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Orlando City vs. Minnesota United: Final Score 3-2 as Lions Not Sharp Enough at Either End in Loss

The Lions wasted chances galore and allowed three poor goals at the other end to remain winless in MLS play.

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2 years ago

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Bongokuhle Hlongwane’s goal off a routine goal kick deep in stoppage time snapped a 2-2 deadlock and lifted Minnesota United to a 3-2 win over a wasteful Orlando City side in front of an announced crowd of 23,025 at Inter&Co Stadium. The Lions (0-1-2, 1 point) got a brace from Duncan McGuire but conceded twice to Teemu Pukki on goalkeeping errors and despite pulling level, allowed the Loons (2-0-1, 7 points) to escape with all of the points.

City created a ton of clear-cut chances throughout the match but repeatedly blew them by either firing them straight at the goalkeeper or missing the target entirely. Even McGuire who scored a goal for the ages to tie the match late, missed a wide-open net on a sitter of a chance.

“(I’m) trying to calm down this point with a game that brought us a lot of emotions, and obviously just dealing with the disappointment of not getting the result,” Orlando City Head Coach Oscar Pareja said after the match. “The volume (of chances) that we had during the game deserved much more than that (result).”

Pareja rotated his lineup a bit from the squad that drew Tigres on Tuesday night. Pedro Gallese started in goal behind a back line of Rafael Santos, Robin Jansson, Rodrigo Schlegel, and Dagur Dan Thorhallsson. Cesar Araujo was paired with Felipe in central midfield behind an attacking line of Ivan Angulo, Martin Ojeda, and Ramiro Enrique with Duncan McGuire up top. Facundo Torres did not make the matchday squad, as he was questionable with what the club is calling an upper extremity injury.

The Lions wasted no time getting on the scoreboard after being shut out in two straight matches to start the MLS season for the first time. Santos intercepted a pass and carried it up the field before releasing a pass that put McGuire in behind. The big striker slotted home just inside the left post to make it 1-0 just 14 seconds after kickoff, beating Tesho Akindele’s club record of 31 seconds. It also equaled the fifth-fastest goal in MLS history.

Gallese gave the goal back just a few minutes later. Taking a back pass from Santos, the goalkeeper knew Pukki was was charging at him but opted to take a touch before trying to get rid of it. That extra touch allowed Pukki to get close enough to put a foot to it, knocking it down. With Gallese out of his goal, it was an easy play for Pukki to tie the match in the fourth minute.

McGuire nearly scored a second in the 18th minute. Enrique laid off a pass for the striker just in front of foal. McGuire tried to poke it past Dayne St. Clair but didn’t get much on his shot, allowing the Minnesota goalkeeper to make the save.

Two minutes later, Gallese had to be alert to catch a shot from distance by Jeong Sang-Bin.

In the 23rd minute, McGuire got into the box again and St. Clair charged off his line, trying to reach the ball first. McGuire appeared to chip the ball up and the goalkeeper’s foot caught the forward on the follow-through. The ball deflected weakly toward goal, allowing the defense to collect it. Orlando players called for a penalty, and it did look like St. Clair caught McGuire pretty good, but there was no call and at the next stoppage there wasn’t even a delay for a look.

Enrique had a chance to get in on goal in the 26th minute but took too many touches trying to free himself from the defense and lost control of the ball. St. Clair was able to beat him to the loose ball.

Angulo should have had a breakaway three minutes later off a Minnesota corner that was cleared by the defense. With a step on the defense, the speedy Colombian took a wayward touch and that allowed the Loons to dispossess him and prevent a scoring opportunity.

Moments later, Araujo won a free kick and nearly benefitted from it when Ojeda’s cross cleared the goalkeeper on the fly. The midfielder couldn’t get his head on it and bundled it off the ground in front of goal. It popped up and onto the roof of the net.

Two minutes later, Araujo went down without any contact and the trainers came out to look at his knee. The Uruguayan could not continue and was replaced by Wilder Cartagena.

