What's at stake

Three MLS points, plus conference position and short-term playoff momentum, are at stake in Montréal on May 9.

A home win improves CF Montréal's table standing and goal difference; an Orlando victory boosts their road record and conference race.

Who's in play

CF Montréal and Orlando City SC supply the squads, head coaches, and designated attackers and goalkeepers who decide the match.

Club medical staffs, substitutes, and the referee's crew also influence the result through availability decisions and in-game calls.

What drives it

Weather, travel schedules, recent injuries, and training-load rotations determine availability and tactical choices for both sides.

Match events — early goals, set pieces, yellow/red cards, and substitutions — are the immediate levers that shift the game's probabilities.

What to watch

Starting lineups released about an hour before kickoff show rotation, any late injuries, and whether top attackers are rested.

Also watch last five-match form, pregame injury reports, weather at kick-off, and substitution patterns plus halftime score for in-play momentum.