(Credit: Orlando City SC)
After defeating New York City FC in the craziest, most incredible penalty shootout you’re ever likely to see, Orlando City SC must keep their feet on the ground for the next and most important game in Lions club history.
Now facing a home tie against New England Revolution in the Eastern Conference semi-final stage of the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs, Oscar Pareja‘s side are just 270+ minutes away from lifting the MLS Cup trophy.
Right now, something special is brewing in The City Beautiful.
In a tight, nerve shattering 120+ minutes against New York City FC in Round One, Orlando City SC defied all odds to progress to this stage.
Not only playing a man down since the 87th minute when Ruan was red carded, the Lions overcame all adversity to hold their nerve in a crazy, farcical penalty shootout that will be remembered for right and wrong reasons.
From Maxi Moralez’s initial spot kick to Benji Michel‘s driven winner, this now infamous shootout took a crazy 23 minutes to complete!
After Orlando City SC scored their first four penalty kicks, City just needed Valentín Castellanos to miss to seal a victory for the ages.
And miss Castellanos did! With Pedro Gallese getting a strong right tentacle to Castellanos’ shot, chaos ensued from this moment.
Cue clips of Oscar Pareja excitedly running down the Exploria Stadium touchline to console Ruan in the locker room, telling him we’d won.
But wait!
Allen Chapman then consulted his fellow PRO Referees official to eventually rule that Pedro Gallese illegally stepped off his line for Castellanos’ penalty.
In a barmy turn of events, not only did Pareja emerge back into Exploria Stadium, Gallese received a second yellow and red card for coming off his line, and then Orlando City SC attempted to sub in Brian Rowe in El Pulpo’s absence.
Then, just as Rowe was about to face Valentín Castellanos for the re-take, another delay.
Correctly, referee Allen Chapman and his staff then realised that Orlando City SC were attempting to make an illegal sixth substitute.
Besides, substitutions aren’t permitted midway through a penalty shootout either. By this point, things got ugly in a very embarrassing moment for Major League Soccer, but then stepped up Rodrigo Schlegel – pure theatre!
Famously quoting “Papi, I can do that”, the 100th minute substitute and Argentine centre back bravely took the initiative and suited up in Pedro Gallese‘s goalkeeper jersey.
Looking every bit a rookie stand-in goalkeeper for Castellanos’ dispatched retaken penalty, all Orlando City SC needed was for captain Nani to convert City’s fifth penalty kick for the win.
But heartbreak!
With Sean Johnson getting an amazing save to Nani‘s stuttered run-up and kick, the tension and anxiety was palpable.
Tied 5-5 for penalties at this point, up stepped Iceland international Guðmundur Þórarinsson, and the rest is history as they say.
Amazingly unconventional, stand-in Rodrigo Schlegel smartly stepped to his left to get an amazing save on Þórarinsson’s shot, wheeling away in an iconic celebration, believing his save had won the game.
But Orlando City SC needed to score one more and Orlando native Benji Michel was the man tasked with stealing the game in sudden death.
Emphatically drilling his decisive spot kick beyond Sean Johnson, this strike sealed the most incredible victory in Orlando City SC club history.
Man, what a game!
After all of that, Oscar Pareja will need to pick up his fatigued side for a huge Eastern Conference semi-final with New England Revolution.
Defeating Montreal Impact 2-1 in the play-in round, Bruce Arena’s side ran out impressive 0-2 victors at 2020 Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union on Tuesday.
Now win-or-go-home season of course, are you ready to #LightItPurple for Orlando City SC‘s biggest fixture yet?
Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution – 2015/19 head-to-head stats
I don’t know about you but my heart isn’t over last Saturday yet, let alone contesting another fixture like this!
That’s right, the last time Orlando City SC faced New England Revolution, it was a game packed full of drama too.
In a rousing second-half that saw Orlando City SC overturn a 1-3 half-time deficit in just nine minutes, this 3-3 draw left James O’Connor‘s side’s playoff hopes on the brink.
A huge missed opportunity to make up ground in the Eastern Conference, this game will be remembered as the one where Nani scored that goal however.
In the 53rd minute, Ruan saw a cross cleared by the Revs defence but Nani was the quickest to react.
Leaving Diego Fagúndez and Luis Caicedo’s heads in a spin, the Portuguese quickly jinked right before switching to his left foot to send a screaming strike beyond Matt Turner who had no answer.
As Miguel Gallardo always says, this one was a certified banger!
Orlando City SC 3 New England Revolution 3 – Highlights – September 14, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
Now eleven games deep into this Eastern Conference game series, it’s New England Revolution who hold a two-win advantage over Orlando City SC.
With FOUR victories to the Lions’ TWO, this fixture often provides draws with FIVE being played out since 2015.
The last time Orlando City SC defeated Revs was in last year’s Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup where extra-time strikes by Benji Michel and Tesho Akindele helped the Lions to a 2-1 victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
Orlando City SC 2 New England Revolution 1 (A.E.T.) – Highlights – June 19, 2019 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
We’re only presenting this stat because this New England Revolution nemesis WILL NOT be facing Orlando City SC this Sunday.
Scoring FOUR goals in his last FOUR MLS appearances against the Lions, Revs winger Cristian Penilla is currently out with a season-ending injury.
Currently receiving surgery for his left foot, the Ecuadorian will play no part in Sunday’s game.
Given his incredible scoring streak against Orlando City SC, his absence provides City a competitive boost heading into this one.
Orlando City SC form
Spared his blushes thanks to Benji Michel‘s winning penalty, captain Nani will be eager to get back to business on Sunday.
Seeing his and Orlando City SC‘s fifth penalty kick saved by Sean Johnson last Saturday, the ultra-competitive Portuguese will want to get back in the groove.
Despite missing big spot kicks against Los Angeles FC and NYCFC this season, Nani never shies away from responsibility and has still been scoring lately.
Curling that fantastic free-kick beyond Nashville SC’s Joe Willis and scoring the penalty that began it all against New York City FC, the ex-Manchester United man has scored TWO goals in his last TWO MLS games.
Orlando City SC 1 New York City FC 1 (A.E.T.) (6-5 on penalties) – Highlights – November 21, 2020 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
New England Revolution form
In New England Revolution, Orlando City SC are facing an opponent that has won over half their away fixtures this season.
The side from Foxborough, Massachusetts have gone 6-1-4 in eleven games away from Gillette Stadium, excluding the #MLSisBack Tournament.
While The Wall and our home crowd at Exploria Stadium will provide some comfort, Bruce Arena’s Revs are pretty handy on the road.
Evidenced by their tremendous 0-2 victory at 2020 Supporters’ Shield winners Philadelphia Union on Tuesday.
With Adam Buksa and Tajon Buchanan scoring the crucial goals for Revs, Orlando City SC can’t take anything for granted despite big teams like Toronto FC, Philadelphia Union and Los Angeles FC having already exited the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs.
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Don’t forget, Orlando City SC vs New England Revolution will be shown LIVE on Sky Sports Football on Sunday evening at 20:00 (GMT).
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @OrlandoCitySC 🆚 @NERevolution in the #MLSCupPlayoffs is LIVE on @SkySports Football at 8PM this Sunday. 😄📺⚽👏🏽
VIEW TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#ORLvNE #OrlandoCity #NERevs #LightItPurple #HustleAndHunger #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/qwFzRJ2MsR
— x – Orlando City UK (@Orlando_CityUK) November 27, 2020