Orlando City heads to Canada looking to secure back-to-back MLS victories for the first time this season after a stunning 4-3 comeback win over Inter Miami.
The Lions (3-7-1, 10 points) take on CF Montreal (3-7-0, 9 points) at Stade Saputo on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
“The mood is good. Of course, happy for the victory, but as well knowing that it’s over, we rest after the game, because we came from a tough calendar,” Orlando interim head coach Martín Perelman said. “We’re working again and working hard as always, because we want to finish the best as we can.”
Orlando trailed Miami 3-0 early, plagued by the same defensive lapses that have defined its season so far. But Martín Ojeda pulled a goal back before halftime and completed a hat trick in the second half to seal the improbable comeback.
The Lions have scored multiple goals in four consecutive games across all competitions. They now face a Montreal side they defeated 2-1 earlier this season, featuring a defense that has conceded 23 goals in 10 games. Orlando knows it can score, and the team is prepared to take the game to Montreal.
“We trust, we trust, and we work, we work, and we need to still [keep] working, because we have a lot of things to fix, a lot of things to improve,” Orlando midfielder Eduard Atuesta said. “We still have a lot of room, a lot of space to arrive at the roof that we want to arrive. So that’s good for us at these moments.”
Despite the offensive surge, Orlando remains vulnerable defensively. The Lions are conceding a league-worst 2.91 goals per game and have yet to keep a clean sheet in MLS play. Montreal has won two consecutive home matches after previously going winless in 18, providing a serious threat to Orlando’s inconsistent backline.
Following the trip to Montreal, Orlando returns home to host the Philadelphia Union on Wednesday.