No Nani, no Mueller, no problem. Orlando City SC traveled to Red Bull Arena on Sunday night and grabbed a 1-0 win over the Montreal Impact. Daryl Dike scored the lone goal giving the Lions some breathing room as they chase a home playoff game and adding more pressure for the Impact on Decision Day.
The Lions broke the deadlock after 39 scoreless minutes. Mauricio Pereyra broke the Impact's backline with a precise throughball down for Dike. The rookie found himself through on goal and easily beat Clement Diop to score the opener.
The Impact made an ambitious double substitution a few minutes after halftime in hopes to change their fate with Thierry Henry sending in striker Anthony Jackson-Hamel and midfielder Amar Sejdic for Jorge Corrales and Emanuel Maciel.
Playing in desperation mode, the Impact almost got the goal they craved to salvage a point from this game but were denied by Pedro Gallese. In stoppage time, Bojan sent a powerful shot from outside the box but the Peru international dove towards the far post to make the save and confirm Orlando's victory.
Orlando was playing without two of their star players as Nani and Chris Mueller did not make the trip to New Jersey.
Goals
- 39' — ORL — Daryl Dike | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: With the win, Orlando solidified their presence in the top four of the Eastern Conference with two games left in their schedule. On their end, the Impact will need a win on Decision Day to ensure their ticket into the playoffs.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: Dike took advantage of a perfectly placed through ball from Pereyra down the middle to break the Impact’s defensive line.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Daryl Dike became Orlando’s leading goalscorer and gave his team a second straight win. The rookie striker, who Thierry Henry admitted the Impact were interested to SuperDraft earlier in the week, scored his seventh of the season.
Next Up
- MTL: Sunday, November 8 at D.C. United (3:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN1, TVA Sports in Canada)
- ORL: Wednesday, November 4 vs Columbus Crew SC (7:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US; TSN3 in Canada)
