ORLANDO, Florida – The Montreal Impact lost 2-1 against Orlando City SC this Saturday night at Camping World Stadium in Florida. Cyle Larin scored a brace for the Lions after Ignacio Piatti scored the Impact’s 200th MLS regular-season goal.
With the loss, the Impact (4-4-4, 16 pts) drops in the Eastern Conference standings but remains only two points from the top of the Conference. Orlando City (3-3-5, 14 pts), meanwhile, are sixth, two points behind Montreal.
“It was disappointing to lose at the end,” said head coach Mauro Biello. “We need to do a better job in managing the game – when to calm things down, and when to accelerate. It was an almost perfect first half, but the tying goal was disappointing.”
Another quick start by Montreal
Piatti opened the scoring only four minutes in. Receiving a long Wandrille Lefèvre pass down the right, Johan Venegas cleverly redirected the ball in the middle for Lucas Ontivero, sprinting forward. After taking a couple of touches, Ontivero played the ball wide by the penalty area to Piatti, whose shot deflected off of Servando Carrasco before landing into the net. This was Piatti’s sixth away goal of the season – a team record –, his seventh of the season overall and his 20th career MLS goal.
“We lost, but the entire team played well tonight,” said Ignacio Piatti. “We have to work, but if the team plays like this in the next games, we’re going to win many. We’re going back home for a tough game, but the entire team wants to win.”
Orlando levelled things up only two minutes before the break. After a soft foul called on Lefèvre, Kaká’s service found Larin. His header went in at the far post.
Larin scored the winner in the 87th minute. After a give-and-go between Kaká and Júlio Baptista, the former crossed low for Larin, whose fierce shot from close range hit the target – a play that could have been called back for offside.
The Impact had made all kinds of attempts to double its lead in the first half, but couldn’t. Piatti notably came close to lifting the ball over goalkeeper Joe Bendik and in, on 23 minutes, but the ball landed on top of the net. Orlando’s equalizer went against a solid Montreal first half performance.
“We have to be able to not concede or to kill the game,” said Wandrille Lefèvre. “We had chances, and it’s a shame that we lost, but we have to look at the many positives of tonight’s game. We played a fine game and moved the ball well.”
Other opportunities came Montreal’s way in the second half before Larin’s second. Dominic Oduro, on a beautiful Kyle Bekker pass in the 54th minute, and Ambroise Oyongo, in the 78th minute, forced Bendik into good saves.
The Montreal backline also struck the right chords on many occasions. In the 59th minute, Lefèvre made a highlight-reel intervention, tracking back and making a brave, inch-perfect tackle on Kaká in the penalty area.
Next game
The Impact will play its next game at its Stade Saputo home on Saturday, May 28, at 8pm EDT against the LA Galaxy (RDS, 98,5fm & TSN Radio 690). The Impact would like to remind supporters that this game has been rescheduled from Sunday, May 29, and that all tickets dated May 29 for this game will be valid at all Stade Saputo entrances on May 28. Excellent individual tickets, as well as season tickets and Pick-4-Packs, are still available on impactmontreal.com.
LINEUPS
MTL – GK-Evan Bush; D-Hassoun Camara (Maxim Tissot 86’), Victor Cabrera, Laurent Ciman, Ambroise Oyongo; M-Marco Donadel, Kyle Bekker, Lucas Ontivero (Harry Shipp 66’), Johan Venegas (Michael Salazar 79’), Ignacio Piatti; F-Dominic Oduro
Subs not used – GK-Maxime Crépeau; D-Kyle Fisher; M-Jérémy Gagno-Laparé, Patrice Bernier
ORL – GK-Joe Bendik; D-Brek Shea, David Mateos, Rafael Ramos (Kevin Alston 34’), Seb Hines (Tommy Redding 40’); M-Adrian Winter (Julio Baptista 75’), Carlos Rivas, Cristian Higuita, Kaka, Servando Carrasco; F-Cyle Larin
Subs not used – GK-Earl Edwards; M-Antonio Nocerino, Kevin Molino, Luke Boden
GOALS
MTL – Piatti (Ontivero) 4’
ORL – Larin (Kaka) 43’
ORL – Larin (Kaka, Baptista) 87’
CAUTIONS
ORL – Winter 12’
ORL – Shea 41’
MTL – Bush 45+1’
ORL – Rivas 45+2’
ORL – Higuita 53’
ORL – Alston 66’
