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Intelligence Report: Orlando City vs. New England Revolution

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9 years ago

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Orlando City returns from a 1-2-1 road trip to host the New England Revolution tonight as the Lions look to bounce back from a rough Sunday night in Portland. The big question of late is whether City can finish the game with 11 players on the field. Let’s hope so.

Our friend Jake Catanese from The Bent Musket returns yet again to provide all the info we need on New England. I also answered his questions, which you can catch over at their place.

Since our teams last played, Jay Heaps was fired in New England. What is the prevailing thought on that among Revs fans and is everyone downplaying the team’s success at home in comparison to the club’s road record?

Jake Catanese: Okay, as for the first part, I don’t think anyone is surprised that Jay Heaps is no longer the coach of the Revs. However, even after a disastrous road trip that involved a 7-0 loss with nine men to Atlanta United and a 3-1 loss to Sporting KC with 10 men, most everyone thought the Revs would let Heaps see out the year and dismiss him at the end of the season. 

Personally, I think the Revs are trying to salvage what’s left of 2017 and I really don’t see why. The team is winless on the road, four points back of the New York Red Bulls with only four games to play and RBNY has a game in hand as well. I doubt this team as a sixth seed could go on the road and win a game at Atlanta (maybe they could beat NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, that’s about it), so at best New England would be a one and done team this year and that would be failure as far as most of the fan base is concerned. This is a team that is underachieving and even with the organizational problems the Revs have that I don’t have time to get into now, I think this is a team that should make the playoffs.

Now, about the horrendous road record. The Revs have problems on the road because they’re bad at pure defending or bunkering. Like, really, really bad. They’ve scored first and blown leads, they were up 3-0 in Seattle late and allowed a tie, and tried to sit back against Atlanta and that plan lasted all of about 90 seconds. This is a team that needs to be attacking, or counter-attacking, at all times to be successful and take pressure off what is still an unsettled back line. 

The Revs have a grand total three draws for three points on the road this year and yes, that is essentially the reason why this team will miss the playoffs. The disparity between the Revs’ record at home versus their record at home is beyond staggering to the point of near incomprehensibility. If New England were in the West, they’d have the same number of points at home (35) as Sporting KC, who has the best home record in that conference. I don’t think anyone is downplaying how much worse on the road the Revs are, but the question is why? It can’t all be tactics. Surely by accident the Revs could’ve won a game on the road, but yes, Heaps has done some strange tactical subs late in matches that didn’t help his cause. 

At the end of the day, if the Revs had just two wins on the road they’d be in a playoff race. I’m not sure beating a struggling Orlando City team midweek is any indication things are changing but I’ll take what I can get. It’s been a long year.

Did anything change in terms of shape or personnel in the wake of the Heaps firing?

JC: No, but the key for New England last week was bringing Lee Nguyen off the bench in the second half and, if we’re being honest, that’s really, really unfair to the rest of the league. Of course Nguyen had an impact off the bench, scoring once and assisting on the winner. But the basic formations are the same, it’s 4-2-3-1/4-4-2 Diamond formation the Revs have played all year. They’ve been leaning more towards the 4-2-3-1 look without Kelyn Rowe and it was Juan Agudelo who started as the No. 10/CAM role with Nguyen on the bench against Toronto FC. 

If we assume that Lee is back and fully healthy, I expect him to start, which leaves one of Kei Kamara, Agudelo, Diego Fagundez and Teal Bunbury on the bench.

With Jonathan Spector out on suspension Wednesday, can we get you to leave Kei Kamara at home?

JC: Absolutely not, you’ll just have to find figure out a way to deal with Kamara in the box. I will add that the Revs are usually bad at crosses from the run of play and in regular buildup play, and they can get one dimensional at times. Just feeding Kamara crosses from the wing is not a recipe for success for the New England attack. They really want to counter and have Kei occupy multiple defenders to allow someone else — a Nguyen, Fagundez, etc. — more space to create something. 

That being said, Kei still scores goals and apparently likes to score them against OCSC and he’s the Revs’ leading scorer this year. I have a feeling he’ll start.

Injuries?/Suspensions?/Projected starting XI?/Final score prediction?

JC: Kelyn Rowe is out injured, still on the mend from a knee sprain he suffered a month ago. Lee Nguyen and Xavier Kouassi came off the bench against Toronto but are off the injury report this week. Krisztian Nemeth is back from his red card suspension for the elbow at SKC a week ago.

Starting XI (4-2-3-1): Cody Cropper; Andrew Farrell, Claude Dielna, Antonio Delamea, Benjamin Angoua; Xavier Kouassi, Scott Caldwell; Juan Agudelo, Lee Nguyen, Teal Bunbury; Kei Kamara.

I think the Revs rotate a few positions because of the midweek game but nothing drastically different. Farrell’s played a few games at left back already, and the options the Revs have at holding mid and up front give them some luxury but it’s also a must-win game I think if the Revs have any shot a keeping the playoffs alive.

Prediction: As always, a 2-2 draw.

Big thanks to Jake from The Bent Musket for stopping by and helping us learn more about this weekend’s opponent.