However, while the team was playing with 10 men, Pukki scored again. Picking the ball up near the top left corner of the box, he sent a shot inside the near post and Gallese was too slow to cover it, giving the Loons a 2-1 lead in the 38th minute.

Pukki nearly got his hat trick in the 43rd minute, volleying a cross over the crossbar.

Ojeda had a go with his right foot from the left side but he couldn’t get his shot to curl enough to hit the top right corner in the first minute of first-half stoppage time.

The Lions closed the half with two horrible misses from point-blank range. On the first, Thorhallsson sizzled a cross through the six that just needed a touch. Felipe got to it but somehow couldn’t direct it into the gaping net.

A minute later, McGuire laid off a pass for Ojeda near the penalty spot. The Argentine had time to pick out his spot but sent his shot straight at St. Clair, wasting the opportunity.

The whistle blew shortly after the Ojeda miss on a half that should have seen the Lions put about four on the scoreboard.

Orlando City held the halftime edge in possession (51.3%-48.7%), shots (7-6), and passing accuracy (80.2%-79%). Minnesota earne more first-half corners (2-1), while each team put three shots on target. The difference at the break was the two mistakes by Gallese and a few egregious missed chances by Orlando.

Nico Lodeiro replaced Felipe at halftime with the Lions chasing the game.

Moments after the restart, it was Angulo’s turn to fire right at St. Clair from a good position. The Colombian winger took a pass with his back to goal inside the area, turned and fired his shot straight at the goalkeeper. Lodeiro then sent a one-hopper at St. Clair moments later. Enrique finished the hat trick of missed opportunities early in the half when he got to a ball in the box and sent a shot five yards wide of goal in the 54th minute.

Gallese got away with another mistake just before the hour mark. A corner kick cross came straight to him, but the Peruvian opted to punch it away instead of making what appeared to be an easily catchable ball. The Loons were offside on the recycle, nullifying a secondary attack.

Pareja sent Michael Halliday and Luis Muriel into the match for Thorhallsson and Angulo.

The moves came close to paying off immediately. A back-post ball nearly found Halliday in the 60th minute but was just inches out of the fullback’s reach. In the 64th minute, Muriel made a slick move to beat a pair of defenders and sent a cross in for McGuire, who only had to turn it on goal to even the score. Instead, he redirected it inches wide of the left post.

Muriel went for goal on a free kick won by Enrique near the top left corner of the box in the 71st minute, but he couldn’t get any dip on his shot and it sailed well over the bar. Two minutes later, Santos smashed a near-post effort that St. Clair fought off. The ball was gathered by Orlando and sent in for Lodeiro in the box. The Uruguayan redirected the pass but again it skipped wide of goal as the wasted chances continued.

Minnesota nearly put the game to bed in the 80th minute. Halliday stepped up on a ball that he couldn’t get close enough to win in the air and the ball was headed onward. Schlegel tried to shepherd it out of play but Hlongwane abused the Argentine defender, keeping the ball in play, beating Schlegel to it, and then getting in alone on goal. Gallese made the save, knocking it behind for a goal kick.

Three minutes later, McGuire tied the match. Ojeda won a 50/50 ball in the midfield and sprayed it out right to McGuire. With a defender in front of him, McGuire stopped, found a hole, and smashed it inside the far post to tie the game in the 83rd minute. It was McGuire’s second career brace.

“It was a great interchange from Martin and I, switching positions,” McGuire said. “He had his head up and put the ball right where I needed it. I saw the goalie cheating a little bit too hard to the near post, so I saw the back post wide open and let it fly. Luckily, it worked out.”

As the game wound down, Orlando appeared the more likely team to find a winner. Halliday fired off target off a corner kick play in stoppage time, and Cartagena had a half chance moments later. But then the roof caved in on Orlando on a routine play.

St. Clair took a goal kick and Jansson was beaten in the air near midfield. The ball was flicked forward to Tani Oluwaseyi, who then pushed it ahead to Hlongwane, who got in behind Halliday and Schlegel and beat Gallese to make it 3-2 in the fifth minute of stoppage time.

It was a stunning moment in a game that seemed like it would only go the other way or end in a draw at the time.

