Orlando City SC, the host of MLS is Back and the first team to qualify for the knockout round, is also the first team to advance to the quarter finals, defeating the Montreal Impact 1-0 on Saturday night at the ESPN Wide World of Sports.
The game winning goal came from Orlando forward Tesho Akindele, but was gifted by Montreal. Defender Rod Fanni, under pressure from Nani, tried to toe-poke a pass back for his goal keeper, but Clement Diop began to rush off his line at the same time, and the back-pass by-passed Diop and Akindele had an easy goal.
Orlando controlled most of the game with 57 percent possession and 10 shots. However, Orlando also failed to make the most of many of those chance, missing the target too often, resulting in just two shots on target.
Orlando dominated the first half, and probably should have had a goal to show for it. But Montreal held on to the shut out going into half time.
Impact manager Thierry Henry made a change at the half, changing from a 4-3-3 to a 5-3-2.
Montreal improved, but not enough to actually threaten the Orlando goal.
The last 15 minutes showed a significant improvement to the first 15, where Orlando was dominant.
Meanwhile, Montreal failed to attack the Orlando goal enough and only registered one shot on goal, a fairly weak Sam Piette header that Orlando keeper Pedro Gallese was able to hold onto.
Impact manager Thierry Henry, acknowledged before the match that Orlando would be a tough opponent.
“They are on a run and doing well since the beginning of the tournament,” Henry said of Orlando. “They have a coach who’s been in the league for a very long time. So it’s going to be a tough one for us. This is a team that we do respect a lot but anything can happen in one game.”
Orlando, undefeated so far in MLS is Back, now has three wins and one draw. Montreal, meanwhile, won just one game in MLS is Back, losing a third on Saturday night, and are eliminated.
Orlando City will play the winning of LAFC vs. Seattle Sounders in the quarter finals on Friday, July 31st.
