Orlando City SC earned its first win of the 2026 MLS season on Saturday night, defeating CF Montréal 2–1 at Inter&Co Stadium in the first match under interim head coach Martín Perelman.
The victory marked Perelman’s first match in charge of the Lions after longtime head coach Óscar Pareja departed earlier in the week. The result also made Perelman the first interim coach to earn a win in Orlando’s MLS era.
Orlando struck first in the 19th minute when forward Duncan McGuire scored his first goal of the 2026 campaign. After a shot from Iván Angulo ricocheted off the near post, McGuire reacted quickly and tapped home the rebound to give the hosts a 1–0 lead.
The goal carried historical significance for the 24-year-old striker, as it was his 31st across all competitions for the club, tying former captain Nani for fourth place on Orlando City’s all-time scoring chart.
Montréal answered just five minutes later. A corner kick delivered by Wikelman Carmona found the head of Prince Owusu, who powered the ball into the net to level the match at 1–1.
Orlando regained control before halftime thanks to captain Martín Ojeda. In the buildup, Angulo combined with Marco Pašalić before laying the ball off to Ojeda just above the penalty spot. The Argentine midfielder finished calmly with his first touch, restoring the Lions’ advantage.
Ojeda’s strike was his second goal of the 2026 season and the 35th of his Orlando City career across all competitions. Angulo collected his third assist of the year and 34th overall for the club, while Pašalić earned the secondary assist — his first of the season and seventh all-time for the Lions.
Orlando’s defense and goalkeeping held firm after the break. Goalkeeper Javier Otero made his first start of the 2026 campaign and delivered a steady performance, recording four saves to help secure the victory.
The match also featured a milestone debut as Orlando City B forward Pedro Leão made his first-team appearance on a short-term agreement, entering as a second-half substitute.
Perelman made four changes to the lineup following the Lions’ previous match against New York City FC, inserting Eduard Atuesta, Adrián Marín, McGuire and Otero into the starting XI. The adjustments helped spark a sharper attacking performance and ultimately delivered Orlando its first three points of the season.
With momentum on their side, Orlando City now turns its attention to a road trip. The Lions will travel to face Nashville SC on March 21 at GEODIS Park as Perelman looks to build on a memorable debut victory.
