Orlando City SC wasted no time in unleashing its fury with a 4-1 victory over CF Montréal to kick off opening night of the 2024 Leagues Cup on Friday at INTER&Co Stadium.
The hosts started the match with an offensive onslaught, suffocating CF Montréal goalkeeper Sebastian Breza with attempts, but the Canadian stood tall with a flurry of saves in front of his goal throughout the opening five minutes.
Ultimately, the pressure was too much from the Orlando frontline as Dagur Thorhallsson broke through with the opening goal in the 7th minute.
Gabriele Corbo threatened from long range in the 25th, but his attempt was punched away by Orlando City goalkeeper Pedro Gallese.
Facundo Torres extended the lead for the Lions in the 37th minute, meeting a dangerous ball into the box from his Uruguayan country man César Araújo.
Ramiro Enrique made it a three-goal lead in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, to give the home side a healthy lead into halftime.
Orlando City continued its thirst for goals into the start of the second half as Martin Ojeda penned his name on the scoresheet in the 57th with a left-footed strike.
Josef Martínez and Ariel Lassiter, two halftime substitutions for CF Montréal, connected in the 69th to cut the deficit for the Canadians. The goal marks a fourth all-time for Martínez in the Leagues Cup.
Lassiter earned a penalty in the 73rd minute to send Martinez to the penalty spot. This time, the Venezuelan did not succeed from the spot kick as Gallese stretched his left arm to deny the attempt and cut off the spark to a potential comeback.
The next encounter in the East 2 group comes on Tuesday, as CF Montréal returns to Canada to host Liga MX club Atlético de San Luis at Stade Saputo. Orlando, with three points in hand, awaits San Luis for the final match in the group on Sunday, August 2.
