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MLS Playoffs | First Round
Oct 17, 2022 at 1am UK
Saputo Stadium
OC

Montreal
2 - 0
Orlando City

Kone (68'), Mihailovic (90+9' pen.)
Kamara (52'), Kone (61')
FT(HT: 0-0)

Carlos (14'), Angulo (31'), Moutinho (77'), Pereyra (90+2')

Preview: CF Montreal vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups

:Headline: Preview: CF Montreal vs. Orlando City - prediction, team news, lineups:
Sports Mole previews Monday's MLS Playoffs clash between CF Montreal and Orlando City, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Sports Mole

Canada's last hope for an MLS Cup this season, CF Montreal, will open their playoff campaign by welcoming Orlando City to Saputo Stadium on Sunday.

Montreal finished the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference and are currently on a six-match unbeaten run, while the Lions reacted well on Decision Day at home to the Columbus Crew, coming back to win 2-1.


Match preview

From the early stages of the 2022 MLS campaign, it was clear this was not the same Montreal team that we saw a year ago, when they missed the postseason on the final game of the regular season.

Over this 34-game campaign, manager Wilfried Nancy has seen a group of relentless players in the attack, scoring the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference (63).

In what was the 400th regular season encounter for this franchise since 1993, Montreal came out swinging on Decision Day away to Inter Miami, putting three in the back of the net in the opening half, the eighth time in this campaign that they had managed to score that many times in a single half.

Montreal may have won more road games this season than any MLS club, but they also had some strong showings at home, capturing three points on nine occasions and conceding a goal or fewer 10 times.

Historically, this Orlando-Montreal match-up has produced a lot of quality on both sides, with an average of 3.2 goals per game, with the results being pretty split as the Canadians have won eight times and Orlando coming out on top in seven matches, while three encounters ended in a draw.

They have scored the opening goal in four consecutive league fixtures, dropping only three contests in 2022 when drawing first blood.

In the nick of time, Orlando City were able to rescue a season which looked to be going down the drain, ending a two-game slide on Decision Day to climb above the Crew for the final playoff spot.

That was only the second time this season that Oscar Pareja had seen his side win despite trailing at the half, as the Colombian boss has now guided this team to three straight postseason appearances.

Orlando have historically played in three playoff games and have never been able to emerge victorious over a 90-minute span.

Their only postseason triumph came in the shortened 2020 campaign, when they defeated New York City FC 6-5 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 tie.

The Lions could only capture five road contests all season, the second-fewest among the seven Eastern Conference playoff sides, dropping their lone postseason fixture away from home, 3-1, against Nashville SC a year ago.

Nine of their winning goals in 2022 came in the second half, with the Lions earning 12 points this season thanks to an injury-time strike.

While they captured their first trophy in franchise history this year, winning the U.S. Open Cup, there was a drop in the quality of play for them in the attacking third, scoring only 44 goals, the fewest in a Lions' 34-game season since 2019 (also 44).

CF Montreal form (all competitions):


Orlando City form (all competitions):



Team News

Kei Kamara scored his ninth of the year for Montreal on Decision Day, as the Sierra Leone striker has now managed to find the back of the net against 26 of the 28 teams in MLS, while he was named as a finalist for the Humanitarian and Comeback Player of the Year.

Nancy was on the shortlist for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award alongside Jim Curtin and Steve Cherundolo, while Sunday could be the final appearance for Djordje Mihailovic in a Montreal uniform as the American will join AZ Alkmaar in January.

Ahmed Hamdy remains on the sidelines because of a problem in his right leg, while Tomas Giraldo is out with a foot injury.

Facundo Torres was the hero for Orlando City on Decision Day as his 84th-minute penalty was enough to push them over the playoff line, Junior Urso notched the equaliser 11 minutes into the second half and Antonio Carlos had to sit out of that match due to yellow card accumulation.

Pareja made three changes to his starting 11 last Sunday, bringing in Ercan Kara, Ruan and Ivan Angulo as Carlos, Benji Michel and Tesho Akindele were on the bench.

Robin Jansson has a problem with his right lower leg, while Alexandre Pato and Joey DeZart will miss this match, having previously suffered right knee injuries.

CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Miller, Waterman, Camacho; Lappalainen, Kone, Wanyama, Johnston; Mihailovic; Kamara, Quioto

Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Ruan, Schlegel, Moutinho, Carlos; Araujo, Urso; Torres, Pereyra, Perea; Kara


We say: CF Montreal 2-0 Orlando City

CF Montreal look to be the real deal, with quality in abundance and a level of consistency that few teams could match over this campaign.

Orlando deserve a ton of credit for their refusal to roll over and die when all looked lost, but it is hard to envision them posing much of a threat to a Montreal side brimming with confidence and ultra-motivated, knowing that at least one of their superstars will not be back next season.


For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.


Top tip

Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com are predicting under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they are predicting for this game and for more of their tried-and-tested football tips.Under 3.5:data


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Premier League Table

Eastern Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Inter MiamiInter Miami34228479493074
2Columbus Crew34199672403266
3FC CincinnatiCincinnati341851158481059
4Orlando City34157125950952
5Charlotte FCCharlotte FC34149114637951
6New York City FCNY City34148125449550
7New York Red BullsNY Red Bulls34111495550547
8CF MontrealMontreal341110134864-1643
9Atlanta UnitedAtlanta341010144649-340
10DC United341010145270-1840
11Philadelphia UnionPhiladelphia34910156255737
12Toronto34114194061-2137
13Nashville SCNashville3499163854-1636
14New England RevolutionNew England3494213774-3731
15Chicago Fire3479184062-2230

Western Conference

TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Los Angeles FCLos Angeles34197863432064
2Los Angeles GalaxyLA Galaxy34197869501964
3Real Salt LakeSalt Lake341611765481759
4Seattle SoundersSeattle34169951351657
5Houston DynamoHouston34159104739854
6Minnesota UnitedMinnesota Utd34157125849952
7Colorado RapidsColorado34155146160150
8Portland TimbersPortland341211116556947
9Vancouver WhitecapsVancouver34138135249347
10Austin FCAustin34119143948-942
11Dallas34118155456-241
12St Louis City34813135063-1337
13Sporting Kansas CityKansas3487195166-1531
14San Jose EarthquakesEarthquakes3463254178-3721
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