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Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Intelligence Report

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4 years ago

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It’s been a rough few weeks for Orlando City, and the team is badly in need of some points if it wants to avoid sinking beneath the waves in the Eastern Conference standings.

Unfortunately for the Lions, a weekend trip to the Northeast looms large, with Orlando set to take on the New England Revolution tomorrow night. Ahead of this one, I spoke to Jake Catanese, senior editor for SBNation’s The Bent Musket. As usual, he gave us a fantastic update on how the Revolution have been since we last saw them. I also answered a few of his questions which you can find over at their place.

Diego Fagundez left the Revolution in the off-season after making a boatload of appearances with the team. What was the reaction to his departure and who has filled his role in the team?

Jake Catanese: I think there was a lot of disappointment but also a lot of understanding in Diego moving on. I think he’s found a solid home in Austin and he’s been getting a lot of playing time and is easily in line for his best season since 2018, which was the last time he was a fulltime starter in New England. Diego is an enigmatic genius, he clearly has talent but I think with the Revs at times he lacked a consistent position or support on the field or any number of things that never got him over the hump into legit league stardom. He’ll always be remembered as one of the great New England Homegrowns and hopefully will have a great career in MLS and beyond as he’s only 26 and clearly has the ability to play overseas.

As for who took his place, look no further than MLS cult hero Tommy McNamara. A versatile midfielder, Tommy Mac is more of a support/defensive type midfielder rather than an attacker and is able to fill just about every role in the Revs’ midfield, whether it’s a 4-2-3-1, a flat four midfield, or the more recently preferred diamond midfield. The fact that a talented TAM-filled midfield roster in New England can’t keep Tommy Mac off the field just adds to his legend in the league and perhaps some silverware for the Cult of McNamara. Andrew Farrell also just surpassed the club record for most games played with the team after being the number one overall pick back in 2013. 

The Revolution have quite obviously been stellar this season. What do you believe is the biggest reason for the team’s success?

JC: Team depth. This is one of the deepest rosters in the league from three stellar DP signings, a stable of TAM-level midfielders to rotate around, MLS veterans, and a starting back line of defenders from the SuperDraft. Oh, and Matt Turner, who was an undrafted rookie free agent signing. 

But if you look at the best teams in the league, the path to success is paved by hitting at all of the levels of roster building. The Revs long struggled with major DP and international signings but the groundwork for a strong roster has been around for years. The Revs nearly broke through in 2014 with this model with just Jermaine Jones as a DP midfielder and an MVP season from Lee Nguyen. But the overall investment in the roster was lacking until the Bruce Arena era officially started and for the first time ever the Revs were able to deploy three Designated Players. This season, when you have the league leader in assists in Carles Gil and two DP strikers in Adam Buksa and Gustavo Bou with double digit goals, you should be one of the top teams in the league. Add in significant contributions from Matt Polster, Tajon Buchanan, McNamara, Turner, and fullbacks Brandon Bye and DeJuan Jones as regular starters, and the recipe for success is finally coming to fruition.

Tajon Buchanan is a hugely exciting young player. How important has his continued growth been this year?

JC: Tajon Buchanan’s calendar year and his rise from his playoff run as a right back last year to breakout star winger for the Revs and Canada was nothing short of meteoric. Buchanan had shown flashes of talent and certainly had the raw speed and ability to play in MLS but it has all come together this year. He is brimming with confidence at both the club and international level and in a few short months will be off to Belgium and Club Brugge. His development is the final piece of the Revs’ entry into the MLS 3.0 era (or whatever we call the three-DP era) as New England has never been a selling club, with only Clint Dempsey as a notable departure from the team abroad. With New England set for a few sales in the near future (Buksa/Turner), the Revs are finally turning the corner and rejoining the league’s top organizations…just need to get the stadium situation sorted.

I have to ask about this rumored rebrand that seems likely to come to pass. What have been the feelings and reactions within the fanbase?

