Lions Look To Extend Unbeaten Run Over Montreal Impact Reserves
USL PRO leaders, Orlando City SC, (9-0-3, 30 points) will face the Montreal Impact Reserves at ESPN Wide World of Sports tonight. The Lions are riding a 12 game USL PRO unbeaten streak, two shy of City’s single season record for matches without a loss in league play.
Kick-off for the Montreal fixture is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. EST, and the match will be live-streamed via YouTube.com/OrlandoCitySC.
Despite playing nine matches in the span of 27 days, Orlando still managed to go unbeaten in six league matches and two Open Cup games during the month of May, with the Lions’ only loss occurring against AS Roma during an international friendly on May 23.
However, this weekend’s fixture against Montreal will feature a different challenge for City as three of its key starters- Kevin Molino, Darwin Ceren and Tommy Redding- have been called up by their respective national teams. Molino currently leads USL PRO in points (23) and goals scored (9), while Ceren and Redding have been integral pieces in the OCSCS defense and midfield.
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“Obviously we’re missing three players who have been important for us recently, but when one door closes another one opens for another two or three players,” said Head Coach Adrian Heath. “I would never prevent players from playing for their country, because I know how much it meant to me as a player. We’d love to have them here but I think it will be great for them to play against four or five of the best players in the game.”
For the Montreal Impact Reserves, Saturday’s match will mark its first game against an USL PRO side so far this season. The Canadian-based club dropped its first MLS Reserve League game, but won its following match against the New York Red Bull Reserves, behind a hat-trick from Forward Anthony Jackson-Hammel.
