MONTREAL – Despite dominating in terms of scoring chances, FC Montreal lost 3-1 against Orlando City B on Sunday afternoon at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
Montreal created three chances to score in the first 10 minutes of the game. The clearest one came on a cross from Zachary Sukunda for Anthony Jackson-Hamel, who put his header on target. However, goalkeeper Mark Ridgers made the save.
Orlando City B scored first. In the 31st minute, Hadji Barry ran towards the net alone with the ball. He rounded goalkeeper Maxime Crépeau in the box before scoring in an open net.
FC Montreal replied with a goal right away. An Orlando defender fouled Kyle Fisher in the box on a corner kick. Alessandro Riggi scored on the penalty kick in the 35th minute with a low shot into the right corner.
In the 42nd minute, defender Aron Mkungilwa scored an own goal as he tried to chest the ball back to Crépeau.
As FC Montreal pushed for a tie at the end of the game, Orlando took advantage of a counterattack to score a third goal. Pierre Da Silva tallied on a cross from Antonio Rocha.
“We didn’t have a lot of success in front of the goal, which doesn’t reflect the good first half that we had,” said head coach Philippe Eullaffroy. “Ironically, we lost, but it was a really interesting game with a lot of action in front of the goal and many chances to score. That’s the positive point to keep in mind. The quality of the play is clearly better than what we saw at the beginning of the season.”
“We executed the technical staff’s game plan well,” said winger Alessandro Riggi. “We were a bit unlucky on two mistakes in the first half. It’s a shame, because I don’t think the score reflects the performance we had. If we look at the first half, I think we had ten shots. If we score one or two more goals, it makes the difference.”
FC Montreal will play its next game on Monday, July 4, at 7:30pm at Louisville Slugger Field against Louisville City FC. The next home game will be played on Saturday, July 9, at 3pm against the New York Red Bulls II at the Claude-Robillard Sports Complex.
LINEUPS
FC Montreal: Maxime Crépeau; Aron Mkungilwa, Kyle Fisher, Janouk Charbonneau, Zachary Sukunda; Louis Béland-Goyette, Cameron Porter* (Fabio Morelli 72’), Mastanabal Kacher (Nevello Yoseke 77’), Philippe Lincourt-Joseph, Alessandro Riggi (Yacine Ait Slimane 55’); Anthony Jackson-Hamel
Subs not used: David Paulmin, Jérémy Gagnon-Laparé, Heikel Jarras
*MLS players
Orlando City B: Mark Ridgers; Zachary Hayden, Conor Donovan, Devron Garcia, Michael Ambrose; Richmond Laryea (Johnny Mendoza 46’), Harrison Heath, Antonio Rocha, Pierre Da Silva (Andrew Ribeiro 85’), Lewis Neal; Hadji Barry (Michael Cox 63’)
Subs not used: Jake Fenlason, Kyle McFadden, Antonio Matarazzo, Marius Obekop
GOALS
ORL: Hadji Barry 31’
MTL: Alessandro Riggi (PEN) 35’
ORL: Aron Mkungilwa (OG) 42’
ORL: Pierre Da Silva 93’
CAUTIONS
MTL: Zachary Sukunda 11’
ORL: Richmond Laryea 17’
MTL: Louis Béland-Goyette 27’
MTL: Kyle Fisher 55’
ORL: Mark Ridgers 90’
EJECTIONS
ORL: Lewis Neal 84’
MTL: Louis Béland-Goyette 85’
