MLS Series: CF Montreal faces Orlando without Romell Quioto as starter

SUMMARY: CFM 1 – Orlando 0 (2nd half)

CF Montreal is playing Sunday night against Orlando City SC in the Eastern Conference quarter-final match at Saputo Stadium.

This is the same opponent that prevented the CFM from qualifying for the playoffs last season in the very last meeting.

Montreal buzzed seriously in the opposing territory in the first half, but it was Ercan Kara who got the best scoring chance for Orlando. Kara came with speed past James Pantemis but her shot was too high.

Shortly after, Lassi Lappalainen could not control a leap in front of the net and score for CFM, who more than once claimed a video penalty during this half, and once precisely because of a collision on Lappalainen that the referee did not reprimand.

Ismaël Koné is having a strong game and he was finally rewarded in the 68th minute by scoring the first goal of the game.

The Bleu-blanc-noir cannot count on its top scorer, Honduran Romell Quioto, in the starting lineup. The 31-year-old striker picked up an injury representing his country during the international break, and after training with his teammates on Friday he finds himself on the substitutes’ bench.

CF Montreal hasn’t achieved the desired success in recent years, having not made the playoffs since 2016. Several players from the current team will take advantage of this duel against Orlando City SC to take their first steps in career during the fall tournament, including Samuel Piette, with the team since 2017.

Defender Kamal Miller faces his former team. Miller started his MLS career with Orlando City SC in 2019, but he hasn’t been used as much as hoped. The team did not protect him for the 2020 expansion draft and he was selected by Austin FC before being immediately traded to CF Montreal in exchange for a general allocation amount and a first-round pick for 2021.

CF Montreal posted a record of one win and one loss against Orlando City SC this season. He won the last duel by a score of 4-1, on May 7 at Saputo Stadium.

Our XI at Stade Saputo 👊

Our #MLSCupPlayoffs 11v @OrlandoCitySC.@BMOfr #CFMTL pic.twitter.com/2fdM2ACndL

— x – CF Montreal (@cfmontreal)
October 16, 2022