Orlando City (12-9-12, 48 pts) puts it all on the line against CF Montréal (12-11-10, 46 pts) on Decision Day this Sunday, Nov. 7, with the two teams duking it out for a spot in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs. The match is set to kick off at 3:30 p.m. ET and will be televised locally on FOX35 PLUS and LionNation TV, with live on-site pre-game coverage from Stade Saputo beginning at 3 p.m. ET. Local radio coverage will be available from 3 p.m. ET on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9 FM in Spanish.
Here’s everything you need to know about Montréal:
Key Transactions and Player News
Key Additions - Head Coach Wilfried Nancy (promoted), CAM Djordje Mihailovic (Chicago Fire), CB/LB Kamal Miller (Orlando City), CB Kiki Struna (Houston Dynamo), RW Joaquín Torres (Newell’s Old Boys, loan), LB Zorhan Bassong (Cercle Brugge), CF Bjørn Johnsen (Ulsan Hyundai), AM Matko Miljevic (Argentinos Juniors)
Key Departures - Head Coach Thierry Henry, F Bojan (Vissel Kobe), CB/RB Jukka Raitala (Minnesota United), CM Amar Sejdic (Atlanta United), CF Erik Hurtado (Columbus), GK Clement Diop (released)
News - Montréal is getting healthy in attack just in time for its playoff push. Forwards Romell Quioto and Lassi Lappalainen, who have both missed several games over past weeks, both came off the bench for the Canadian side in its 2-0 win over Houston on Wednesday night. They also seem to have found a temporary answer to their No. 9 question in the form of Sunusi Ibrahim, who has started the past four matches in all competitions for Montréal and scored against Toronto on October 23.
Take a look at Montréal’s full roster here.
Team Form
CF Montréal has been hovering around the playoff line all season, and it’s managed to finagle its way into a “win and you’re in” situation on the final day. That 2-0 win over the Dynamo on Wednesday night was a crucial piece, with two defenders in Rudy Camacho and Kamal Miller getting the Montréal goals on corner kicks. The victory was the first for Montréal in the league in five matches.
Head-to-Head
Orlando City has gone 0-1-1 against Montréal in 2021, falling 4-2 on September 15 and drawing 1-1 on October 20. Both games were at home, where Orlando have uncharacteristically struggled against Montréal over the years. The Lions have had better luck on the road, with a 3-0 win in their last trip to the Stade Saputo in 2019 and a 1-0 victory at Montréal’s pandemic base Red Bull Arena in 2020. Orlando is 6-7-3 overall against Montréal in all competitions.
Rasmussen University Fact
Montréal technically qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs last year due to the expanded format, but they were knocked out in the play-in round. The last time Montréal appeared in the postseason proper was 2016, when they went on a Cinderella run as a 5-seed, toppling D.C. United and the top-seeded New York Red Bulls before falling to Toronto FC in the Eastern Conference Finals.
