Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman’s reign kicked off on Saturday night with a 2-1 victory over CF Montreal at Inter&Co Stadium.
“We have been working hard, and we try to be pragmatic, we try to be versatile, we try to put a lot of energy in a difficult context to bring some happiness to our people. This is what the players did,” Perelman said. “This is how we embrace the situation and fight. But again, I think this game belongs to the players. This game belongs to the players. And the players did an amazing effort. This is only because of them.”
Duncan McGuire opened the scoring with his first goal of the season in the 18th minute. Marco Pasalic’s shot bounced off a defender, Ivan Angulo then fired it at the crossbar, and McGuire was there to bury it into the open net for a 1-0 lead.
Montreal evened it up at 1 in the 24th minute thanks to a goal off a set piece. Wiki Carmona’s corner kick met the head of Prince Owusu, who had no trouble getting it past Javier Otero to draw level.
Martin Ojeda made it 2-1 in the 31st minute off an impressive bit of team play. Angulo and McGuire connected on the breakaway before Angulo centered the ball for Martin Ojeda to blast home.
Montreal (1-3-0) was threatening in a nervy last 15 minutes, but defensive substitutions for Orlando (1-3-0) held firm against Montreal’s attack to keep the lead and earn the first win of the season for the Lions.
“I think the boys showed a lot of energy and heart tonight,” added McGuire after the match. “I think just trying to replicate that every week from here on out, I think that’s the main key that we’re going to focus on, and I think that’s what we’re going to need if we’re going to be successful this season.”
Next up for the Lions is a trip to Nashville next Saturday night.