A surging CF Montreal side return to Saputo Stadium with a chance to close the gap in the Eastern Conference playoff picture when they battle Orlando City on Saturday.
Le CFM have won back-to-back MLS fixtures, capturing their first road triumph of the campaign last week, 2-0 at Sporting Kansas City, while the Lions won for only the second time at home this season, blanking the Los Angeles Galaxy by that same score.
Match preview
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After weeks of dismal showings and lopsided defeats, Montreal have plugged the holes in that once leaky defence, posting three successive clean sheets in all competitions, winning 2-0 on each occasion.
They have scored four goals in their last two MLS encounters, one more than this team managed in their opening seven matches of the new campaign, as this group seem to be coming together despite a long list of injuries.
No one will be more relieved by this team's turnaround than Hernan Losada, with the pressure on the new manager temporarily alleviated as his group are doing a much better job in their build-up while getting into dangerous areas.
It has taken longer than many people had anticipated, but these players are starting to adapt to their new coach's philosophy, playing with width and utilising their pace down the left.
Montreal are currently in a four-way tie for last in the Eastern Conference, but their recent winning run has put them in a more manageable situation, as they are a mere three points behind Toronto for the final playoff spot.
In 2022, Le CFM held a 100% record at home to Orlando City, defeating them 4-1 in the regular season before coming out on top with a convincing 2-0 triumph in the opening round of the playoffs that same year.
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We saw a role reversal for the Lions last Saturday as they got off to a fast start at home against LA, going into the half with a lead for only the second time all season.
That was just the third time in 2023 that Orlando had posted a clean sheet in this competition, three fewer than they managed at this same stage a year ago.
While the Lions have conceded in each away fixture so far in 2023, they have yet to lose on the road during this campaign, edging the Philadelphia Union at the end of March (2-1) and narrowly defeating Minnesota United last month (2-1) for their first come from behind victory of the campaign.
Oscar Pareja's side are following a similar path to their previous campaign as they have often looked unimpressive, yet they continuously find a way to keep their head above water, currently holding down one of the two wildcard positions in the Eastern Conference with 14 points.
Throughout 2023, the Lions have had a wait-and-see approach, rarely being the aggressors and often playing through the middle, relying on their transitional play, netting in the opening half just twice all season.
Saturday will be the first time they visit their neighbours to the north in 2023, where before last year, Orlando had been relatively successful, beating Montreal at Saputo Stadium in 2019 and 2021 by a combined score of 5-0, while also managing a 1-0 triumph in between during the 2020 campaign when they were the visitors in a match played behind closed doors in New Jersey.
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Team News
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Romell Quioto and Jules-Anthony Vilsaint might be out for this encounter as both Montreal players have right leg issues, Lassi Lappalainen has a sore left leg, Samuel Piette is still a few weeks away from being fit after previously sustaining an adductor strain, Mason Toye is dealing with a sore knee, Jojea Kwizera is expected to sit out because of an injured hamstring and Ilias Iliadis will be eligible to return from his red-card suspension.
Bryce Duke scored his first as a member of Le CFM, Mathieu Choiniere has a goal in back-to-back fixtures, notching the 500th for this club last weekend (1993-2023), while Jonathan Sirois earned his second successive MLS clean sheet, stopping all six SKC efforts.
Victor Wanyama picked up his 100th cap for Montreal last Saturday, Ariel Lassiter hit the century mark for MLS appearances, Aaron Herrera picked up his 20th career assist in Major League Soccer, while Sean Rea earned two assists, the first two of his MLS career.
Orlando City's leading goalscorer Duncan McGuire will be questionable this weekend because of a right lower leg issue, while Luca Petrasso and Mauricio Pereyra are each dealing with right thigh injuries.
Ercan Kara and Facundo Torres both found the back of the net in their victory versus the Galaxy as Pedro Gallese picked up the clean sheet, making three stops, becoming the most-capped goalkeeper in club history, surpassing Joe Bendik with his 93rd appearance for the Lions.
For Torres, last weekend was his 50th appearance with Orlando City across all competitions, while McGuire and Ivan Angulo both scored in their previous road fixture, which they won 2-1 over Minnesota United.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Sirois; Corbo, Camacho, Waterman; Herrera, Wanyama, Choiniere, Lassiter; Ibrahim, Offor, Duke
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Halliday, Carlos, Jansson, Smith; Gonzalez, Araujo, Cartagena, Enrique; Torres; Kara
We say: CF Montreal 1-0 Orlando City
Because of injuries, numerous Montreal youngsters have been pushed into the spotlight earlier than expected, though they seem to be gelling as a group, while not allowing much space in behind their defence.
Orlando have been a better road team in 2023, but they have not been very consistent from one game to the next, while they have been average at best in the attacking third this season.
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Top tip
Joel Lefevre