JC: I hate it, and will defend the Crayon Flag to the last. I think overall the feeling is one of indifference — there are certainly a number of fans who dislike the current branding and will take any upgrade but what’s been presented so far is underwhelming. The league already has too many Euro-centric circles/shields/badges and I fear this will only add to the generic-ness of the individual team brands. Right now, we only have the potential badge/logo to look at and perhaps with other branding, and especially jerseys and merchandise at a proper launch event might help boost the perception of the rebrand but I have doubts. At least the team kept the name the same which is the only positive thing I will say about the situation. Long live the Crayon Flag.

Are there any injuries, suspensions, or call-ups that will keep players unavailable for selection? What is your projected starting lineup and score prediction?

JC: The Revs have a ton of players listed on the injury report: Bou, Jonathan Bell, Emmanuel Boateng, Gil, Edward Kizza, and Maciel. Of that group, four (Bell, Bou, Gil, Kizza) either started or played midweek and only Maciel and Boateng were not listed on the subs bench. Depending on squad rotation, there’s a lot of ways the Revs can deploy against Orlando but a few players like Adam Buksa, Matt Polster, and the back line should be starting on mostly full rest as only Kessler started midweek.

Lineup (4-4-2 Diamond): Matt Turner; DeJuan Jones, Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Brandon Bye; Matt Polster, Tommy McNamara, Tajon Buchanan, Carles Gil; Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa.

Tajon Buchanan is not the same attacking force as a shuttling center midfielder but he can get the job done. Ideally, this lineup as a 4-2-3-1 with Buksa up top and an attacking midfielder/winger line of Bou-Gil-Buchanan is not impossible either and might fit the personnel a little better. The Revs are rested and coming off an exciting late win on the road, and they’re playing at home. You have to like their chances here, but as always, we must mention the likelihood of a 2-2 draw as a matter of principle.

I’ll take the Revs 3-1, with Bou, Buksa, and Buchanan finding the scoresheet and Gil adding two helpers.

Thank you to Jake for the great information on the Revs. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links: 4/3/25

Martin Ojeda in the MLS MVP mix early, Orlando Pride players won’t play for Zambia this window, Tierna Davidson out for the NWSL season, and more.

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17 minutes ago

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April 3, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope this week has been going well for you as we gear up for a busy Saturday filled to the brim with soccer to enjoy. Despite my blender’s protests, I’ve finally figured out how to make frozen coconut mojitos and plan on having those get me through the rest of the week. Before we dive into today’s links, let’s all wish a happy 28th birthday to Orlando City legend Rodrigo Schlegel!

Martin Ojeda’s MVP Credentials

Orlando City’s Martin Ojeda placed second in Sacha Kljestan’s MLS MVP power rankings this week. With four goals and three assists so far this season, Ojeda leads the league in goal contributions and is a major reason why the Lions have scored a league-high 15 goals. It’s great to see the 26-year-old take the reins of the offense after Facundo Torres’ departure. Inter Miami’s Luis Suarez tops Kljestan’s rankings, despite only having a goal in five games this season. Tai Baribo, Evander, and Lionel Messi round out the top five in what could be an interesting MVP race this year.

Pride Players Won’t Join Zambia For International Duty

Zambia will be without four NWSL players when it takes part in the Yongchuan International Tournament in China this month. Along with Bay FC forward Rachael Kundananji, Orlando Pride trio Barbra Banda, Grace Chanda, and Prisca Chilufya were withdrawn from international duty, with the Football Association of Zambia stating it was due to additional travel measures by the current U.S. administration. FAZ General Secretary Reuben Kamanga expects the quartet to be available for future matches and both Banda and Kundananji played in friendlies in Zambia in February. Restrictions like this may limit the appeal of the NWSL to foreign players in the future.

Fan Banned For Hateful Language Towards Banda

NJ/NY Gotham FC announced that the fan who directed hateful language towards Banda has been banned following an investigation that included interviewing witnesses and reviewing security footage. The incident took place at the Pride’s match against Gotham on March 23 at Sports Illustrated Stadium. The fan was found to be in violation of the NWSL Code of Conduct and their season ticket was revoked as well. Gotham also encouraged fans to report inappropriate behavior through the team’s encrypted text message service to inform the stadium’s incident management team.