“We did not match well the first ball,” Pareja said. “And our covering was incorrect. I understand that at that point when you still have a few minutes and you feel the energy and you know that you can win the game, you still have to do your duty and we did not coordinate well. We lost the first ball and the ball got into our right back and center back. We have to have the tools to control that.”

Hlongwane was booked for removing his shirt and stunting in front of The Wall.

Orlando City won a few late corners but couldn’t make them pay off and Mercado blew the full time whistle before the Lions could take a third.

Orlando City dominated the stat sheet, finishing with the advantage in possession (58.9%-41.1%), shots (22-9), shots on target (6-4), corners (9-4), and passing accuracy (80.6%-71.6%).

Cartagena and Minnesota’s Joseph Rosales were both shown red cards after full time following video review by match referee Wilmer Pino Mercado. That means the Lions will be without Cartagena in the next MLS match, and it may be a few days before we get an update on Araujo’s injury. It seems likely Orlando will head to Atlanta without either of its starting defensive midfielders.

“The word that comes to mind is sadness,” Ojeda said. “We created a lot of chances at goal. We scored goals. But at the end of the day, gootball is a game of details, and those details tonight were costly for us.”

Orlando City has another quick turnaround with a trip to Monterrey looming against Tigres on Tuesday night. The next league game is a week from Sunday at Atlanta United.

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Lion Links: 4/30/26

Orlando City advances in U.S. Open Cup, Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines earns praise, NWSL sticks with current calendar, and more.

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2 hours ago

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April 30, 2026

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride

For the third Thursday morning in a row, we are all basking in the triumph of a midweek win by Orlando City. It feels good, to say the least, and I’m a bit sad that there’s not another Wednesday match next week. Regardless, there’s plenty of Orlando soccer ahead this weekend to look forward to. Now that we have a little optimism to get us through the rest of the week, let’s get to the links!

Orlando City Wins U.S. Open Cup Thriller

Orlando City has reached the quarterfinals of the 2026 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup after winning 4-3 on the road against the New England Revolution in the round of 16. It was truly a back-and-forth affair and Orlando didn’t have the lead at any point of the match until scoring the winner in stoppage time. Just like in the previous round against FC Naples, it wasn’t the prettiest of wins, but all that matters is advancing, and the Lions are through to the quarterfinals. The draw for the rest of the bracket will take place this morning starting at 9:30 a.m.

Seb Hines Receives High Praise

Orlando Pride Head Coach Seb Hines placed eighth in ESPN‘s rankings of the top 20 women’s club soccer coaches in the world. Orlando’s transformation with him at the helm has been historic, as he coached the Pride to winning both the NWSL Championship and the Shield in 2024. The only other current NWSL coaches above him on the list are Angel City FC’s Alex Straus and Gotham FC’s Juan Carlos Amoros. Jonatan Giraldez, who left the Washington Spirit for OL Lyonnes last summer, tops the list, while former Pride head coach Marc Skinner missed the cut.

NWSL Will Stick With Current Calendar For Now

In a league statement, the National Women’s Soccer League announced that it will continue with its spring-to-fall schedule through 2030. This news comes after evaluation by the league of making a similar move as MLS and switching to a calendar that aligns with European leagues.

An update from the NWSL on the competition calendar.

— NWSL (@nwslsoccer.com) 2026-04-29T15:01:48.017Z

This should give all parties a decent amount of time to explore long-term options. It also means we will get to enjoy domestic soccer all year long for at least a couple of years once MLS makes the switch in 2027. We’ll see what happens in the NWSL in 2031, which is also when the U.S. will cohost the Women’s World Cup that summer.

Keeping Up With Americans Abroad

European soccer is winding down and many American players will aim to finish strongly after struggling a bit this season. Fulham defender Antonee Robinson only has one assist this season, while Christian Pulisic has recorded just one goal contribution in 2026. In more positive news, former Lion Alex Freeman played every minute of Villarreal’s 2-1 win over Celta Vigo and hopefully more minutes are ahead of him to close out the season. Forward Folarin Balogun was named AS Monaco’s Player of the Month after scoring in three of his four appearances this month. Another star-spangled storyline to keep an eye on is in the EFL Championship as Aidan Morris and Middlesbrough fight for promotion.

