By Alonso Contreras
In a match that brimmed with intensity and heart, Orlando City SC entered their home ground on the back of a spotless preseason record and a commendable runner-up finish in last year’s standings, surrounded by a palpable sense of winning atmosphere. For the first time, the air was thick with expectations from specialized Major League Soccer journalists, many of whom had tipped the Lions as strong contenders to hoist Trophies this season.
The match kicked off with CF Montréal aggressively pushing forward, eager to dent Orlando’s aspirations early on. However, they were met by the formidable presence of Pedro Gallese, (widely acclaimed by many as the best goalkeeper in Major League Soccer), who showcased his reflexes with several key saves in the first ten minutes of the match.
Gradually, Orlando City found their rhythm, orchestrating their offense with precision. Nicolas Lodeiro emerged as the creative hub, making passes into the space for the likes of Torres and Angulo, while Araujo and Cartagena probed the flanks with crosses, aiming to disrupt the Montréal defense. Dagur and Santos also contributed with their crosses into the box.
Brekalo came tantalizingly close to opening the score with a well-directed header, only to be denied by the Montréal’s goalkeeper. Orlando’s newly signed Slovakian central defender made a notable impact, displaying a commendable performance despite his brief days with the team training sessions.
The game took a more aggressive turn in the second half as Orlando intensified their offensive endeavors. The strategic substitution of Cartagena for Ojeda, leaving Araujo as the sole center defensive midfielder in the field, signified their intent. Despite generating numerous chances, the Lions were plagued by offsides, narrowly missing out on converting their dominance into goals.
The substitution of Brazilian midfielder Felipe Martins injected vigor, defensive solidity, and an attacking threat into Orlando’s midfield. Martins even found the net, only for his effort to be disallowed due to a marginal offside decision. While the match didn’t yield the desired outcome for Orlando, the performance underscored a promising trajectory for the season ahead. Head Coach Oscar Pareja remains optimistic, emphasizing the journey’s length and cautioning against premature judgments.
As Orlando City sets its sights on the upcoming CONCACAF Champions League clash against Cavalry FC at Inter&Co Stadium on Tuesday, the quest for progression to the tournament’s next stage is palpable. With their sights firmly set on redemption, the Lions are poised to continue their pursuit of glory on the continental stage.
Head Coach Oscar Pareja “On not being able to find the connection between the players in tonight’s game “
“We made a couple of changes in the way we structured our team in the first half just because of the way Montreal plays and we couldn’t find space. We had the ball, but it wasn’t an advantage getting into the next third or putting them in the lower block in their defensive third. We were slow to take our team there. So, it was much more part of the strategy that I had that didn’t work in the first part of the game.”
Match Notes:
- Midfielder Nico Lodeiro made his first-ever Orlando City start in the midfield.
- The match also saw defender David Brekalo make his Lions debut after joining the Club in the offseason.
- Goalkeeper Pedro Gallese maintained his home opener shutout streak, now five-straight without allowing a goal in Orlando-debut matches.
- With the result, the Lions are still undefeated in the Club’s 10 Home Openers since joining MLS. The draw was the seventh of all Club home openers.