USWNT Defender Tierna Davidson Out for the NWSL Season

American center back Tierna Davidson will miss the remainder of the 2025 NWSL season after tearing the ACL in her left knee in the club’s draw against the Houston Dash. It’s tough news for her, Gotham, and the United States Women’s National Team, as she captains the NWSL club and featured heavily in the Olympics last year. Davidson sustained an ACL injury in her right knee back in 2022, which contributed to her missing out on the 2023 World Cup. Gisele Thompson replaced Davidson for the USWNT’s upcoming friendlies with Brazil, and Pride defender Emily Sams will likely receive more playing time as the team prepares for the 2027 World Cup.

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  • Orlando City received $100,000 in General Allocation Money in exchange for former academy goalkeeper Zack Campagnolo’s Homegrown Player rights. The Lions will receive another $100,000 in GAM if conditions are met, and they retain a sell-on percentage if Campagnolo is transferred.
  • San Diego FC added Milan Iloski on loan from FC Nordsjaelland in Denmark through July of this year. Iloski is a San Diego native and won the USL Golden Boot for Orange County SC in 2022.
  • New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his free kick against the New York Red Bulls.
  • El Farolito SC, which is named after a burrito chain and bar local to San Francisco, has reached the third round of the U.S. Open Cup for the second straight year. The National Premier Soccer League side took down Monterey Bay FC to reach this point of the tournament.
  • Barcelona beat Atletico Madrid 1-0 to book its ticket to the Copa del Rey final, where it will face rival Real Madrid on April 26.

That’s all I have for you this time around. I hope you all have a terrific Thursday and rest of your week!

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Lion Links: 4/2/25

Orlando Pride players on International duty, NWSL power rankings, USWNT friendlies, and more.

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1 day ago

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April 2, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Mark Thor

Welcome to Wednesday, Mane Landers. There is plenty of Orlando Pride news today, which is good considering we’re heading into an international break. That means we can look forward to some women’s international matches in addition to Orlando City’s next bout against the Philadelphia Union. Before we jump into today’s news, please join us in wishing Orlando City midfielder Cesar Araujo a happy 24th birthday. Let’s get to the links.

International Duty, Pride Edition

Four players from the Orlando Pride have been called up for international duty. Anna Moorhouse (England), Angelina (Brazil), Emily Sams (U.S.), and Zara Chavoshi (U.S. U-23 training camp) will all head to their respective national teams. Moorhouse’s England will compete in the UEFA Women’s Nations League, while Angelina and Sams will face off in a pair of friendlies between the USWNT and the Brazil Women’s National Team.

Pride Still on Top

It seems that there are more outlets providing NWSL power rankings every week, but as long as they keep the Pride on top, I’ll keep letting you know about it. Given that the Pride are undefeated, with the most goals scored and the best goal differential, it isn’t surprising that the club is sitting atop the official standings along with these “highly scientific” power rankings. Goal.com, Sports Illustrated, and All For IX all rank the Pride in first place just above the Kansas City Current. I suppose even power rankings are occasionally correct.

Orlando’s Various World Cup Ties

You probably know that Orlando wasn’t selected to be one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As disappointing as that was, there’s still a chance that the city, and Orlando City SC’s training grounds at Osceola Heritage Park will host team training during the event. The top notch facilities, plus the relatively close proximity to host cities Miami and Atlanta, make Orlando a good option.

On a more positive note, Orlando was chosen as a host city for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup. Camping World Stadium will see Club León vs. CR Flamengo, and Juventus vs. Manchester City. The Group H runner-up vs. Group G winner match and one of the quarterfinal round matches will also be in Orlando. There’s plenty to see and do in the City Beautiful, including some great soccer.

USWNT Youth Movement

Sams won’t be the only younger player in Emma Hayes’ lineup for the friendlies against Brazil. Hayes wants to deepen the player pool, which means bringing in players with an average age of just over 25 years old, and the average number of appearances is less than 35. Hayes also believes this is a chance for the younger players who appeared in the loss to Japan in the SheBelieves Cup. The first of the two matches is this Saturday at 5 p.m., with the second coming up Tuesday at 10:30 p.m.

