, it was imperative to get in the win column before the team heads out of town for the next two matches against difficult opponents in places they have historically not gotten a lot of positive results.

“We knew that we had to come out tonight and take a win,” Angulo said. “And it was really important for us to go out there and play the way that we did, to play like that in front of our fans, and take this win in front of our fans and get the three points tonight. We knew that there’s going to be a lot of really difficult games coming up in the season, so it was important for us to go out and put three (points) on the board tonight.”

“Three points is what we needed,” said Freeman, who was voted Man of the Match by the fans. “A very good bounce back from last week. And now we’re just looking forward to next week away.”

The Lions hope to carry some momentum with them when they hit the road for their first away match of the season next Saturday at New York City FC.

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

The Lions look to bounce back from their first-ever MLS season-opening loss as the Reds visit Orlando.

Published

24 hours ago

on

March 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City FC

Welcome to your preview and match thread for a Saturday night matchup between Orlando City (0-1-0, 0 points) and Toronto FC (0-0-1, 1 point) at Inter&Co Stadium (7:30 p.m., MLS Season Pass on Apple TV). It’s the first of two scheduled meetings between the Eastern Conference rivals this season, with the Lions making the return trip to Toronto on Decision Day, Oct. 18.

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

History

Orlando is 9-9-3 in the evenly split all-time, regular-season series. The Lions are 5-5-0 at home in the series.

The teams last met on July 3, 2024, at BMO Field in Toronto, with the Lions earning a 2-1 revenge win on a Martin Ojeda goal and an own goal by Nicksoen Gomis forced by Facundo Torres to come from behind after Derrick Etienne, Jr. had given the Reds an early lead.

The Lions and Reds also met in Orlando on April 27 and the Lions led most of the match on a Duncan McGuire goal. However, the Reds flipped the game on its head late, scoring twice in the final three minutes of normal time. Tyrese Spicer and Prince Owusu scored to lift Toronto to a 2-1 win.

The final meeting of 2023 took place in Toronto on Decision Day, Oct. 21, when McGuire came off the bench and scored twice to beat the Reds 2-0. The teams met in Orlando on July 4, 2023, with Orlando City putting the Reds to the sword on Independence Day, beating the Canadian side, 4-0. Cesar Araujo, McGuire, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, and Ercan Kara scored for the Lions, and Toronto finished with 10 men after Federico Bernardeschi was shown his second yellow card just past the hour mark.

Orlando City also romped 4-0 over the Reds in the previous meeting, Sept. 17, 2022 at Exploria Stadium. Torres, Kara, and Tesho Akindele scored for the Lions to go along with a Lukas MacNaughton own goal. The Lions won on May 14, 2022 at BMO Field, 1-0, thanks to a 92nd-minute goal from Kyle Smith, who flicked a header from a corner kick cross inside the far post to lift the Lions to victory.

The Lions went 2-0-1 in three meetings with Toronto FC in 2021. The teams played to a 1-1 draw at BMO Field on July 17, 2021. Jozy Altidore came off the bench to score the opener but Nani equalized from the penalty spot minutes later. Benji Michel drew the penalty, which was originally ruled a foul on the Orlando winger but was overturned after video review by referee Marcos de Oliveira.

The other Toronto “home match” in the 2021 season series came on June 19 at Exploria Stadium. The Reds were dealing with pandemic restrictions in Canada that forced the team to play home games in the United States. Orlando City built a 2-0 early lead on goals by Akindele and Nani, only to see Toronto tie the match by halftime on goals by Ayo Akinola and Jonathan Osorio. Junior Urso scored late to lift the Lions to a 3-2 victory. The teams first met that year on May 22, with Orlando City claiming a 1-0 win on Akindele’s goal.

The teams did not play in 2020 due to the pandemic. Prior to the MLS stoppage for the pandemic, the teams met most recently in Toronto on Aug. 10, 2019, with the Lions grabbing a point at BMO Field in a 1-1 draw. Michel opened the scoring in the 69th minute but the Reds equalized off a scramble following a set piece in the 77th. The other matchup between the sides that season came on May 4, 2019, when the Reds walked out of Orlando with a 2-0 win on goals by Osorio and Jay Chapman.