Free Kicks

  • New York City FC’s Maxi Moralez had three assists in his team’s 3-1 win against the New York Red Bulls in the U.S. Open Cup, with all three of NYCFC’s goals coming from corner kicks.
  • Nashville SC forward Ahmed Qasam won MLS Goal of the Matchday for his strike against Charlotte FC. I’m still not sure how Tyrese Spicer’s goal wasn’t nominated.
  • Atletico Madrid and Arsenal each scored a penalty in a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semifinal matchup. Antoine Griezmann, who will join Orlando this summer, hit the crossbar in what was likely his final Champions League game at the Metropolitano.
  • Afghan Women United, a women’s soccer team of Afghan refugees, has been allowed by FIFA to take part in international competitions.
  • FIFA is in talks over implementing a rule that would require soccer teams to field a young Homegrown player during games. The idea would make more sense to me if players didn’t already have options available to get playing time through loans or tournaments outside of league play.
  • English defender Millie Bright announced her retirement from professional soccer. The 32-year-old has played for Chelsea since 2014, but injuries have plagued her over the years and she will continue to be part of the club in the future.
  • Paris Saint-Germain right back Achraf Hakimi is out for the next few weeks due to a thigh injury sustained in the club’s wild 5-4 win over Bayern Munich in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals.

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

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Orlando City vs. New England Revolution, 2026 U.S. Open Cup: Final Score 4-3 as Lions Advance to Quarterfinals

The Lions overcame three one-goal deficits and saw a goal incorrectly disallowed for offside in a wild USOC match in Rhode Island.

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11 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image of Justin Ellis playing the ball in traffic against New England.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Orlando City overcame three separate deficits and a would-be winning goal that was called offside (but wasn’t) in a wild 4-3 win over New England at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI. The Lions moved into the quarterfinals of the U.S. Open Cup on a night of firsts, as three Orlando City defenders — Iago, Griffin Dorsey, and Zakaria Taifi — each scored their first goal as Lions, while Justin Ellis stayed hot with a goal and an assist in the contest.

New England took leads of 1-0, 2-1, and 3-2 on goals by Malcolm Fry, Andrew Farrell, and Marcos Zambrano, but the Lions fought back each time and eventually found a way to put a foot in front in stoppage time. Taifi’s winner in the second minute of injury time avoided sending the two teams to their second extra time session in as many USOC meetings. Second-half super sub Tyrese Spicer provided assists on the last two goals and what should have been a second Ellis goal.

“A lot of happiness because of the result, especially, like I said last week, the effort of the players,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said after the game. “I think the effort of the players a couple of days ago, today, every game, I think that’s the biggest point to highlight. I think we have an amazing group of players. When they need to show up, they do it.”

Perelman’s starting lineup featured Javier Otero in goal behind a back line of Adrian Marin, Iago, Colin Guske, and Dorsey. Ignacio Gomez joined Braian Ojeda in central midfield with wingers Ivan Angulo and Tiago, with Martin Ojeda and Ellis leading the attack.

New England went extra young, with no veterans on the bench of the game day squad, and only elder statesmen Diego Fagundez and Farrell on the pitch with nine young players. Despite all that youth for the Revs, it was Orlando’s young players — Homegrowns Ellis and Taifi and MLS U22 Initiative signings Iago and Tiago — who ultimately stole the show.

Ellis had the first couple of scoring chances in the game. His shot from outside the area seven minutes into the match from Gomez’s pass was easily saved by Donovan Parisian. Seven minutes later, Ellis could have taken an early shot with his left in transition, but instead he cut inside on his right and his shot was deflected out for a corner.

The next 10 minutes saw the Lions start turning the ball over in their own half and Fry sent a warning shot wide of the left post in the 19th minute with two runners at the back post just waiting on a cross. However, that warning shot went unheeded.

