Oscar Pareja has been replaced as Orlando City coach after a three-game losing run to start the season.

Orlando slumped to another defeat last time out in MLS, as they lost 5-0 to New York City FC.

That followed on from losses to Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls.

It proved the final straw for Pareja, whose six-year stay at Orlando was brought to an end.

Assistant coach Martin Perelman has stepped up as interim, and will take charge of Orlando for their home game against CF Montreal on Saturday.

"I want to thank Oscar for the dedication, leadership and professionalism he brought to our club," said Ricardo Moreira, Orlando's general manager and sporting director.

"He delivered one of the most significant moments in Orlando City’s history with the 2022 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup and helped establish the competitive foundation that has propelled us forward, highlighted by our active club-record run of six straight playoff appearances, which is currently the longest streak in MLS.

"At the same time, we believe this is the right moment to take the club in a new direction as we look to the next phase of our growth and ambitions. We are grateful for everything Oscar has contributed and wish him nothing but success in the next chapter of his career."

Across all competitions, Pareja won 110 games in charge of Orlando, suffering 75 defeats and drawing on 56 occasions.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando City - Javier Otero

Maxime Crepeau was shown a red card 15 minutes, 37 seconds into Orlando's loss to NYCFC, the sixth-earliest red card for a goalkeeper in MLS history. 

Otero came on but did not make a single save, conceding from all five shots he faced, so he will be hoping to step up in his levels this time out.

CF Montreal - Prince Owusu

Owusu scored Montreal's first goal of the season last time out, his 10th strike since the beginning of June.

Montreal have a record of W5 D1 L3 in matches Owusu has scored in over that time, compared to W1 D6 L8 in matches in which he did not play or did not score.

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN

Montreal scored their first goals and recorded their first points of the season in a 3-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday.

The clean sheet was Montreal's first since June, having allowed a goal in 20 straight matches in all competitions prior to that win.

Orlando's loss to NYCFC last week equalled the largest margin of defeat in club history. The Lions have lost their first three matches of a season for the first time.

The Florida club are unbeaten in six straight meetings with Montreal in all competitions (W2 D4), their longest unbeaten run in the series (27 matches).

Four of the last five meetings have ended in draws after the sides drew just three of the first 23 all-time encounters.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City - 56.2%

Draw - 22.6%

CF Montreal - 21.2%