The teams split their season series in 2018. Orlando City captured a 2-1 win at home in James O’Connor’s first home game as head coach of the Lions on July 14, 2018. Chris Schuler and Dom Dwyer staked City to a 2-0 lead and Nick Hagglund ruined the shutout in the 94th minute off a Sebastian Giovinco free kick delivery. The 2018 meeting in Toronto saw the Reds get a 2-1 win at BMO Field on Ryan Telfer’s 87th-minute goal.

Toronto shredded Orlando in a 3-1 win on July 5, 2017. Altidore and Giovinco combined to score Toronto’s three goals. Carlos Rivas gave Orlando a consolation goal. In the first meeting of 2017, Orlando out-possessed, out-shot, and out-passed the hosts, and played like the better team on the night. However, the Lions could not overcome a two-goal deficit and Giovinco’s first-half brace led Toronto to a 2-1 win.

The Lions got their first victory in the series on June 25, 2016, winning 3-2 at Camping World Stadium. Kaká scored from the spot in the 10th minute of stoppage time to win it. Cyle Larin and Adrian Winter each gave OCSC leads in the game, only to see Jordan Hamilton and Justin Morrow equalize until the captain’s late winner. The Reds took the second 2016 matchup in Orlando with a 2-1 victory and the teams also drew 0-0 on Sept. 28 of that year.

In 2015, Toronto took home all nine points in the three meetings, beating Orlando by a combined score of 11-1.

Overview

Coincidentally, this is the second consecutive meeting between the Reds and Lions in which Orlando City enters on the heels of a brutal 4-2 loss. Last time out, it was a 4-2 loss at New York City FC. This year, the matchup comes a week after the Lions fell 4-2 at home to the Philadelphia Union in the season opener. Individual mistakes — especially in the first 20 minutes of the second half — spoiled an otherwise decent performance. At least new Designated Player Marco Pasalic was able to get off to a quick start, scoring both of Orlando’s goals.

The Lions are 0-1-0 at home this season and need to turn things around quickly to avoid a third consecutive poor start to the season on their home ground.

Toronto FC is 0-0-1 on the road and is coming off a 2-2 road draw at D.C. United a week ago. Boris Enow gave Toronto an early lead, only to see United score two straight. Bernardeschi scored from the penalty spot with 20 minutes remaining to rescue a point.

The Lions will have to keep tabs on Bernardeschi, as the Italian can create danger seemingly out of nothing. In addition to scoring in the opener, he posted eight goals and eight assists in 2024. New coach Robin Fraser has committed to fixing a Toronto defense that allowed 61 goals last year.

“After our analysis of last week’s game, we are very aware of what happened and how to improve,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said ahead of the match. “When we see the function of our team, it seems like we are going in a good direction. In this sport and industry, we are here to win games, and we are ready to get back into good results and to keep increasing our performances.” 

Orlando City will be without Duncan McGuire (shoulder), Wilder Cartagena (Achilles), Yutaro Tsukada (knee), and Favian Loyola (thigh), with captain Robin Jansson (thigh) listed as questionable after being a late scratch last week.

Match Content

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-2-3-1)

Goalkeeper: Pedro Gallese.

Defenders: Rafael Santos, Rodrigo Schlegel, Kyle Smith, Alex Freeman.

Defensive Midfielders: Eduard Atuesta, Cesar Araujo.

Attacking Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, Marco Pasalic.

Forward: Ramiro Enrique.

Bench: Javier Otero, Zakaria Taifi, Thomas Williams, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, Colin Guske, Joran Gerbet, Gustavo Caraballo, Shak Mohammed, Luis Muriel.

Toronto (4-2-2)

Goalkeeper: Sean Johnson.

Defenders: Henry Wingo, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted, Richie Laryea.

Midfielders: Markus Cimermancic, Deybi Flores, Alonso Coello, Federico Bernardeschi.

Forwards: Theo Corbeanu, Jonathan Osorio.

Bench: Luka Gavran, Kosi Thompson, Deandre Kerr, Kobe Franklin, Matty Longstaff, Zane Monlouis, Tyrese Spicer, Lazar Stefanovic, Kosi Thompson.

Referees

REF: Alexis Da Silva.
AR1: Jason White.
AR2: Gianni Facchini.
4TH: Elvis Osmanovic.
VAR: Carol Anne Chenard.
AVAR: Joshua Patlak.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Inter&Co Stadium — Orlando.