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. FC Naples, U.S. Open Cup: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions start their run in the 2026 U.S. Open Cup on the road but inside the state at FC Naples.

Published

5 hours ago

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April 15, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda and Ivan Angulo celebrating a goal against Montreal.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread for a Wednesday night Round of 32 U.S. Open Cup matchup between Orlando City and FC Naples at the Paradise Coast Sports Complex (7 p.m., Paramount+) in Naples. This is the first time the Lions will face the USL League One side in any competition.

Here’s what you need to know ahead of the match.

History

There is literally no history between these teams. I just told you above that they’ve never met. You didn’t forget, did you?

As far as the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup is concerned, the Lions have a lengthy history, including winning the competition in 2022. Orlando City is 17-9-5 all-time in the competition, 9-5-5 since becoming an MLS side. Away from Orlando, the Lions are 6-6-2 on the road in the U.S. Open Cup, 3-2-2 since joining Major League Soccer.

FC Naples, which began play in 2025, is an outstanding 4-0-1 in U.S. Open Cup play, with the only blemish being a penalty shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Rowdies in 2025, which set up Orlando City’s road match in the I-4 Derby last year.

Overview

The Lions are coming off a 1-1 road draw against the Columbus Crew on Sunday. It was a welcome change from the 5-0 and 6-0 road wins the club racked up in three previous away outings, however, it was not a victory and Orlando City has been outscored 17-1 outside the City Beautiful, posting a 0-3-1 road record.

FC Naples is coming off a 2-0 home win over Sarasota Paradise. The USL League One side sits atop the league table at 4-1-1 with all four victories coming via shutout. Naples is 3-1-1 at home this year in league play and 5-1-1 in all competitions. That includes its two previous U.S. Open Cup matches — a 3-0 win over Red Force FC on March 18 and another 3-0 win over FC America CFL Spurs on March 31.

Christopher Garcia, a 23-year-old winger from El Paso, TX, is the club’s top scorer with three goals in six league matches. He also leads FC Naples in assists with three. Forward Dominick Bachstein is just behind with two goals. Bachstein scored a goal in Naples’ last U.S. Open Cup victory, becoming the sixth different goal scorer for the club in the competition.

To start their 2026 U.S. Open Cup run off on the right foot, the Lions must avoid taking the USL League One side lightly. Naples will be at home, riding a wave of confidence from previous results, and eager to show it can compete with an MLS side — especially one struggling the way Orlando City has this year so far. Interim coach Martin Perelman will likely play a combination of young players and veterans, and it was a bit surprising to see both of the team’s Designated Players and captain Robin Jansson in social media pictures of the team boarding the plane on Tuesday. The Lions could use a confidence-building win, and perhaps that’s the idea. To do that, they’ll have to beat Edward Delgado, the goalkeeper leading USL League One in shutouts (4).

The Lions will be without Wilder Cartagena (thigh) and Joran Gerbet (knee). It’s unknown if Duncan McGuire will be available after being a late scratch over the weekend.

Match Content

Projected Lineups:

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Javier Otero.

Defenders: Adrian Marin, Robin Jansson, Iago, Zakaria Taifi.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Colin Guske, Braian Ojeda, Marco Pasalic.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Tiago.

FC Naples (4-1-4-1)

Goalkeeper: Edward Delgado.

Defenders: Jaden Strumier, Joshua Yoder, Luca Mastrantonio, Hudson Gay.

Defensive Midfielder: Marc Torrellas.

Midfielders: Taylor Gray, Juan Osorio, Kevin O’Connor, Ian Cerro.

Forward: Dominick Bachstein.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7 p.m.

Venue: Paradise Coast Sports Complex — Naples.

TV/Streaming: Paramount+.

Social Media: For rapid reaction and live updates, follow us on Bluesky Social at @themaneland.bsky.social or follow Orlando City’s official Twitter (@OrlandoCitySC) or Bluesky (@OrlandoCitySC) feed.

Enjoy the match. Go City!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/15/26

Orlando City visits FC Naples, Champions League results, World Cup news, and more.

Published

8 hours ago

on

April 15, 2026

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. It’s our first tax day with out Kyle “The Tax Man” Smith, but hopefully we’ll still get everything filed on time. What wasn’t in time to be included today was the USWNT friendly against Japan last night since it kicked off at 10 p.m. We will have more on that match tomorrow. Most importantly, it’s match day for Orlando City, so let’s get to the links.

Orlando City’s Open Cup Begins

Orlando City is in Naples for the club’s opening match of the 2026 U.S. Open Cup. The Lions are facing USL League One side FC Naples tonight. FC Naples is a good team that currently sits first in USL League One. We can expect a few veterans to make an appearance, but we will likely see younger players like Zakaria Taifi. The team is expecting a sold-out crowd for the home team. Taifi shared his thoughts with the media ahead of the match.

Crocker to Saudi Arabia

Matt Crocker is no longer the sporting director of the U.S. Soccer Federation after taking a similar position with the Saudi Arabia soccer federation. Crocker is the person responsible for bringing in Emma Hayes and Mauricio Pochettino. The main part of his job was implementing a top-to-bottom alignment of the “U.S. Way” across all levels in the U. S. Soccer system. Saudi Arabia reportedly presented an offer that Crocker could not refuse. The timing is interesting given the World Cup is only about two months away.

