MLS Regular Season | Match #23
New England Revolution at Orlando City SC
Saturday, August 6 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Exploria Stadium | Orlando, Fla.
Watch: TV38, myRITV (Rhode Island), Cozi TV (Western Mass.)
- Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst)
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub (English), 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
11th in Eastern Conference (6-7-9, 27 pts.)
Last Result | 0-0 draw vs. Toronto FC
Djordje Petrović registered a third shutout in his last six appearances en route to MLS Team of the Week honors last weekend, saving a late Lorenzo Insigne penalty to help the Revs to a 0-0 draw with Toronto FC. It was the Revolution’s second straight scoreless draw as they’re now winless in their last six games (0-2-4), although they have kept their first pair of consecutive clean sheets since last July.
Despite their recent struggles the Revs remain just two points below the playoff line in the Eastern Conference, and they could climb above it with a win on Saturday night at Exploria Stadium. In fact, the Revs are just three points behind fifth-place Orlando ahead of their meeting in the Sunshine State.
Orlando City SC
5th in Eastern Conference (8-9-6, 30 pts.)
Last Result | 2-1 loss at D.C. United
Orlando is another Eastern Conference side hungry for points as they’ll carry a four-game winless run (0-2-2) into their meeting with New England. They were moments away from snapping that streak last weekend at Audi Field as they took a 1-0 lead into stoppage time, but conceded goals in the 91st and 95th minutes to suffer a devastating 2-1 loss to D.C. United.
Exploria Stadium hasn’t exactly been a fortress for Orlando this year as they actually have a losing record (5-6-0) through 11 home games, and the Revs are 1-0-3 in their last four league visits to the venue, including a playoff victory in 2020. The Lions did, however, roll to a 5-1 win over the New York Red Bulls the last time they took the field at home, claiming a spot in the U.S. Open Cup Final in the process.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Carles Gil
The reigning MLS MVP will be off to Minnesota next week to participate in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge presented by AT&T and the MLS All-Star Game presented by Target, but first, Carles Gil will be looking to get the Revs back on track in Orlando. New England have been shut out in back-to-back games for the first time since October 2020, and they’ll rely upon their leader and talisman to help reignite their attack.
Gil leads MLS in both assists (11) and key passes (73), and he also has a stellar history against Orlando. In seven appearances in all competitions the Revolution captain has registered three goals and six assists, including New England’s lone goal in their 1-1 draw on June 15.
Orlando midfielder Facundo Torres
Uruguayan attacker Facundo Torres joined Orlando as a Young DP ahead of the current campaign and has immediately made his presence felt in MLS, appearing in 22 of Orlando’s 23 games (starting 20) while racking up four goals and six assists in the league, both good for second on the team.
The 22-year-old winger has also added two goals and one assist during the Lions’ run to the U.S. Open Cup Final, while he scored Orlando’s lone goal in a recent 3-1 friendly loss to English Premier League club Arsenal.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
Gustavo Bou and Dylan Borrero have both missed the Revolution’s pair of 0-0 draws the last two weekends, with Bou (leg) still listed as questionable ahead of Saturday’s visit to Exploria Stadium.
Second-year center back Jon Bell (head) and rookie goalkeeper Jacob Jackson (season-ending surgery) are both listed as out on the Revolution’s official availability report.
Giacomo Vrioni, meanwhile, continues to build his fitness and sharpness after debut appearances of 23 minutes (at Columbus) and 35 minutes (vs. Toronto) the past two weekends.
Orlando
The hosts list just one player on their availability report ahead of the weekend: Joey DeZart, listed as out. The 24-year-old midfielder made 28 appearances combined in 2020 and 2021, but has made just one brief appearance off the bench this season.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena
“We don't know how it's going to end. We still have, if I'm not mistaken, [12] games in the regular season. That's a lot, so there's a lot to be said between now and the second week in October or first week, whenever the regular season ends.”
New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil
“I think (Giacomo Vrioni) is improving after he had a long [offseason]. It’s not easy to be fit, to be 100 percent, but I think he needs maybe two, three more weeks to be 100 percent. Maybe in September. But he’s showing what type of player he is. He’s a very good striker. He’s doing very good movements for me to try to pass him a good ball. I think he’s improving and I’m sure he will score many goals for us.”
