Preview: Orlando City SC vs. Montreal Impact | MLS is Back Tournament, Round of 16

MLSsoccer staff

2020 MLS is Back Tournament – Round of 16
Orlando City SC vs. Montreal Impact
ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
Sat., July 25 – 8:00 PM ET

TV: ESPN2, ESPN Deportes; TSN, TVA Sports in Canada

STREAMING: ESPN App; TSN App, TVA Sports App in Canada

Two clubs that have taken strong first steps under new coaches will now get a chance to make some more noise when Oscar Pareja’s Orlando City (2W-1L-2D) meet Thierry Henry’s Montreal Impact (2W-2L-1D) in the MLS is Back Tournament Round of 16. Neither team has enjoyed much success in the last few years, but their encouraging performances to start 2020 have offered hope that real success may not be far off.

Montreal hold the series edge, with a 6W-4L-2D record against Orlando. This will be the first win-or-go-home meeting between the two sides, given that Orlando are yet to qualify for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and the two teams compete in separate domestic cups.

Orlando City SC

The Lions have started to show flashes of being a dangerous attacking team under Pareja, regularly getting numbers forward in attack and averaging a pair of goals per game in the group stage, in part thanks to some standout showings from Chris Mueller. Despite being in a group with two Eastern Conference contenders (NYCFC and Philadelphia) and big-spending Inter Miami, Orlando looked right at home when the tournament kicked off and will be feeling confident of continuing a run that saw them finish top of the group.

Orlando go into the game with an injury concern over midfielder Junior Urso, who was forced off after impressing in the early going against Philadelphia. Forward Dom Dwyer, who sat out the last game, is another fitness doubt.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- QUESTIONABLE: Dom Dwyer (F) - muscle tightness
- QUESTIONABLE: Junior Urso (M) - muscle tightness
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None

Montreal Impact

The Impact got here by the skin of their teeth, but sometimes that’s all you need in a knockout tournament like this. After dropping their first two games, including a high-scoring Canadian Classique, the Impact were able to do just enough in a 1-0 win over D.C. United and advanced as one of the best third-placed teams.

Saphir Taider has been the star so far with three of Montreal's four goals, while they have a number of other intriguing attackers. Henry's focus in the early months of the job appears to have been on making the team secure defensively, but the former legendary forward needs to ensure that his largely inherited roster can provide a variety of consistent scoring threats.

Updated team roster
Injury Report:
- OUT: Steeven Saba (M) - foot injury
- OUT: Ballou Tabla (M) - adductor injury
- UNAVAILABLE: Rudy Camacho (D)
Suspended: None
Suspended after next caution: None
International duty: None