Canada's last hope for an MLS Cup this season, CF Montreal, will open their playoff campaign by welcoming Orlando City to Saputo Stadium on Sunday.
Montreal finished the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference and are currently on a six-match unbeaten run, while the Lions reacted well on Decision Day at home to the Columbus Crew, coming back to win 2-1.
Match preview
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From the early stages of the 2022 MLS campaign, it was clear this was not the same Montreal team that we saw a year ago, when they missed the postseason on the final game of the regular season.
Over this 34-game campaign, manager Wilfried Nancy has seen a group of relentless players in the attack, scoring the second-most goals in the Eastern Conference (63).
In what was the 400th regular season encounter for this franchise since 1993, Montreal came out swinging on Decision Day away to Inter Miami, putting three in the back of the net in the opening half, the eighth time in this campaign that they had managed to score that many times in a single half.
Montreal may have won more road games this season than any MLS club, but they also had some strong showings at home, capturing three points on nine occasions and conceding a goal or fewer 10 times.
Historically, this Orlando-Montreal match-up has produced a lot of quality on both sides, with an average of 3.2 goals per game, with the results being pretty split as the Canadians have won eight times and Orlando coming out on top in seven matches, while three encounters ended in a draw.
They have scored the opening goal in four consecutive league fixtures, dropping only three contests in 2022 when drawing first blood.
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In the nick of time, Orlando City were able to rescue a season which looked to be going down the drain, ending a two-game slide on Decision Day to climb above the Crew for the final playoff spot.
That was only the second time this season that Oscar Pareja had seen his side win despite trailing at the half, as the Colombian boss has now guided this team to three straight postseason appearances.
Orlando have historically played in three playoff games and have never been able to emerge victorious over a 90-minute span.
Their only postseason triumph came in the shortened 2020 campaign, when they defeated New York City FC 6-5 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 tie.
The Lions could only capture five road contests all season, the second-fewest among the seven Eastern Conference playoff sides, dropping their lone postseason fixture away from home, 3-1, against Nashville SC a year ago.
Nine of their winning goals in 2022 came in the second half, with the Lions earning 12 points this season thanks to an injury-time strike.
While they captured their first trophy in franchise history this year, winning the U.S. Open Cup, there was a drop in the quality of play for them in the attacking third, scoring only 44 goals, the fewest in a Lions' 34-game season since 2019 (also 44).
Team News
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Kei Kamara scored his ninth of the year for Montreal on Decision Day, as the Sierra Leone striker has now managed to find the back of the net against 26 of the 28 teams in MLS, while he was named as a finalist for the Humanitarian and Comeback Player of the Year.
Nancy was on the shortlist for the Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year Award alongside Jim Curtin and Steve Cherundolo, while Sunday could be the final appearance for Djordje Mihailovic in a Montreal uniform as the American will join AZ Alkmaar in January.
Ahmed Hamdy remains on the sidelines because of a problem in his right leg, while Tomas Giraldo is out with a foot injury.
Facundo Torres was the hero for Orlando City on Decision Day as his 84th-minute penalty was enough to push them over the playoff line, Junior Urso notched the equaliser 11 minutes into the second half and Antonio Carlos had to sit out of that match due to yellow card accumulation.
Pareja made three changes to his starting 11 last Sunday, bringing in Ercan Kara, Ruan and Ivan Angulo as Carlos, Benji Michel and Tesho Akindele were on the bench.
Robin Jansson has a problem with his right lower leg, while Alexandre Pato and Joey DeZart will miss this match, having previously suffered right knee injuries.
CF Montreal possible starting lineup:
Pantemis; Miller, Waterman, Camacho; Lappalainen, Kone, Wanyama, Johnston; Mihailovic; Kamara, Quioto
Orlando City possible starting lineup:
Gallese; Ruan, Schlegel, Moutinho, Carlos; Araujo, Urso; Torres, Pereyra, Perea; Kara
We say: CF Montreal 2-0 Orlando City
CF Montreal look to be the real deal, with quality in abundance and a level of consistency that few teams could match over this campaign.
Orlando deserve a ton of credit for their refusal to roll over and die when all looked lost, but it is hard to envision them posing much of a threat to a Montreal side brimming with confidence and ultra-motivated, knowing that at least one of their superstars will not be back next season.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