Fry opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a shot from the left channel. Gomez trailed Eric Klein on the play but appeared to be running at half speed and never came close to running down the opposing attacker. Guske got caught between two minds, stepping up, but leaving too much room. Klein sent a chipped pass by Guske to Fry, Iago was a step slow to cover for his central defense partner, and Otero opened up his legs, allowing Fry to slip it in from a tight angle to make it 1-0.

The Lions quickly gave the ball away after the restart and nearly fell behind by a second goal on two occasions. The first was within a minute of Fry’s goal, when Fagundez found Allan Oyirwoth in transition but Otero was there to make the save on a 1-v-1 chance. Zambrano then hit the post in the 26th minute on another dangerous opportunity.

That was an important storm to weather, because the Lions pulled one back in the 31st minute off a set piece. The ball in from the left was cleared out to the right and recycled in by Tiago, who sent a nice curling cross into the area on the far side. Iago leaped over everyone and headed it back toward the right, beating Parisian to make it 1-1 with his first goal as a Lion.

This time it was Orlando City nearly scoring twice in quick succession. A good ball from Dorsey sent Tiago to the end line on the left. His pass to Martin Ojeda was late and hard, bouncing just before reaching the Argentine, who got under it as a result, sending his shot over the bar. A minute later, Ellis tried to connect with Ojeda’s run between defenders but it was just out of the Designated Player’s reach.

New England regained the lead off a set piece in the 37th minute that should have been cleared. The ball into the box landed amidst several bodies and only one of them was wearing Revs colors. Gabe Dahlin had no trouble taking it away from Gomez and Guske and sent it to Farrell near the top of the area. The defender smashed it through the traffic and in to make it 2-1, scoring his first goal since 2018.

Much like each of the previous goals, the next good chance came immediately for the scoring team. Zambrano forced Otero into a save just seconds after the go-ahead goal. Seconds later, another dangerous cross in from Fagundez, who was given too much space by Angulo, found Zambrano in front, but he sent his bicycle kick well off target.

Orlando City responded to that flurry of Revolution attacks with its second goal of the game. Dorsey took a pass from Angulo and worked a give-and-go with Ellis at the top of the box, with the forward giving Dorsey a clean look at goal. The right back blasted it home to make it 2-2 in the 39th minute.

Otero nearly created more problems for himself in the 42nd minute, overrunning Fagundez’s delivery on yet another set piece. He managed to extend his arm far enough to get a touch on the ball to send it out for a corner. A dangerous scramble in front of goal with one New England player on five defenders resulted in another corner, before the danger subsided with the ensuing set piece delivery swerving out of play.

Oyirwoth got a late free header in the box but couldn’t make good contact, sending it out of play. That was the last good look at goal of the opening 45 minutes and the teams went to the locker room tied up at 2-2.

New England had a dominant advantage on the stat sheet at the break, leading in possession (51%-49%), shots (12-5), shots on target (4-3), and passing accuracy (90%-86%), while Orlando City won more corners (3-2).

Tyrese Spicer entered the match at halftime for Tiago.

After the Lions conceded an early set piece, Spicer got forward for the first time in the 49th minute, racing down the left channel and blazing a rocket just over the crossbar. A few minutes later, he destroyed Damario McIntosh on the left wing and got into the box but got his cross wrong, sending it straight to a Revs player.

Another spell of give-away ball and passive midfield play by Orlando eventually led to the third New England lead of the night. Zambrano took a pass out on the right, took a touch and beat a passive Marin — and Otero — to make it 3-2 in the 58th minute.

The Lions quickly won a free kick just wide of the box on the left but could do nothing with it.

Fagundez came close to a fourth New England goal in the 68th minute when given acres of space outside the penalty area. The veteran winger sent the shot just wide of the left post.

Two minutes later, the Lions again tied things up. Spicer got down the left again and sent a cross in front that was just out of Parisian’s reach at the top of the six. The ball went through and Ellis slotted home to make it 3-3 in the 70th minute.

Ellis scored again in the 74th minute but the flag came up. Martin Ojeda sent a beautiful ball just over the defender for Spicer to run onto. Spicer sent it to Ellis in front for the finish but the flag came up immediately. The replay showed from two angles that Spicer and Ellis both appeared to be onside. With questionable call, the game remained tied.

