ORLANDO, Fla. (October 2, 2016) – In its penultimate home match of the regular season, Orlando City SC (7-11-14, 35 points) dropped a 1-0 decision to the Montreal Impact (11-10-11, 44 points) on Sunday afternoon.
“Obviously, we’re all very deeply disappointed. We all put a tremendous amount into that game. We really gave our hearts and souls to it, from the build-up the past several days, and even before that in the days before Toronto. We’ve given everything we can from coaching staff to the players’ point of view. I couldn’t be happier with the work everybody’s done [this season] and the effort everybody’s given,” Lions Head Coach Jason Kreis said. “But soccer can be a cruel game. I think that’s what we saw today. Because, in my opinion, we did everything but finish our chances. If we had finished one of our chances I think the game would’ve been much different.”
The Lions, playing with a sense of urgency, dominated the match from the opening whistle. Kreis put out a strong attacking lineup, with Antonio Nocerino, Kaká, Kevin Molino and Matías Pérez García behind All-Star striker Cyle Larin, and City controlled the run of play throughout the match.
Kaká was all over the pitch in the first half, creating threatening chances from each wing and up the middle. The Brazilian found Molino on the right wing just seconds into the match and later made a dashing run of his own up the left wing and into the box.
Orlando City posted one of its strongest defensive performances of the season, allowing a season-low four total shots. The Lions completed over 250 more passes than Montreal and held nearly 67 percent of possession.
Montreal found the match’s only goal in the 56th minute when Dominic Oduro got behind the back line and fired a shot into the back of the net.
The Lions turned up the intensity with Kreis introducing Júlio Baptista at halftime and later subbing off stalwart defensive midfielder Servando Carrasco for Colombian winger Carlos Rivas. Rivas, who had a goal, two assists and earned a penalty kick in City’s 4-1 win over Montreal on Sept. 7, immediately sparked the Lions’ attack. The 22-year-old lofted a gorgeous ball in for Baptista, but the Brazilian’s header went wide. Minutes later Rivas fired a long distance free kick just inches over the bar.
With Sunday’s loss, Orlando City is eliminated from playoff contention.
Orlando City gets two weeks off before its next game, when it heads to Philadelphia to take on the Union on Saturday, Oct. 16. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. ET. The Lions return to Camping World Stadium for the season finale when they host D.C. United on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Tickets to all City home matches are available at OrlandoCitySC.com or by calling 855-ORL-CITY. Follow the latest Orlando City news and updates via Facebook, Twitter,Instagram and YouTube.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS:
First Half
2’ Kaká works the ball to Kevin Molino on the right wing, but Molino’s centering feed is punched away by goalkeeper Evan Bush.
6’ Kaká makes a dashing run down the left wing and passes to Cyle Larin in the box, but the pass is intercepted and cleared.
11’ Kaká makes another good run, this time up the right wing, and earns the game’s first corner.
17’ Kaká receives a pass from Matías Pérez García above the box and dribbles through three defenders to earn a corner.
23’ Molino and Pérez García combined to find Kaká with space in the attacking third. The Brazilian takes a quick touch to Larin but Bush charges out to thwart the attack.
30’ The match is paused for a water break. Water breaks are observed when the wet bulb globe temperature exceeds 89.6 degrees.
33’ Larin controls the ball off his chest and streaks up the right wing, cutting into the box and earning a corner kick. Pérez García’s corner services misses Larin’s head by just inches.
38’ Pérez García lofts a long ball into the box for Larin but Bush comes out to make the catch.
41’ Kaká wins a ball on the left wing, dribbles into the box and lofts it in for Larin. Appeals are made for a handball but the referee rules play-on.
42’ Larin receives a pass from Kaká, turns and rips a shot from 30 yards out that whizzes by the post.
45 (+1)’ Molino lofts a beautiful ball in for Larin, who directs a header just wide of the post. Larin is ruled offside, though.
45 (+2)’ After two minutes of added time, the referee indicates the end of the first half. Orlando City 0, Montreal Impact 0.
Second Half:
46’ Coming out of the half, Brazilian supersub Júlio Baptista enters the match in place of Kevin Molino.
50’ Joe Bendik charges out to stop Ignacio Piatti alone in the box.
52’ Seb Hines enters the match in place of David Mateos.
53’ Kaká plays a give-and-go with Baptista to find space in the box before rifling to Larin in the six-yard box but the Canadian is well-covered as the ball flies across the face of goal.
54’ Luke Boden gets a ball on the edge of the area and drills a shot just over the bar.
55’ Larin plays the ball back to Kaká, who fires a shot on goal from the left side of the box.
56’ Dominic Oduro makes it 1-0 Montreal.
60’ Baptista fires a shot off the volley that Bush leaps to keep out of the top corner.
62’ Antonio Nocerino finds Boden on the left wing. Boden makes a first-time pass to Larin in the box but Bush somehow keeps it out.
64’ Carlos Rivas enters the match in place of Servando Carrasco.
68’ Rivas lofts a gorgeous ball in for Baptista but his header goes just wide.
70’ Baptista rips another shot just over the bar.
71’ Kaká earns a free kick 27 yards from goal. Rivas launches a screamer just over the bar.
74’ The match is paused for a hydration break.
84’ Seb Hines directs a header that Larin races onto but Bush pushes it out for a corner.
88’ Larin directs a header that Bush is forced to push over the bar.
90 (+6)’ After six minutes of added time, the referee ends the match. Orlando City 0, Montreal Impact 1.
Scoring Summary:
MTL - Dominic Oduro 56’
Misconduct Summary:
MTL - Kyle Fisher (Yellow Card) 65’
ORL - Luke Boden (Yellow Card) 77’
Lineups/Substitutions:
Orlando City SC - GK Joe Bendik, D Luke Boden, José Aja, David Mateos (Seb Hines 52’), Kevin Alston, M Servando Carrasco (Carlos Rivas 64’), Antonio Nocerino, Kevin Molino (Júlio Baptista 46’), F Matías Pérez García, Kaká, Cyle Larin
Substitutes Not Used: GK Earl Edwards Jr., D Tommy Redding, M Tony Rocha, Cristian Higuita
Montreal Impact - GK Evan Bush, D Wandrille Lefèvre, Laurent Ciman, Kyle Fisher, Ambroise Oyongo, M Marco Donadel, Hernán Bernadello, Patrice Bernier (Callum Mallace 70’), Dominic Oduro, Ignacio Piatti (Harry Shipp 90’), F Matteo Mancosu (Johan Venegas 78’)
Substitutes Not Used: GK Eric Kronberg, M Lucas Ontivero, F Didier Drogba, Michael Salazar
Details of the Game:
Time: 1 p.m. ET
Weather: Sunny
Date: October 2, 2016
Attendance: 26,041
Stats:
Possession:
ORL - 66.8 %
MTL - 33.2 %
Shots:
ORL - 22
MTL - 4
Saves:
ORL - 0
MTL - 5
Fouls:
ORL - 7
MTL - 13
Corners:
ORL - 12
MTL - 1
