Orlando City vs. CF Montreal: Photo Gallery

Orlando City welcomed CF Montreal to Inter&Co Stadium Saturday and was maybe a little too welcoming. After a slow start, the Lions built themselves into the game and took the lead. As has been a home trend of late, they couldn’t find a second goal and let Montreal hang around, and a late penalty allowed the visitors to steal a point with their only shot on goal of the entire match in a 1-1 draw.

Montreal started the match on the front foot, holding over 60% possession over the first 15 minutes, but couldn’t generate any chances. Orlando grew into the match after that, with Martín Ojeda putting a flashy but unchallenged full volley over the net. Other threats developed after that but fell apart before any shots could be fired. One one of these builds eventually enabled Marco Pašalić to draw a foul at a dangerous spot outside the 18-yard box. Despite the close range, Ojeda played the restart short to Muriel, who teed it up for Ojeda just outside the width of Montreal’s defensive wall. Ojeda buried the resulting shot in the 28th minute for the first goal.

The Lions got out on the run a few minutes later and a lovely combination between Ramiro Enrique and Ojeda also found the net, but Ojeda was offside by half a step. Montreal returned the favor shortly after that — also in transition — but this time Prince Owusu was clearly offside before receiving a through ball and finding the net.

The second half was pretty flat by both teams. Orlando again started slowly, but neither team really generated chances of significance. Montreal finally broke Owusu into the box in the 82nd minute and the striker managed to sell his way into a penalty, which he himself converted.

After the penalty, Orlando managed to keep some pressure, but again could not generate much in the way of actual chances. Alex Freeman had a shot blocked by the defense in stoppage time, followed by a Nico Rodriguez deflected shot to Montreal goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois. Shortly after that, the full time whistle blew for more frustratingly dropped home points.

Hopefully the photos from the game will provide more enjoyment than the game result. Orlando will try again at home on Wednesday against New York City FC.