Lions top Montreal to set team record with 54 MLS points
In the wake of its disappointing last two results, Orlando City is back to winning ways after a 3-0 thrashing of CF Montreal at Exploria Stadium on Saturday night.
A complete performance from kickoff was exactly what Orlando City (15-7-9, 54 points) needed to keep the momentum rolling as the East’s second-place Lions aim to cement their position near the top of the MLS standings heading into the playoffs.
“Our planning toward these three final games is obviously to get the most points we can,” said Orlando coach Oscar Pareja, whose team plays Wednesday at Nashville. “There is no time to rest; there is no time to think about nothing but just Nashville. Try to get those points, and then play New England here on next Saturday.”
The Revolution are two points behind the Lions, who conclude their regular season at Toronto on Oct. 21.
Ninth-place Montreal (11-164, 37 points) surrendered an easy own goal to Orlando on an unlucky bounce off goalkeeper Jonathan Sirois in the 19th minute. Forward Facundo Torres got on the end of a cross from Rafael Santos and his shot deflected off the post before hitting Sirois and rolling over the line to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
Orlando struck again in the 50th minute for a 2-0 lead. Santos delivered another excellent ball that Duncan McGuire got a touch to, landing the ball at the feet of Dagur Dan Thorhallsson, who coolly tapped it in on his first touch.
An Orlando counterattack in the 54th minute gave Torres another opportunity, and he tallied for his season’s 13th goal, just two behind the league-best mark of 15 in the MLS Golden Boot race.
The Lions set a club record for most points in an MLS season with 54 and extended their record for wins in a season.
“Everybody was just pushing and quietly we just get back to our best form,” Pareja added. “We are proud to belong to this organization, and our fans should be sure that we’re gonna do the best we can to put this team in the MLS Cup final and win it. I think we can do it.”