Champions League Results

It was an eventful day in the UEFA Champions League. Soon-to-be Orlando City attacker Antoine Greizmann’s Atletico Madrid got past Barcelona 3-2 on aggregate to advance to the semifinals. The USMNT’s Johnny Cardoso made a late appearance to help defend the result. Much to my chagrin, PSG ousted Liverpool 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate). The other two matches are later today with Bayern Munich taking on Real Madrid and Arsenal facing Sporting CP.

World Cup News

Do you remember the feeling you had when it was announced that the World Cup would once again be played in the United States? I remember thinking how cool it was going to be to go to a match even if it meant driving hours to do so. How naive I was. A lot of the news is more like this story about the NJ Transit raising the cost of train tickets seven fold.

Several venues are also not allowing tailgating at the games, including matches at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA. We also now know the full list of referees from all six soccer confederations.

Free Kicks

  • Javier Mascherano is out at Inter Miami. I really hope this sends Inter Miami into a tailspin for the rest of the season, though I doubt it will.

That will do it for today. Check back tonight for our coverage of Orlando City’s U.S. Open Cup match. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/14/26

Americans in midweek action, USWNT set to run it back against Japan, Concacaf Champions Cup preview, and more.

Published

1 day ago

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April 14, 2026

By

Image of Martin Perelman celebrating his first MLS win as coach.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Good morning, everyone. We’ve got an extremely busy week ahead of us, as the United States Women’s National Team plays two matches, Orlando City plays in the U.S. Open Cup and Major League Soccer, and Orlando City B is back home after falling at Chattanooga on Saturday. All of that action means we’ve got a lot to discuss this morning, so let’s have a look at the links.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans taking part in matches this week so let’s check in on some of the biggest ones. Things got started on Monday as Brenden Aaronson picked up an assist on the winning goal in Leeds United’s 2-1 win over Manchester United. Tuesday sees Atletico Madrid try to preserve its 2-0 aggregate lead over Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League, although Johnny Cardoso is out injured. Tuesday also has Alejandro Zendejas and Club America facing Nashville SC in the Concacaf Champions Cup, with the tie level at 0-0. Thursday has Chris Richards and Crystal Palace trying to protect a 3-0 lead over Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League. Things finish up on Friday when Haji Wright and Coventry City travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT vs. Japan Part II: Electric Boogaloo

The United States Women’s National Team will play the second of three matches against Japan tonight, with this contest set to take place in Seattle after Saturday’s 2-1 win in San Jose. The first match was all about Rose Lavelle as she scored one goal for the USWNT and assisted on the other, but there are some other areas to watch in this one. Manager Emma Hayes will likely ring the rotations after just two days of rest, so someone other than Lavelle will need to step up and be the difference maker. It was good to see the Yanks pick up a victory after losing to Japan in the 2025 SheBelieves Cup, but goalkeeper Claudia Dickey had to make six saves on the night, and Hayes will likely want a stingier performance from the back line. Kickoff is set for 10 pm tonight.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

As mentioned earlier, the Concacaf Champions Cup is back tonight, and there are several MLS teams attempting to book passage through to the semifinals. LAFC is in the best position, as it holds a 3-0 lead over Cruz Azul, although the second leg will be played in Mexico. Regardless, grabbing even one away goal should be enough to see the California-based side through to the semis. Nashville is level at 0-0 with Club America but has a tough task ahead with the second leg set to be played at the Azteca. The Seattle Sounders are down 2-0 to Tigres but will play the second leg at Lumen Field and will need their home field advantage to pay off. The LA Galaxy got roughed up 4-2 by Toluca in the first leg but did score two away goals. You’d bet on the Galaxy to score in the comfortable confines of Dignity Health Sports Park, but the trick is going to be holding Toluca scoreless for just the second time in the last 14 matches across all competitions.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

The summer transfer window will be upon us before we know it, so it’s important to stay abreast of all the current rumors. Bayern Munich has reportedly held talks with Anthony Gordon’s representatives about a summer move, although no contact has been made with Newcastle United as of yet. Speaking of Newcastle United, the Magpies could reportedly be involved in a swap deal with Manchester United that would see Manuel Ugarte join Newcastle while Sandro Tonali moves the other way. Moving to Ligue 1, Ousmane Dembele is reportedly stalling on signing a new contract with Paris Saint-Germain, and whispers are starting about a move to Saudi Arabia or the Premier League. Finally, Endrick’s loan spell at Lyon has seen him record eight goal contributions in 11 league games, and Real Madrid is reportedly prepared to sell Gonzalo Garcia in order to make room for the Brazilian in the Spanish capital.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City dropped one spot to no.27 in ESPN.com’s MLS power rankings.
  • Winners from MLS matchday seven include Julian Hall and German Berterame, while Mikey Varas and Emmanuel Latte Lath found themselves on the other end of the spectrum.
  • A horrible break for the Columbus Crew has been confirmed, as Wessam Abou Ali tore his ACL in Sunday’s match.

That’s all I’ve got for you this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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