Hello, Mane Landers! I hope all is well with you down in Florida, and belated happy Mother’s Day to all you moms out there. I spent the weekend in Texas catching up with friends and family. Let’s wish a happy birthday to Orlando City goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau, who turns 32 today. We’ve got plenty to cover today, so let’s get to the links.

Lions Fall to CF Montreal

Orlando City fell 2-0 to CF Montreal at Stade Saputo Saturday on a pair of late goals. After a scoreless first half, the Lions were minutes away from escaping with a point on the road but conceded twice in stoppage time, with former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson adding the insurance goal for Montreal as Orlando City left Canada with zero points. The Lions could not capitalize on their few scoring chances throughout the match. Orlando City returns home for its next match on Wednesday against the Philadelphia Union at Inter&Co Stadium.

Banda’s Late Goal Lifts Pride Over Courage

The Orlando Pride defeated the North Carolina Courage 1-0 at Inter&Co Stadium Friday, as Barbra Banda scored the lone goal late in the second half to help the Pride secure a much-needed win, snapping their two-match losing streak. Banda scored her eighth goal of the season, and she has scored five goals in the last three matches. The Pride will be on the road this week, facing the Boston Legacy Tuesday at Gillette Stadium, followed by another match Saturday against the Denver Summit at Dick’s Sporting Goods Park.

OCB Beats Atlanta United 2 on the Road

Orlando City B defeated Atlanta United 2 with a goal in each half, winning 2-0 at Turner Soccer Complex in Athens, GA Sunday. Gustavo Caraballo scored the opening goal from the spot to give the Young Lions the early lead. In the second half, Issah Haruna added another goal for the Young Lions to put it away and take three points. OCB will be back on the road Sunday to face New England Revolution II at Beirne Stadium in Smithfield, RI.

Americans Abroad

Austin Trusty played a full 90 minutes as Celtic won its sixth consecutive match across all competitions 3-1 against Rangers. Gio Reyna scored his first goal of the season for Borussia Monchengladbach to snap his 16-month goal drought at the club level, but his side fell 3-1 to FC Augsburg. Weston McKennie played 86 minutes for Juventus in a 1-0 win against Lecce. In the Women’s FA Cup semifinals, Alyssa Thompson played 78 minutes for Chelsea, but her side fell 3-2 to Manchester City after extra time. Lindsey Heaps scored for OL Lyonnes while Lily Yohannes and Korbin Shrader were also in action in a 4-1 win against Paris Saint-Germain to lift the Coupe De France trophy. Later today, Brenden Aaronson and Leeds United will face Tottenham Hotspur.

Free Kicks

• Check out this video on Orlando City’s social media pages featuring some players writing letters to their moms for Mother’s Day.

• The 2027 Leagues Cup tournament will reportedly continue to be played in the late summer window, with Major League Soccer switching to a summer-to-spring season schedule.
• The Chicago Fire have reportedly made an offer to Barcelona to sign Robert Lewandowski.

• James Rodriguez will reportedly leave Minnesota United this week and will not return to the club after the World Cup concludes this summer.
• Slavia Prague chairman Jaroslav Tvrdik stated that the club will impose a lifetime ban to fans who invaded the pitch as the club was minutes away from defeating rivals Sparta Prague Saturday to win the Czech First League title before the match was abandoned.
• Leandro Trossard scored a late winner in the second half to help Arsenal beat West Ham United 1-0 to keep its five-point lead over Manchester City and pull a step closer to clinching the English Premier League title.

• Barcelona defeated rival Real Madrid 2-0 in El Clasico Sunday to seal back-to-back La Liga titles.

That will do it for me today, Mane Landers. Enjoy your Monday, and I’ll see you next time.

Orlando City wore its “Sunken Treasure” kits against Montreal and went ahead and sunk right back to looking like one of the weakest teams in Major League Soccer, losing 2-0 on the road against fellow Eastern Conference bottom dweller CF Montreal. It is not one of the takeaways, but I wish Orlando City would take away that jersey and find another road kit, because playing in yellow gold has not worked for the club this season.

Here are my five takeaways from the match.

