CF Montreal vs. Orlando City SC 10/16/22 - Major League Soccer Picks & Predictions

On Sunday, CF Montreal hosts Orlando City FC in a Eastern Conference round one MLS Cup playoffs match. Montreal finished the regular season second in the conference table at 20-5-9 on 65 points with a goal difference +13. Montreal finished with the second most victories in the MLS behind just the 21 won by LAFC. U.S.-based clubs have won just two of the 12 playoff matches in the MLS played in Canada.

Montreal reached the MLS postseason coming off a four-match winning run which is the first time the club has won four straight matches since 2018. However, Montreal has not won five consecutive matches in the MLS since 2015. Romell Quioto was the leading goal scorer during the regular season for Montreal with 15, while Djordje Mihailovic and Kei Kamara each scored eight. 

Orlando City SC finished seventh in the conference table at 14-6-24 on 48 points with a goal difference of -9. Orlando City has reached the MLS Playoffs for a third consecutive season but has lost two of its previous three postseason matches. Orlando City was able to secure its playoff berth by defeating the Columbus Crew 2-1 at home but prior to that win, Orlando City had lost two straight matches in MLS play.

Ercan Kara was the leading scorer for Orlando City during the regular season with 11 goals and was the only player for the Lions to score double digits in goals. In each of its eight seasons in the MLS, Orlando City has had at least one player score 10 goals or more. Facundo Torres was the second-leading scorer for Orlando city with eight goals. Torres was the leader for Orlando City in assists with eight.