2020 MLS Regular Season – Week 22
Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City SC
Red Bull Arena – Harrison
November 1 – 7:30 PM ET
TV: TSN, TVA Sports
STREAMING: MLS LIVE on ESPN+ in US
LOCAL TV: FOX 35 Plus
The Montreal Impact are looking to bounce back from consecutive defeats and remain above the playoff line in the East when they host Orlando City SC at Red Bull Arena Sunday.
The Impact (7W-12L-2D) are coming off a 1-0 loss to Nashville SC, their fourth defeat in their last five matches. Thierry Henry's side are treading water, just two points above the playoff line with two games remaining.
Orlando City SC (9W-3L-8D) rebounded from a loss to Inter Miami that ended their Supporters' Shield dreams to send Atlanta United to the brink of elimination with a decisive 4-1 victory Wednesday. The Lions will be looking to fend off surging NYCFC to hold onto a top-four seed in the East and a first-ever playoff game at Exploria Stadium.
Montreal Impact
While Nashville SC became the sixth expansion team to clinch a playoff berth in their first season, their 1-0 victory over the Impact further complicated things with another defeat as a result of more "schoolboy errors."
"We talked about it, we saw clips, we saw videos this morning and the day before, and the day before, and they’re still looking at the ball and not looking at the run,” Henry said. “We have to learn. The only thing you can do is to repeat, learn and hopefully one day they will understand but at the minute it’s costing us games.”
Despite the struggles, Samuel Piette has confidence heading into these final two games that Montreal can book their postseason ticket.
“Obviously we know that Orlando is a strong side,” Piette said. “They’re pretty strong and they will come out strong because they’re having a good season. But I think we can compete with any team and it’s on us to show that passion and desire that we can stay above that red line.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Mathieu Choinière (M) - ankle injury
- OUT: Lassi Lappalainen (M) - shoulder injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Luis Binks (D)
- International duty: None
Orlando City SC
After having their Shield dreams dashed by their newest rival, Orlando City SC made sure to unleash more pain on their oldest MLS rival, trashing Atlanta United 4-1 Wednesday night. After losing six of the first eight matches in MLS play, the Lions were 2W-0L-2D against them this season, turning this rivalry decidedly purple in 2020.
“We have had obviously two weeks where we have conceded a goal in the last minute and given away points. Tonight, it was an urgency for us to win those three points and they were big," Oscar Pareja said after the match. "A very good game, we can explain it in different phases. They tried to react, but we were very clear in front of the goal today and I think that’s the highlight. Congratulations to the players, the boys who came back from injury too and started performing again. Slowly we’re getting the team complete again and we’re happy.”
- Updated team roster
- Injury Report:
- OUT: Dom Dwyer (F) - knee injury
- OUT: Joao Moutinho (D) - groin injury
- Suspended: None
- Suspended after next caution: Joao Moutinho (D), Mauricio Pereyra (M), Rodrigo Schlegel (D)
- International duty: None
Series Matchup at Impact
- Impact: 3 wins, 10 goals
- Orlando City SC: 2 wins, 10 goals
- 1 draw
Officials
- Referee: Robert Sibiga
- Assistant Referees: Brian Dunn, Chris Elliott
- 4th Official: Luis Arroyo
- VAR: Jorge Gonzalez