Wasted Chances Early

Orlando City looked decent early, and created several chances in the opening 20 minutes of the game. Unfortunately, the Lions were wasteful with those chances, in particular a glorious opportunity from an Iago ball over the top to Eduard Atuesta. The Colombian midfielder was in alone on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, which he did, but he also missed the goal entirely with his shot. After a good start the Lions were on their heels for most of the rest of the first half, but it could have been a completely different game had they gone ahead early, which they should have on Atuesta’s wasted breakaway.

Supersub Spicer, not Superstarter Spicer

Tyrese Spicer got the start in the midfield, and he did not bring the same energy or the magic as a starter that he has brought in recent games when he came in off the bench. He only completed eight passes during his 67 minutes and he never really looked threatening, including on the two shots he took. Befitting of his last name, he seems to be a tasty player when used in small amounts, but when used in large amounts it generally does not work, as it did not on Saturday in Montreal.

Lack of Second-Half Adjustments

Martín Perelman made all the right moves during halftime and the second half last weekend against Miami, but he decided to stick with the starters deep into the game against Montreal even though the offense looked somewhere between mediocre and average. In fairness to him, the Lions played better in the second half than the first, but they did not actually look good, and several players — in particular Iván Angulo and Spicer — struggled. Perelman finally brought on Duncan McGuire for Spicer in the 67th minute, but McGuire looked tentative and was wasteful with his opportunities. The only other move Perelman made in regulation was David Brekalo for Justin Ellis, which seemed designed more to hold on for a point on the road than to try to win the game. Montreal is not a great team and this was an eminently winnable game, but the tactical plan and execution were poor and the lack of substitutions to try to find a winner was worse.

Done In by Former Lion, Part 1

Orlando City played better in the second half than in the first, and late in the game the Lions seemed the team more likely to find a late winner. But then former Lion Luca Petrasso made a run up the left side of the field and into the box, and Iago, fearing a handball, tucked his arms behind his back while trying to stay in front of him. Iago briefly lost his balance while doing so, running past Petrasso, and the Montreal left back cut inside. Robin Jansson was there to stop Petrasso but he too lost his balance, but unfortunately fell right into Petrasso, giving Montreal a penalty kick out of what did not look to be a major threat. Daniel Ríos converted, and Orlando City was suddenly behind with very little time remaining.

Done In by Former Lion, Part Deux

Both teams made substitutions after the Montreal goal, and the home team brought on former Lion Dagur Dan Thórhallsson to try to hold the lead and take all three points. Despite trailing by a goal, Orlando City could not get organized, get out of its own end (a problem throughout much of the match), and into any kind of coherent attacking play. The Lions decided they would play the ball in the air multiple times instead of trying to complete passes on the ground in their own defensive third. They turned the ball over on an aerial ball and Thórhallsson subsequently blew right by Brekalo and hit what was probably one of the best-placed shots of his life, a rocket from outside the box that banked in off the far post, just past the outstretched hands of Maxime Crépeau. Former Orlando City players played major roles in both Montreal goals, which was especially brutal considering that the Lions barely generated more than one half of an expected goal as a team and their former teammates accounted for two goals against them.

Those are my takeaways from Orlando City’s thoroughly disappointing 2-0 loss on the road in Montreal. The Lions will need to regroup quickly, as they return home to play the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday in another bottom-of-the-Eastern-Conference matchup.

Let us know your thoughts about the Montreal match in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

A glorious win in Miami is now very much in the rearview mirror, as Orlando City conceded two goals in stoppage time in a 2-0 road loss at CF Montreal. The Lions (3-8-1, 10 points) put up a defensive fight for 90 minutes, but could not put away their few chances. A far-from-clinical Montreal (4-7-0, 12 points) took the whole match to score, but Daniel Rios converted a penalty conceded by captain Robin Jansson and former Lion Dagur Dan Thorhallsson added a second to add insult to injury.

“We work. We work,” Orlando City interim coach Martin Perelman said after the match when asked how the team can respond to its latest road fiasco. “I can tell you that we won at the same minute against Miami and against New England, so sometimes you score, you win in the last minute, and it’s great. Sometimes the opponent does the same. This is the game, and this league particularly has this characteristic. We work.”

