April 19, 2025
CF Montreal and Orlando City SC play to a draw at Stade Saputo
CF Montreal welcome the visiting Orlando City SC to Stade Saputo tonight, for just their second home game of the season. It is no secret that Montreal has struggled greatly so far through the opening eight matches, including a loss in their last match, at home to Charlotte. Tonight’s result isn’t about to erase any of that pain.
Yet to register a win this season, CF Montreal are sitting in last place in the East, while Orlando City SC are currently in seventh place. The good news for Montreal, is that their Rival, Toronto FC, has also not yet registered a win on the year – and a win here tonight would bump Montreal ahead of Toronto. However, Orlando City is currently unbeaten in its last five games.
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However, the best CF Montreal could muster was a goalless draw in a match where they probably did deserved a better outcome. The effort was there, but CF Montreal’s inability to capitalize on their chances once again hurt them.
In the twenty-second minute, it looked as though Montreal had scored its first home goal of the season, when a Dante Sealy header looked to have beaten goalkeeper Pedro Gallese to the lower left corner – but the linesman had ruled Samuel Piette offside, and the goal was disallowed.
There was very little else to write home about until the final seconds of the first half, when a slide tackle in Orlando City’s box had the Montreal faithful screaming for a penalty kick, but referee Fotis Bazakos didn’t see things the same way, and no call was made.
The first half had been fairly uneventful and the second half didn’t have a whole lot to offer either, as both sides seemed content to play to a draw. Neither side finding any form or killer instinct.
In the 75th minute of the match, CF Montreal captain Samuel Piette became only the seventh player in franchise history to play 15,000-minutes – the first in the MLS. A minute late, Orlando City’s Rafael Santos received his second yellow card in a span of sixteen minutes, and was subsequently sent off, leaving his squad down to ten men.
CF Montreal already were already ahead on ball possession at that point, but even with Orland City down to ten men, they could only muster two real scoring threats – and even then, neither chance was convincing.
The best of those two chances came in the seventy-eighth minute, when Gallese tipped away a Caden Clark cross box shot from a tight angle. It was always going to be a tough sell to score from that spot, and Clark’s shot was fairly easily shunted away. Montreal striker Prince Owusu found a loose ball that was blocked by Orlando City defender David Brekalo, and the ball again came to Montreal player, but Dante Sealy’s shot was fired wide of the goal post.
With just under eight minutes to go in the game, Sealy again found the ball at his feet, but could only muster a weak shot that was easily saved by Gallese.
“It’s frustrating,” said Piette following the game. “We’re doing so many good things that the message in the locker room is that sooner or later it will pay off. We’re working well in training, the game plans are clear, and we’re dominating teams. Defensively, we’re more solid than ever. We have a very strong team with top-quality players. I think we’ve played another great game, but leaving points on the table is frustrating. My message to the players was to stick together. We’re doing so many good things that now’s not the time to point fingers. We need to work together because sooner or later things will turn around. All it takes is one win for us to gain momentum.”
Dante Sealy echoed Piette’s comments; “We’re creating a lot of chances, but I feel like we’re not having as much luck as other teams. For example, with the little bounces in the box or second chance opportunities. I feel like that will come; we just need to continue working hard. We dominated most of the game, and I think scoring will come. We just need to stay patient and keep working.”
Coach Marco Donadel said he was happy with his team’s performance.
“We have the desire to show something,” said Donadel. “Playing with the ball, trying to dominate others with our qualities. We have difficulty scoring despite many crosses and chances. We’re missing the final pass, the last shot and a bit of luck. It’s better to have a team that believes in what we’re doing. That’s the positive aspect. Over the last four weeks, we’ve been building something new and we’re in a good place. We just need to start focusing on the details.”
Read More:
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Orlando City SC came into the match with three players sidelined due to injury; Favian Loyola has a thigh injury, as does Nicolas Rodriguez, while Yutaro Tsukada is out long-term with a cruciate ligament injury and isn’t expected back until late November. On the other side of the pitch, CF Montreal have a fully healthy roster.
Luca Petrasso faced his former club for the first time, since joining CF Montreal in the January transfer window.
CF Montreal next head to New York City to take on the New York Red Bulls on April 26th, while Orlando City SC return to host Atlanta United FC on the same day.