TV/Streaming: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

Radio: AM 810 FOX Sports Radio Orlando (English), Mega 97.1 FM (Spanish).

Twitter: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow along at @TheManeLand, as well as Orlando City’s official Twitter feed (@OrlandoCitySC). We’ll also provide updates over on Bluesky Social (@TheManeLand.bsky.social).

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. Toronto FC

Get to know this year’s version of Toronto FC, courtesy of someone who knows them best.

Published

2 days ago

on

February 28, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

I think its fair to say that the first match of the 2025 Major League Soccer season didn’t go how any of us wanted it to, but the good thing about the start of a season is that you have a chance to bounce right back. Orlando City’s bounce-back opportunity comes in the form of a visit from Toronto FC Saturday night.

A match against TFC means I spoke to Corey Brady, one of the writers over at the always excellent Waking the Red. Corey was kind enough to help us familiarize ourselves with this year’s Toronto team, and we greatly appreciate his assistance.

Robin Fraser is in his first year as head coach of Toronto. How does he want this team to play?

Corey Brady: Robin Fraser takes over from a team that has been a defensive disaster.  As a former defender, Fraser wants to bring defensive stability and to stop conceding as many goals as possible moving forward. In the last match, TFC lined up in a 4-4-2 formation and will probably use this formation. Additionally, Fraser might employ a 3-5-2 formation as it was the preferred option when he was last in Toronto as an assistant under Greg Vanney. In this system, Fraser needs to emphasize building the attack from the back and through the midfield, which is a departure from last year under John Herdman, who tended to rely on wing backs and wingers to progress the ball forward.

Take us through some of the off-season business for TFC. Who were some notable departures and arrivals?

CB: TFC management promised big changes through a rebuild, but there have not been any significant departures. The biggest name that left the club was former head coach John Herdman, who abruptly resigned at the end of November amid the drone spying scandal that rocked Canada Soccer. Also, striker Prince Owusu, who led the team with nine goals in the MLS regular season, was out of contract and signed with rival CF Montreal. Some other departures included bench players like Shane O’Neill, Brandon Servania, and Aime Mabika. The two biggest additions, apart from Fraser, are two players loaned from European sides. Toronto native and TFC academy grad Theo Corbeanu is a winger on loan from Spanish club Granada and played most of the game against D.C. United. TFC has recently acquired Norwegian international striker Ola Brynhildsen from Danish Superliga club Midtjylland, and he is yet to see any minutes with the club. One recent signing is Zane Monlouis, who is signed to a permanent deal from Arsenal. Monlouis was captain of the Arsenal U-21 squad and came on for the closing minutes of TFC’s opening match. 

There’s been a lot of uncertainty with Lorenzo Insigne this off-season, with the Italian reportedly rejecting moves away from the club but also being spotted in training with the team this week. Can you give us some insight into what’s going on with his situation? Is there a chance he’ll play this weekend?

CB: It was a bit of surprise last week to learn that Insigne did not make the trip with the team to Washington. However, he’s been spotted training with the team this week and leaves some room for speculation as to what Toronto FC’s management is doing with him currently. In the preseason matches, Insigne was not featured with any of the starting XIs and tended to see the pitch with the reserves and younger players. Multiple reports indicate that Insigne is not in the club’s plans for this year and that it is trying to move on from the Italian. Whether that means a complete buyout, a mutual contract termination, or something else remains to be seen. I wouldn’t bet on Insigne playing on Saturday night.

Are there any players who will be unavailable due to injury, suspension, etc.? What is your projected starting XI and score prediction?

CB: Central defender Nicksoen Gomis missed the season opener due to a calf injury and may not be available. New signing Ola Brynhildsen is working on regaining match fitness and might not be included in the lineup.

Fraser will probably roll out a 4-4-2 lineup again this weekend in Orlando. Here’s my starting XI: Sean Johnson; Richie Laryea, Kevin Long, Sigurd Rosted, Raoul Petretta; Federico Bernardeschi, Deiby Flores, Alonso Coello, Tyrese Spicer; Theo Corbeanu, Jonathan Osorio.

*Score prediction not provided.

Thank you to Corey for helping get us caught up on this year’s iteration of Toronto FC. Vamos Orlando!

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