Our prediction for this MLS match:
Exploria Stadium will host Thursday’s MLS game between Orlando City and Club de Foot Montreal. The Lions aim to bounce back from a 3-0 loss to Atlanta United, with the team eyeing their eighth home win of the process. Orlando City obviously produce much better showings at home than on the travels, and they are surely capable of beating the Canadians in front of home fans. Experienced Brazil attacker Alexandre Pato remains in the recovery room, alongside Pedro Gallese.
Montreal, on the other hand, aim to bounce back from a 1-0 loss to Nashville. The Canadians failed to impress in their last league match, and seeing that the Lions are a real force to be reckoned with at home, we are tempted to put our money on Oscar Pareja’s troops. Mason Toye is sidelined with injury, but he should be the only absentee in the away team.
Highlighted Player (Nani):
Nani is a product of Sporting CP’s famous youth academy. The pacey winger played 58 games for the capital club in Primeira Liga, scoring nine goals and in 2007 he joined Premier League side Manchester United. He signed a five-year deal with the Old Trafford outfit for a fee of €25.5 million.
He joined his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo at Man Utd and it has to be noted that Nani he spent eight seasons at the club. In 2014 he returned to Sporting (loan) and at the end of the 2014/2015 Primeira Liga campaign he moved to Turkish side Fenerbahce.
In 2016 he signed a three-year deal with Valencia for an undisclosed fee. Speaking of his international career, Nani did remarkably well to win the 2016 European Championship trophy with Portugal and it has to be noted that he started against France in the title game. The Portuguese winger won the 2007/2008 Champions League trophy with Manchester United.
Highlighted Team (Montreal CF):
Club de Foot Montréal is a Canadian soccer team, but they compete in Major League Soccer. They are a member of the Eastern Conference and they have been participating in the major league since 2012. Montreal welcome their opponents at Saputo Stadium and the capacity of the club’s home ground is 20.801.
The construction of the stadium cost CA$17 million and the venue was opened on May 18, 2008. The Saputo family invested $7.5 million in the construction of the stadium and, as a result, the venue was named Saputo Stadium. Montreal CF did remarkably well to make it to the CONCACAF Champions League final in the 2014/2015 season, but Mexican team America proved to be a big catch for the Canadian outfit in the title game.
Speaking of the Canadian championship, the Impact won their third domestic trophy in 2014, with the team beating Toronto FC in the final of the tournament. Montreal Impact play their home matches in blue and black shirts and black shorts, while the colour of their away kit is white.