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That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for the Orlando City and OCB matches this weekend. Hopefully, you have two screens since the match start times overlap. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 4/1/25

Barbra Banda’s continued importance, Americans in midweek action, USWNT announces friendly, and more.

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2 days ago

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April 1, 2025

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Good morning everyone! It was a great weekend for Orlando’s soccer teams as Orlando City and the Orlando Pride both won, meaning that we got treated to a six-point weekend (OCB was off). As always we have plenty to talk through this morning, so let’s get into today’s links.

Barbra Banda Keeps Rolling in 2025

After a wildly successful debut season with the Orlando Pride in 2024, Barbra Banda has showed no signs of slowing down this year. A brace in the season opener meant that she picked up right where she left off last year, and the team has continued to be successful too. The Pride have made it three wins from three to start the 2025 season, and while Banda hasn’t scored since the opener, her blend of pace, power, dribbling, passing, and movement have continuously helped open things up for her teammates, and she drew a penalty that led to the Pride’s game-winning goal Saturday. She isn’t the Pride’s only offensive weapon, but the team clicks into a different gear when she’s at her best.

Americans in Midweek Action

There are a number of Americans who will be playing in games during the working week, and there are some very important clashes on hand. Things get going later today when Antonee Robinson and Fulham visit Arsenal in Premier League play as the Cottagers are in hot pursuit of a coveted European place. Wednesday has Chris Richards, Matt Turner and Crystal Palace facing Southampton, while Tyler Adams and Bournemouth take on Manchester City. Also on Wednesday, Christian Pulisic, Yunus Musah, and AC Milan will face Inter Milan in a Coppa Italia semifinal. Things finish up on Friday as Aidan Morris and Middlesborough travel to Blackburn Rovers in the EFL Championship.

USWNT Announces Canada Match

The United States Women’s National Team has announced another friendly taking place this summer, as the team will face Canada on July 2 in Washington, D.C. The match will be the third that the USWNT will play during the window, following a pair of friendlies against Ireland in late June. The neighboring countries will meet at Audi Field with the match designated as the Allstate Continental Clasico, with this being the first time that the match will feature the USWNT. The U.S. faced Canada twice in 2024, with both matches ending in 2-2 draws and the USWNT emerging victorious in shootouts.

Concacaf Champions Cup Preview

The Concacaf Champions Cup returns this week, with the first legs of the four quarterfinal matches set to be played today and tomorrow. Things get started tonight with what should be an exciting match between Club America and Cruz Azul, with the crosstown rivals two of the winningest teams in the competition. Cruz Azul’s Angel Sepulveda leads the CCC’s golden boot race with four tallies. The late game sees the LA Galaxy taking on Tigres as the Galaxy will try to distract themselves from a difficult start to their MLS Cup title defense. Wednesday’s slate has the Vancouver Whitecaps taking on Pumas UNAM in Canada in what will be the second-ever meeting between the two teams. The late game will be an all-MLS affair as LAFC hosts Inter Miami in the first meeting between the two sides in CCC play.

Sporting Kansas City Fires Peter Vermes

The longest-tenured coach in Major League Soccer is out of work, as Sporting Kansas City announced the firing of Peter Vermes on Monday morning. It’s an end of an era in Kansas City, as Vermes was the head coach since 2009, back when the team was still called the Kansas City Wizards, and he had been named the club’s technical director three years earlier in 2006. He guided the team to an MLS Cup win in 2013; claimed U.S. Open Cup titles in 2012, 2015, and 2017; and helped the team be consistently competitive for a majority of his tenure. Despite all of that, SKC missed the playoffs in two of the last three seasons and was mired in the midst of a 13-game winless streak in all competitions that stretched back to Sept. 18 of last year. After being an assistant on Vermes’ staff, Kerry Zavagnin will take over as interim head coach.

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That’s all I have for this morning. Vamos Orlando!

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