Orlando City vs CF Montréal: Performance Ratings and Standout Player

Orlando City settled for a 1-1 draw against bottom-of-the-table CF Montréal at Inter & Co Stadium on Saturday night, conceding a late equalizer from the penalty spot. The Lions were without suspended duo Pedro Gallese and Robin Jansson, but still looked the better side for long stretches. However, failing to secure three points against a struggling Eastern Conference opponent will surely feel like a letdown.

Here’s a closer look at how each Orlando City player performed in the match.

Starters

GK, Javier Otero, 6 — The young goalkeeper had little involvement in the match, with Montréal’s only shot on target being the late penalty. Otero looked composed when called upon, completing 15 of 16 passes and handling his distribution well. With just 19 total touches and no saves required, his outing was largely uneventful but steady.

D, Rafael Santos, 6 — Filling in at left back with Brekalo sliding centrally, Santos was tidy in possession, completing 23 of 25 passes and recording three clearances. He wasn’t a major attacking presence and gave the ball away twice, but he provided decent stability on the flank before being subbed out in the 76th minute.

D, Rodrigo Schlegel, 5.5 — A solid outing was overshadowed by a crucial mistake. Schlegel led the team in touches (101) and completed a high percentage of his passes (94.2%). He was active defensively with five interceptions and five clearances, but his foul in the box led directly to the penalty equalizer. That single lapse took the shine off an otherwise impressive display.

D, David Brekalo, 6 — Back in his preferred center back role, Brekalo logged 58 touches and maintained a strong 95.9% pass success rate. He chipped in with two tackles and three clearances on defense and narrowly missed a headed goal just before halftime.

D, Alex Freeman, 6 — Returning from international duty, Freeman had a productive outing with 68 touches and two key passes. He was aggressive on defense with four tackles and also took two shots, one of which was blocked in the dying moments of the match. A strong all-around shift from the young right back.

MF, Martin Ojeda, 6.5 (Man of the Match) — Ojeda was Orlando’s biggest difference-maker on the night, curling in a brilliant free kick in the 28th minute to open the scoring. He completed 35 of 40 passes and was involved at both ends, tallying two tackles and an interception. While not dominant, his goal earned him the edge as Man of the Match.

MF, Cesar Araujo, 6 — Araujo put in a solid shift in midfield with 77 touches and 89.4% passing accuracy. He wasn’t particularly active in the final third but did draw five fouls and helped keep the midfield shape. He was subbed off in the final minutes as Orlando chased a late winner.

MF, Eduard Atuesta, 6.5 — One of the most composed players on the pitch, Atuesta completed nearly every pass (97.3%) and dictated much of the tempo. With two key passes and several strong defensive actions, he quietly had one of the better performances for Orlando. If not for Ojeda’s goal, he would’ve been a top pick for best on the pitch.

MF, Marco Pasalic, 6 — A quiet but useful shift from Pasalic, who completed 28 of 33 passes and won multiple fouls in good attacking areas. His free-kick draw helped set up Ojeda’s goal, and he worked hard defensively with two interceptions. Despite the lack of offensive numbers, he made subtle contributions.

F, Ramiro Enrique, 5 — Enrique struggled to make an impact in his limited involvement. He completed just eight of 12 passes, didn’t register any key plays, and his only shot was easily saved. Replaced in the 76th minute, Enrique couldn’t find rhythm and often lost the ball when trying to take on defenders.

F, Luis Muriel, 5.5 — Muriel had a mixed night, registering two key passes but losing possession too often in dangerous zones. His 24th-minute effort was easily saved, and while he got credit for the assist on Ojeda’s goal, it came from simply stopping the ball. Subbed out in the 59th minute after a shaky outing.

Substitutes

MF, Ivan Angulo (59’), 5.5 — Came on for Muriel and completed all nine of his passes. However, he didn’t create any chances and had just 17 touches. One blocked shot aside, Angulo didn’t make a major impression off the bench.

MF, Dagur Dan Thorhallsson (76’), 6 — Played a defensive role after entering for Enrique. In his 14 minutes, he completed seven of eight passes and added a tackle. A quiet but steady performance as the Lions tried to protect the lead.

D, Kyle Smith (76’), 6 — Replacing Santos late, Smith made his 200th appearance for the club. He completed nine of 10 passes, including a key one, and added a clearance. A milestone moment in an otherwise routine substitute appearance.

MF, Nico Rodriguez (88’), N/A — Came on late for Araujo and had four touches, completing three passes and testing the goalkeeper once with a shot on target. Not enough time on the field to receive a full rating.

That’s our breakdown of Orlando City’s player performances in the 1-1 draw with CF Montréal. Share your thoughts in the comments and don’t forget to vote for your Man of the Match.