Expansion Sides Just Love Montreal (except Orlando)

Montreal Impact will face MLS newcomers, Inter-Miami tomorrow evening at Red Bull Arena, with a troubled history behind them in inaugural meetings with expansion sides.

In six attempts since entering MLS in 2012, they’ve recorded only one victory. That was against Atlanta United at Stade Saputo in 2017. And on the day it was a last gasp victory. With the visitors down to ten men from the 45th minute, Anthony Jackson-Hamel got the deciding goal deflecting in Hernan Bernardello’s off-target strike in the third minute of stoppage time.

Apart from that they’ve managed a draw at The Big O in a first-ever meeting with Orlando City, a game in which the Impact led 2-0 after 27 mins, yet were level on 30, after a Kaka assist and goal for the visitors.

The other four occasions have all ended in defeat: 1-3 at NYCFC, 2-3 at Stade Saputo against Minnesota United, 3-5 (after holding a 3-1 half-time lead) again at Stade Saputo to LAFC and 1-2 at FC Cincinnati.

Not great reading and hardly something to fill fans full of optimism going into battle tomorrow evening with an injury-ravaged side, against another expansion team.

All that said the record against clubs that joined MLS after the Impact made its bow in 2012 doesn’t make good overall reading either. And thank goodness for Orlando City!

Without Orlando, Montreal’s record against younger MLS sides is even less inspiring: 2 wins, 14 losses and nine draws.

Add in Montreal’s 6-1-5 record against the Lions of Florida and it’s a bit more respectable - 8 wins, 19 losses and 10 draws. Still not great!

Montreal has lost all seven games played against Minnesota, LAFC and FC Cincinnati, and won only one of ten against NYCFC and one in six against Atlanta United.

Tomorrow night would be a wonderfully opportune time to reverse the trend and then reinforce the change of direction when Nashville visit New Jersey in ten days time!