ORLANDO, Fla. (Oct. 19, 2021) - Orlando City SC (12-8-9, 45 points) returns to The City Beautiful on Wednesday, Oct. 20 to host CF Montréal (11-10-8, 41 points) at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET with coverage set to begin at 7 p.m. on FOX35 PLUS.
Wednesday’s match, presented by FAIRWINDS, will also be available to stream on LionNation TV while being transmitted on Real Radio 104.1 in English and Acción 97.9FM, 810AM in Spanish.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to keep getting close to our first objective [of making the playoffs]. Montréal comes in that battle of getting points as well and surely it’s going to be a very intense game for both teams,” Head Coach Oscar Pareja said. “The frequency of the games obviously is a factor that we all have at this moment with the proximity of the games, but also there is a time where you have to go for what you need. We’ve played them already here, had a very difficult game where we had a red card and they took advantage of that. Now we’re waiting for a different game obviously and a different outcome.”
City will look for its third-consecutive victory on Wednesday night in a match with a potential six-point swing in the Eastern Conference Standings. The Lions enter the fixture at fourth in the Eastern Conference, four points clear of Wednesday’s opposition currently sitting at seventh. The two sides will square off one more time this season following their midweek matchup, with City traveling to Stade Saputo on Decision Day.
The Lions come into the midweek after taking a 1-0 shutout victory from FC Cincinnati on the road this past weekend. Júnior Urso scored the eventual game-winner in the 13th minute of play, with goalkeeper Pedro Gallese tallying three saves en route to the Club’s eighth clean sheet of the campaign to set a new single-season franchise record.
Nani leads the Lions with nine goals this season, followed by Daryl Dike with six. Mauricio Pereyra continues to hold the team-high in assists with 10 to his credit.
Montréal enters Wednesday’s contest fresh off a 2-2 draw with Philadelphia Union this past Saturday. A 33rd-minute goal from Matko Miljevic gave the visitors the lead only to be answered by two second-half finishes from the Union. A stoppage-time equalizer from Sunusi Ibrahim forced the two sides to split the points on the afternoon, with Ibrahim’s finish coming in the 95th minute.
Romell Quioto leads Montréal with eight goals this season, followed close behind by Mason Toye with seven. Djordje Mihailovic leads the side with 14 assists on the year, good for second in Major League Soccer.
Following Wednesday’s match, City will return home on Sunday, Oct. 24 to host the New England Revolution at Exploria Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m. ET with tickets available here or by calling (855) ORL-CITY.
