Losing 1-3 at home to FC Dallas prior to the league break, Oscar Pareja‘s Orlando City SC now visit New England Revolution as we edge towards the halfway point of the 2022 MLS regular season.
2021 Supporters’ Shield winners of course, Revs were a formidable opponent last season. However, they’ve surprisingly struggled this season, going 5-4-5 under Bruce Arena.
One thing comes to mind for Orlando City SC supporters when facing Revs, and that thing is pain.
Unbeaten in their last SEVEN head-to-heads with the Lions, New England Revolution are a genuine bogey opponent.
City have only defeated Revs on TWO out of FOURTEEN attempts since our 2015 MLS debut.
Revs earned a 2-1 win and 2-2 draw against Orlando City SC last season. Before that, our most painful meeting with New England Revolution came in November 2020.
Just eight days after the euphoria of Rodrigo Schlegel‘s miraculous penalty save against New York City FC in that penalty shootout, Revs eliminated City from the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs (1-3).
Anticipation was at an all-time high inside Exploria Stadium, but Revs didn’t read the script.
Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou (x2) goals, plus an untimely Mauricio Pereyra red card, made for a day to forget in the Central Florida sunshine.
Nevertheless, the curse of becoming Supporters’ Shield champions seems to be repeating itself in 2022.
Revs strengthened their roster by adding USMNT veterans Jozy Altidore, Omar Gonzalez and Sebastian Lletget in the off-season.
However, this increased on-field experience hasn’t translated into results this season.
Going 5-4-5 so far, the Gillette Stadium side certainly aren’t what they were last season.
New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC – 2015/21 head-to-head stats
Last facing New England Revolution in our penultimate home game of 2021, Orlando City SC capitulated late on to throw away all three points.
Becoming Supporters’ Shield victors right before this fixture, Revs were a formidable opponent throughout 2021.
To have defeated Bruce Arena’s side would’ve been a massive step towards the 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs.
Looking back, Revs started what was effectively their B team. Big hitters Adam Buksa, Carles Gil and Tajon Buchanan all entered as second-half substitutes.
After a Nani strike and Daryl Dike penalty gave Orlando City SC a 2-0 lead by 50 minutes, it all went wrong after the 80th minute mark.
Following some questionable second-half substitutions by Oscar Pareja, an Adam Buksa brace cruelly punished Orlando City SC who still had work to do to reach the post-season.
Orlando City SC 2 New England Revolution 2 – Highlights – October 24, 2021 (Credit: FOX Soccer)
Right now, it’s Revs who hold a four-win advantage over City with SIX victories to the Lions’ TWO.
There are often draws in this fixture with SIX played out since 2015 too.
In last season’s first fixture, Orlando City SC suffered a painful narrow 2-1 defeat at Gillette Stadium.
Bruce Arena’s Revs were near perfect all season, and many thought an out of form Orlando City SC side would be blown away.
In reality, Oscar Pareja’s Lions battled hard but were behind to Adam Buksa’s ninth minute opener.
City could’ve capitulated at one of MLS’s toughest away venues but Daryl Dike bustled his way past the Revs defence to equalise on 18 minutes.
But in the remainder of the game, it was only pain for Orlando City SC.
Despite Revs only registering one strike on target at full-time, Bruce Arena’s side earned yet another three points thanks to a Rodrigo Schlegel own goal and ANOTHER Matt Turner penalty save on Nani.
As the story went, Nani came off penalty kicks with Daryl Dike bagging himself one at Nashville SC a game later.
New England Revolution 2 Orlando City SC 1 – Highlights – September 25, 2021 (Credit: Major League Soccer)
It’s fair to say Orlando City SC are long overdue a positive result against New England Revolution.
The Foxborough, Massachusetts side are unbeaten against the Lions in the last SEVEN MLS head-to-heads.
Three meetings ago, Revs painfully eliminated City from the 2020 MLS Cup Playoffs (1-3).
Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou (x2) goals killed all the excitement from our incredible penalty shootout triumph over New York City FC a game prior.
This was another genuine character building experience for Oscar Pareja’s band of brothers.
New England Revolution form
Despite enduring a below par season so far, there have been some shoots of recovery for New England Revolution.
Indeed, Revs are unbeaten in their last FIVE Major League Soccer fixtures.
Going 2-3-0 in this streak, the two victories came against FC Cincinnati (2-3) and Sporting Kansas City (1-2).
This is in stark contrast to the start of 2022.
Shockingly, Revs lost FIVE of their first EIGHT fixtures, something nobody was expecting from their experienced roster.
Orlando City SC form
One player who is looking to score for the third MLS game running is Ercan Kara.
The Austrian currently leads Orlando City SC‘s goals and assists leaderboard with FOUR goals and TWO assists in 2022.
Sure, these aren’t the most mind-blowing stats in the world, but you can definitely see the potential is there.
Still enjoying his debut MLS season of course, Orlando City SC are still calibrating to the Designated Player’s style of play.
Well taken recent goals against Austin FC and FC Dallas suggest he could be huge in the busy mid-season schedule.
Orlando City SC 1 FC Dallas 3 – Highlights – May 28, 2022 (Credit: FC Dallas)
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Don’t forget, New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC will be shown LIVE on FreeSports at 00:35 (GMT) in the early hours of Thursday morning.
You can view our TV Fixture Tracker by clicking here.
GOOD NEWS 🚨 | @NERevolution 🆚 @OrlandoCitySC will be shown LIVE on @FreeSports_TV in the early hours of Thursday, June 16. 😄📺⚽👏🏽
VIEW TV TRACKER 📺: https://t.co/KV9JvpAA0o#OCTwitter #NEvORL #NERevs #OrlandoCity #MLSUK pic.twitter.com/E7Rqus9vFC
— Orlando City UK 🌈 (@Orlando_CityUK) June 3, 2022
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