Spicer forged another chance in the 80th minute. He put a move on McIntosh and the New England defender went down. Spicer seemed a bit mesmerized by the sudden appearance of space and waited too long to get his shot away, which Farrell blocked. McIntosh had to leave the match with what appeared to be an ankle injury.

The Lions continued to press for a winner down the stretch. Martin Ojeda’s back-post ball fell behind substitute Taifi in the 89th minute. The Homegrown fullback tried a spinning shot but hit Ellis with it in front.

New England came the other way, winning a throw-in on the left. Orlando City’s defense got out of sync on the play and the Revs worked the ball to Fry alone on the right inside the box. The opening goal scorer was poised to be the game’s hero but fired his shot over Otero’s crossbar.

With seven minutes of stoppage time left to decide things before sending the game to extra time, the Lions needed only two to finally get their first lead of the match. Spicer again got down the left side with his speed to get to a perfect pass over the top from Ojeda. The Trinidad & Tobago international cut a menacing ball back across the area. Taifi made the back-post run and redirected it in for his first goal with the MLS side

“Today we were able to spread the goals (among) different players, and that helped raise the confidence,” Perelman said. “That’s always something positive. If they are scoring it’s because they are on the field, and if they are on the field, it’s because they are performing, growing.

Although he didn’t put the ball in the net himself, it’s impossible to understate Spicer’s role in the win, creating a threat that the Revs struggled to cope with down the left flank throughout the second half.

“Spicy, first of all, is an amazing person. I’m so happy for him,” Perelman said. “He’s an amazing boy, respectful, and then the talent he has, because he’s accurate when he shoots, when he crosses, when he finishes…and he has 1-v-1 capacity. I mean, a lot of qualities.”

Across the final minutes, Orlando City lived dangerously, setting New England up with multiple opportunities from set pieces, but the Lions managed to do just enough to clear their lines and see out what turned into more than nine added minutes. Eventually, the final whistle came and the Lions were through to the U.S. Open Cup

At full time, the Lions had the advantage in possession, (51.6%-48.4%), while New England had the edge in shots (15-14) and passing accuracy (85.1%-84.2%). Both teams put five shots on target and each side won three corners.

“The cup is not easy,” Perelman said. “I respect the Open Cup, and I respect the opponents, so happy, happy for the result. The game was tough. They played really well with their 4-3-3. We were trying to find a way to adjust to that. I think in the second half mainly we did it, even though we conceded one more goal in the second half.”

Orlando City is back in action Saturday at Inter Miami as league play continues.

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Orlando City vs. New England Revolution, 2026 U.S. Open Cup: Preview, How to Watch, TV Info, Live Stream, Lineups, Match Thread, and More

The Lions head to Rhode Island looking to advance in the U.S. Open Cup against the Revs.

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23 hours ago

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April 29, 2026

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Image of Martin Ojeda celebrating a goal against New England.
Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Welcome to your match thread for a Wednesday night U.S. Open Cup matchup between Orlando City and the New England Revolution at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, RI (7:30 p.m., Paramount+). This is the first meeting between the two MLS Eastern Conference rivals this season, with two scheduled league matches still left to play in 2026.

Here’s what you need to know for the match.

History

The Lions are 6-7-8 in the regular-season series against New England and 7-8-8 in all competitions. On the road, Orlando City is just 2-6-2 against the Revs, with all of those prior meetings coming in the MLS regular season. Orlando City has faced the Revolution once before in U.S. Open Cup play, winning that prior meeting (more on that below).

The most recent meeting between the teams was also in New England, but it was at Gillette Stadium, the Revs’ usual home. Martin Ojeda’s brace led the Lions to a 2-1 victory on July 19, 2025 — just the team’s second road win in the series. Thomas Chancalay scored for New England.