Perelman’s lineup featured Maxime Crepeau in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Jansson, Iago, and Griffin Dorsey. Eduard Atuesta and Braian Ojeda started in central midfield between wingers Tyrese Spicer and Ivan Angulo. Martin Ojeda and Justin Ellis led the attack up top.

The match started with sloppy play by both teams, including a howler by Ivan Angulo when he whiffed on a lofted clearance from an early Orlando corner kick and allowed a Montreal breakaway ending with a Wikelman Carmona shot in the second minute that Crepeau saved. Atuesta made his own sloppy contribution with a giveaway near the Orlando box in the fourth minute, leading to a shot by Ivan Jaime that was blocked.

The Lions slowly began to manage some possession and decent buildup play over the next few minutes, largely due to Montreal’s lack of real pressure.

Montreal had its moments as well, but neither side created anything overly threatening.

Orlando eventually fashioned its best scoring chance of the game and should have taken the lead in the 17th minute after Iago’s excellent long ball sent Atuesta in behind. The Colombian was 1-v-1 with Montreal goalkeeper Thomas Gillier and his shot attempt went past the keeper but also went wide of the left post. Spicer followed up in the 22nd with a shot from a wide angle, but it was right into Gillier’s hands.

Both teams struggled to put together anything resembling quality buildup play, but the Lions managed a decent look, through an Iago and Justin Ellis combo, leading to a shot on goal in the 29th minute by Dorsey. However, the shot lacked power and was again right at Gillier.

Orlando’s entire game was plagued by turnovers in its own half, but Montreal failed to take advantage of them. Martin Ojeda’s giveaway in the midfield led to a quick Montreal counter and a powerful Carmona shot that went just wide of the net in the 34th minute.

The Lions compounded their giveaways with unnecessary fouls, conceding a lot of set pieces. Dorsey committed an overly aggressive challenge in the 37th which led to a Montreal free kick from outside the 18-yard box on Montreal’s attacking left, but Matty Longstaff sent it over everyone and the end line for a goal kick.

Orlando conceded another Montreal free kick from about 30 yards out in the 41st minute when Braian Ojeda roughted up Carmona, who was heading away from goal. The wall did its job though, blocking the free kick, and Montreal had to recycle.

Another Montreal corner in the 42nd minute went off the back of Iago’s head and hit the left post, nearly resulting in an own goal. Prince Owusu fouled Crepeau as he was on the ground trying to cover the loose ball, taking the relentless pressure off for the moment. It didn’t last long, however, as Orlando was firmly on the back foot for the rest of the half, with Montreal recycling the ball after every Lions turnover and continuously putting balls in the box. Longstaff missed just wide in the 44th on the last look of the first half, which ended with no stoppage time, bringing a break the Lions badly needed.

At the half, Montreal held the edge in possession (53.9%-46.1%), shots (9-3), and corners (4-1). The Lions led in passing accuracy (89.0%-87.7%) and shots on target (2-1).

Montreal almost immediately struck in the second half with an aggressive opening attack off the restart. Owusu took a pass from Jaime in front of goal but opted to pass in front of goal rather than shoot and it went across the top of the six-yard box, letting the Lions off the hook.

Orlando City eventually worked its way into the Montreal half a few times in the second half but could sustain no pressure. Most of the successful movements went through Ellis. The Homegrown forward displayed some fancy footwork, which led to a free kick from a few yards outside Montreal’s 18-yard box on the right. Martin Ojeda left his shot too low and it deflected off of the Montreal wall, and the chance went begging.

The match was opening up, and Jaime sent a shot right at Crepeau in the 51st minute. A Montreal corner kick followed and Jansson headed it away.

Angulo managed to break loose down the left side in the 54th minute but put too much on a pass intended to send Spicer in on goal, spoiling a promising attack. Some composure and an excellent pass from Ellis sent Spicer into the box in the 56th minute, but the Trinidad & Tobago international was off balance and his shot from the left was wide, hitting the back of the outside netting.

The Lions earned a corner in the 57th minute. The ball in was a good one and Iago got a head to it, but he sent the shot right at Gillier.

Montreal charged back into Orlando’s half in the 58th minute, with former Lion Luca Petrasso sending a long-range shot that appeared to be dipping under the bar. Crepeau tipped it over the net.

