Leagues Cup: Orlando City vs CF Montréal
When: Friday, 8:00 p.m
Where: INTER&Co Stadium, Orlando, FL
TV: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
Radio: 96.9 the Game FM, (English)
Here are five storylines to watch on Friday as the Lions host CF Montréal in Leagues Cup play:
A Record Day
Orlando City had two players tie a couple of Club records in the Lions’ last match before the start of Leagues Cup 2024, a 1-1 draw against New York City FC. With the assist on Ramiro Enrique’s goal, Midfielder Martín Ojeda went level with former Lion Daryl Dike for most consecutive games with a goal contribution at seven. Enrique on the other hand tallied his fourth goal in as many games, becoming the fourth player in Club history to score in four straight league matches, joining former Lions Dike, Cyle Larin and Nani.
Back in Leagues Cup
It’s that time of year and the Lions are once more to enter into Leagues Cup action with the start of Friday’s match. Last season the Lions won their group following a 1-1 draw against fellow MLS side Houston Dynamo FC, and subsequently won the extra point 5-4 in the penalty-kick shootout, and a 3-2 win over Liga MX side Santos Laguna to advance to the knockout round. The Lions then matched up against intrastate foes Inter Miami CF, falling in the knockout rounds via a 3-1 scoreline.
The Wall in the Fortress
The Lions enter Friday’s matchup against CF Montréal having not conceded a goal against the Canadian-based side at Inter&Co Stadium in their last 309 minutes played in the City Beautiful, dating all the way back to October of 2021. Orlando City’s current three-game unbeaten streak at Inter&Co Stadium against Montréal is their longest in the two teams’ all-time series history.
All Even on the Year
Orlando City’s opponent to open up its Leagues Cup 2024 campaign is a side that the Lions have already faced off against twice this year in league action, CF Montréal. The Lions and Montréal played each other at Inter&Co Stadium to open up their respective Major League Soccer slates, playing to a scoreless draw. A little over a month later the two sides met for the final time in their 2024 MLS regular season schedules as the Lions traveled north to Stade Saputo and took a 2-2 draw from their trip, leaving the two sides even on the yearly series.
Orlando’s Omaha Olympian
Orlando City Forward Duncan McGuire, who was officially named to the U.S. roster for the 2024 Paris Olympics, became the Lions’ first-ever Olympian as the United States kicked off their Olympic tournament run. McGuire and the U.S. fell in their first matchup of the Group Stage by a 3-0 scoreline against tournament hosts France. The United States has qualified for its first Olympic games in soccer since the Beijing 2008 games and will next take on New Zealand on Saturday, July 27.
Milestone Tracker:
- Duncan McGuire is one goal away from tying Dom Dwyer (24) for fifth on Orlando City’s all-time scoring list and two goals away from tying Kaká (25) for fourth
- Facundo Torres (22) is one assist away from passing Kaká (22) for fourth on the Club’s all-time assist chart and two assists away from tying Chris Mueller (24) for third
- Torres also sits just six goals away from the all-time Club record set by Cyle Larin (44) across all competitions