The first match between the sides last year was a wild 3-3 draw in Orlando on May 10. The Lions squandered two leads in that match, including a 2-0 advantage. Ojeda scored Orlando’s first hat trick since 2015 in that game, but those three goals were offset by strikes by Alhassan Yusuf, Matt Polster, and Carles Gil. One of Ojeda’s goals and Gil’s strike were penalties.

Prior to that, the teams met on Sept. 14, 2024, with the Lions completing their first-ever sweep of the Revs with a 3-0 win. Rafael Santos, Facundo Torres (from the penalty spot), and Duncan McGuire provided the offense in a dominant performance. The teams also met on July 13 at Gillette Stadium that year, where the Lions won for the first time, handing the Revs a 3-1 home loss. Torres’ brace led the way to an Orlando comeback, with Ramiro Enrique also scoring to overturn an early 1-0 deficit provided by Giacomo Vrioni.

The teams met in Orlando on Oct. 7, 2023, with the Lions winning 3-2 in a game that wasn’t as close as the score indicates. Orlando City clinched second in the Eastern Conference as McGuire and Torres built a 2-0 lead. Pedro Gallese gave up a soft goal from distance to Gil, but Ivan Angulo pulled that one back three minutes later. Gil added a second goal deep in stoppage time to improve the result cosmetically.

New England got the better of the Lions in the previous matchup of the 2023 season, winning 3-1 at Gillette Stadium on June 17. After a scoreless first half, the Revs went up by two with goals from Emmanuel Boateng and Gustavo Bou 18 minutes apart. McGuire pulled one back late, but Gil scored the dagger five minutes later.

These teams met at Exploria Stadium on Aug. 6, 2022, and the previously struggling Revolution whipped Orlando City, 3-0. New England got goals from unlikely sources, as central midfielders Polster and Wilfrid Kaptoum and center back Henry Kessler provided the offense. The teams met at Gillette Stadium on June 15 of that year, and the Revs went ahead on a Gil goal, but the Lions pulled that back with a Robin Jansson strike en route to a 1-1 road draw.

New England went unbeaten in the 2021 season series. The teams played to a 2-2 draw at Exploria Stadium on Oct. 24, 2021. The Lions built a 2-0 lead through goals by Nani and Daryl Dike, but two late Adam Buksa goals allowed the Revs to steal a point. The teams met at Gillette Stadium just over a month prior to that draw in Orlando, with Nani’s missed penalty a costly one in a 2-1 Revs home win. The Revolution jumped out to a 2-0 lead on a goal by Buksa and an own goal off of Rodrigo Schlegel. Dike pulled one back for the Lions and later won a penalty, but Nani’s attempt to go down the middle was read at the last second by Matt Turner, who got his shoulder to it to preserve the lead.

The Revolution ended the Lions’ season at Exploria Stadium in the 2020 playoffs, knocking Orlando City out of MLS Cup contention in the conference semifinal round on Nov. 29, 2020. That 3-1 win by the Revs was the first road win for either side in the series in any competition. Gil put the Revs up early from the penalty spot after a call against Uri Rosell, and Bou doubled the lead eight minutes later, finishing a play that started with a Nani turnover. Junior Urso pulled a goal back before the halftime whistle, but Mauricio Pereyra was sent off for a studs-up challenge on Polster at the hour mark. Still, Nani had a chance to equalize from the spot, but a poor penalty was saved by Turner. Bou added a late insurance goal.

In the final year of the pre-pandemic times, the Revs went 1-0-1 in the season series. The Lions and Revolution met at Exploria Stadium on Sept. 14, 2019, with Orlando overcoming a Tesho Akindele own goal and two deficits — the second by two goals — and rallying for a 3-3 draw. Shortly after Akindele’s own goal opened the scoring, Nani tied things up. Cristian Penilla and Bou scored goals five minutes apart just before halftime to seemingly give the visitors control. But Dom Dwyer pulled one back after the restart and Nani tied it up.

The teams also met at Gillette Stadium in 2019 on July 27, and the Revs put the Lions on full blast, 4-1. Bou scored within the first two minutes of the game, and the Revolution got goals from Penilla, Gil, and Diego Fagundez. Akindele scored to avoid the shutout.