Orlando fought off the following corner, but failed to clear it decisively. Another shot in deflected out for yet another corner. The Lions cleared the initial ball but Victor Loturi fired over the bar after Montreal recycled the attack.

Ellis, having an excellent night, sent a through ball for Dorsey streaking down the right side, and the fullback sent in a low cross. However, Spicer couldn’t get to the cross and Montreal put it over the end line for a corner. Montreal cleared the ensuing set piece and Atuesta earned a yellow card for a high arm on Loturi trying to win it back in the air.

Atuesta blocked a Loturi shot in the 64th minute and Jansson followed with a block on Jaime’s follow-up shot. Montreal earned yet another corner in the 67th minute which nearly resulted in a goal if not for an awkward play in the box by Owusu, who missed the ball on his attempted header.

Orlando attempted to press Montreal’s defense again with a few forays into their half, but they were not really able to test Gillier. The best chance came from a long distance shot by Martin Ojeda in the 71st, but he didn’t get good contact on the soft effort that was easily saved.

Ellis sparked yet another Orlando counterattack — this time from the ground — when he went down under pressure in the 73rd minute, sending Angulo in behind with substitute Duncan McGuire and Martin Ojeda in support. Angulo made a good pass to McGuire, but the chance was broken up by the Montreal defense.

Montreal earned a corner in the 75th that Orlando defended, but only to the top of the area, where Dawid Bugaj sent in a shot off target. Orlando City immediately coughed the ball up again, leading to another corner, which was also skied over the end line, this time by Owusu.

A minute later, the Lions again gave the ball away in a bad spot, igniting a Montreal counter. Owusu was in alone on goal. Crepeau came off his line to cut down the angle, and Owusu rounded him and shot. A sliding Iago made a vital clearance, leading to another Montreal corner that Crepeau claimed.

In the 88th minute, Orlando managed a rare counterattack, with McGuire turning down a shot from a tight angle and waiting for help near the end line. With time running out and seeing no options, McGuire took his shot from about the same place as he could have made an attempt earlier, but this time Montreal’s defense had arrived and Bugaj easily blocked his effort.

Montreal responded with pressure in the Orlando half, and the Lions countered with another attack down the right side, with Dorsey and Martin Ojeda combining. Dorsey sent in another low cross that Montreal cleared away. It was only cleared as far as Martin Ojeda, though, who passed to McGuire, but McGuire took a heavy touch and couldn’t settle it, and the hosts cleared again.

As the game entered stoppage time, Petrasso came down the left and dribbled into the box. Jansson stepped to him but appeared to lose his balance. The captain made contact with Petrasso, who went down and a penalty was immediately awarded.

Rios took the kick for Montreal and roofed the ball into the net over Crepeau, who had guessed the correct direction, putting Montreal up 1-0 in stoppage time.

Despite chasing the game, Orlando continued to give the ball away cheaply and could not mount any kind of organized attack. Then, late substitute and former Orlando City favorite Thorhallsson picked up a ball outside the area and blasted a long-distance shot past a diving Crepeau, ending any hope for the Lions to take anything from the match.

At full time, Montreal led in every statistic, including possession (53.8%-46.2%), passing accuracy (87.7%-86%), corners (11-3), shots (23-9), and shots on target (5-4) .

Orlando City was not able to build on its comeback win at Miami and in fact regressed to the kind of performance that got the Lions beat by two 5-0 scorelines and one 6-0 scoreline. The only difference on this night was that Montreal lacked precision in front of goal to punish Orlando for conceding numerous set pieces.

“Consistency is what every team looks for. It’s not easy, every time we lose, we speak about that,” Perelman said. “We will continue working hard, so little by little, we continue growing, and [with] as much time [as] we have, the better [it is] for us. We will have the break for the World Cup. We will take advantage of that moment to to work, and for sure, the consistency and the results are going to come like the consistency in the performance, the way is little by little coming.”

“We just need to go on the training ground, and then just do our repetitions on and off the ball, to be sharper on and off the ball.” Spicer said. “I think that’s what will help the team. [I] think the confidence, the morale, is high in the team. I just think, unfortunately, today we just couldn’t convert.”

Orlando returns to Inter&Co Stadium on Wednesday when the Lions will host the Philadelphia Union, which is currently the only team below them in the Eastern Conference.