Orlando City returned home after a disastrous road trip that resulted in it’s seventh straight loss in MLS play. On a night were the club celebrated Pride Month and honor and remember the 49 victims of the tragedy at Pulse Nightclub, The Montreal Impact came into Orlando City Stadium and ruined the night of the team and the 23,498 in the stands by beating the home squad 2-0. It was Orlando’s seventh straight loss in MLS play.
Orlando, clearly weary after traveling over 12,000 miles in the past week and winning City’s U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 match on Wednesday. The team was also facing it’s first match in MLS play after the firing of former head coach Jason Kreis, even thought the US Cup win was over DC United.
After a 20 min rain delay, the match flowed well until the 13th minute, when Montreal’s Matteo Mancuso fired a cross shot from the left side that was mistakenly headed by Lamaine Sene past Orlando goalie Joe Bendik for an own goal, giving the Impact a 1-0 lead. This was the14th time in 16th matches that Orlando conceded the first score and it’s fifth own goal.
Once they had the Lead, Montreal pulled back and flooded their defense, making the gaps tighter, keeping Orlando striker Dom Dwyer locked up for most of the match.At the end of the first half, Orlando had only 2 shots on goal and none on target. The team looked lifeless, and tired.
“I think the first half we had next to no energy and that might’ve been me thinking people could get through what they went through on Wednesday night, thinking we’d get a lift from some people we brought in, and none of it seemed to work,” Lions interim head coach Bobby Murphy said. “There’s nowhere to hide in this. It’s not good right now. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. That’s a choice. We just gotta keep going and go back to work.”
At the start of the second half, the Lions came out with a spark. They were aggressive in their presses and attacked, but the Montreal defense held strong.
In the second half, Murphy inserted rookie Chris Mueller for Amiro Tarek and replaced Will Johnson with Scott Sutter, who made his first appearance since April 8, in the 66th minute. PC came on for Toia in the 74th minute.
Ignacio Piatti made it 2-0 in the 84th minute. The play was originally called offside but the goal was awarded upon Video Review.
Orlando City faces a tough schedule ahead. Orlando will be on the road for 4 of the next 5 including Open Cup against Philly. 4 of their next 6 games are against playoff teams.
The Lions return to Orlando City Stadium on Saturday, July 14 to host Toronto FC.