The teams also met at Exploria Stadium in U.S. Open Cup action that year on June 19, with the Lions scoring twice in a 30-minute extra time session and holding on for a 2-1 victory. Benji Michel and Akindele staked Orlando to a 2-0 lead before Justin Rennicks pulled one back off a Gil back-post cross. City was able to see the game out.

The last meeting of 2018 saw the Revs top a depleted Orlando side, 2-0 in Gillette Stadium on Oct. 13. In the first matchup of 2018, the teams combined for six goals in a 3-3 draw at Orlando City Stadium on Aug. 4.

Orlando City and New England split the season series in 2017. City completed a 6-1 demolition of 10-man New England at home Sept. 27, 2017. New England won at Gillette Stadium that year by a 4-0 count.

The Lions went 1-0-2 in the series in 2016, winning 3-1 at home on July 31. The teams played a controversial 2-2 draw in Orlando on April 17, 2016. The second 2016 meeting reached the same final score on April 30 in New England.

The teams met twice in 2015, with Orlando City rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the final 17 minutes to draw 2-2 at the Citrus Bowl in April. The Sept. 5 rematch at Gillette Stadium didn’t go as well, with New England taking a 3-0 win. Fagundez, Agudelo and Chris Tierney scored for the Revolution.

Overview

Orlando City is coming off a road loss at D.C. United on Saturday. The Lions came from behind to take a 2-1 second-half lead, but then Orlando melted down in the final six minutes, allowing two goals to throw away all three points. City’s only win away from home this season came in the team’s 1-0 round-of-32 U.S. Open Cup match at FC Naples on April 15, but that was far from easy as the USL League One side dominated the game’s final 30 minutes.

The Lions are 19-11-5 all-time in the U.S. Open Cup, 11-7-5 since becoming an MLS side. Away from Orlando, the Lions are 8-6-2 in the U.S. Open Cup, 5-2-2 since joining Major League Soccer.

The Revolution are coming off a 1-1 draw at Inter Miami over the weekend, with Gil scoring for New England. The Revs are 4-0-2 in their last six matches in all competitions and reached this round of the U.S. Open Cup by outlasting USL Championship side Rhode Island FC in penalties after a 1-1 draw on April 14. Fagundez scored shortly after halftime, but Rhode Island’s J.J. Williams equalized in the 11th minute of stoppage time to send the match to extra time and, ultimately, spot kicks.

It seems a bit of a flex for the Revs to return to Rhode Island FC’s stadium to host its round-of-16 match, but they earned the right, so fair play to New England.

“Of course it’s different playing in the U.S. Open Cup, or in every match that is do or die, win or go home,” Orlando City interim head coach Martin Perelman said ahead of the match. “It’s a different context that changes the game, but we have experience in these kinds of competitions and we’re ready for it. We like to compete, we are competitors, so we’re happy and excited.”

Match Content

Official Lineups

Orlando City (4-4-2)

Goalkeeper: Javier Otero.

Defenders: Adrian Marin, Colin Guske, Iago, Griffin Dorsey.

Midfielders: Ivan Angulo, Ignacio Gomez, Braian Ojeda, Tiago.

Forwards: Martin Ojeda, Justin Ellis.

Bench: Maxime Crepeau, Tahir Reid-Brown, Zakaria Taifi, Robin Jansson, Luis Otavio, Wilder Cartagena, Tyrese Spicer.

New England Revolution (4-3-3)

Goalkeeper: Donovan Parisian.

Defenders: Gabriel Dahlin, Tanner Beason, Andrew Farrell, Damario McIntosh.

Midfielders: Allan Oyirwoth, Eric Klein, Cristiano Oliveira.

Forwards: Malcolm Fry, Marcos Zambrano, Diego Fagundez.

Bench: JD Gunn, Chris Mbaï-Assem, Schinieder Mimy, Carlos Zambrano, Javaun Mussenden, Shuma Sasaki, Jayden Da.

How to Watch

Match Time: 7:30 p.m.

Venue: Centreville Bank Stadium — Pawtucket, RI.

TV/Live Stream: 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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