Connect with us

Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New England Revolution: Final Score 4-1 as Lions Blasted Again in Massachusetts

Five years into MLS, the Lions remain winless at Gillette Stadium.

Published

6 years ago

on

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

Facing an important match in the playoff race, Orlando City didn’t show much fight in a 4-1 loss at Gillette Stadium in the race for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. The Revs are now unbeaten in 11 games (7-0-4), as New England (9-8-6, 33 points) handed Orlando City (7-11-5, 26 points) its worst loss of the season.

The Lions still haven’t won at Gillette Stadium (0-4-1) since joining Major League Soccer and Orlando has now lost two straight games after a modest unbeaten streak.

City conceded within the first two and a half minutes in both halves — by Gustavo Bou in the first half and Cristian Penilla in the second — to squarely push New England into the driver’s seat. Carles Gil added a penalty kick goal and Diego Fagundez tacked on a rocket from distance when no one closed him down later in the game. Tesho Akindele pulled one back but it was far too little and far too late to be of any use.

Per Orlando City communications, Chris Mueller stayed in Orlando due to an illness and Will Johnson did not travel as a precaution after a heavy workload and is expected back next week. Sacha Kljestan and Dillon Powers were inserted in their spots in the lineup while Dom Dwyer returned to the 18 after serving his red card suspension. With Mueller unavailable, it was a bit surprising Dwyer sat the bench and it was clearly not the right move in the end, as Orlando bogged down repeatedly in the final third with most of the players looking for the next pass instead of making runs or finding pockets of space.

New England needed only three minutes to get on the board before Orlando even possessed the ball. Bou passed off then took a return ball from Edgar Castillo as no one tracked him into City’s penalty area and he beat Brian Rowe just 2:37 after kickoff.

The Lions finally got possession of the ball in the fifth minute and were the better team for much of the remainder of the half, but were wasteful in front of net and susceptible on the counter at times.

Orlando’s first good opportunity came in the 10th minute when Uri Rosell sent Nani down the left with a great ball. The captain slid a ball across for Akindele, who made an absolute mess of what should have been the tying goal. Two minutes later, it was Ruan giving Akindele a sitter but again the Canadian couldn’t get his footing right and the chance was completely wasted.

New England came right back the other way and nearly made Orlando pay for those missed chances, as Bou got another good opportunity to score but this time he missed the net with only Rowe to beat.

Powers smashed a shot from outside the area in the 24th that took a touch and sailed a bit high.

The teams then started trading chances. Four minutes later, Nani cut inside from the left and sent a curler headed for the inside of the back post but Matt Turner made the save.

Moments later, Bou attempted a shot from above the area at the other end but Powers blocked it. Kljestan got onto a Nani pass at the top of the area in the 38th minute but didn’t get a lot on the shot and Turner was able to save it.

Bou fired another effort over the net in the 45th minute and then Kljestan wasted an opportunity in stoppage time as he got the ball caught up in his feet trying to find either a shot or a pass in the penalty area. The Revs took their 1-0 advantage into the break.

New England led across the board statistically after the opening 45 minutes, out-shooting the Lions 9-5, although Orlando got more on target (3-1), leading in possession (51%-49%), and passing more accurately (82%-81%). But just like the second half against New York on Sunday, the Lions were not sharp in front of goal, particularly Akindele.

Things got worse for Orlando at halftime as Moutinho couldn’t continue and rookie center back Kamal Miller came on at left back, with Kyle Smith still available on the bench.

New England found Miller’s side quickly and put the game away early in the second half. Brandon Bye beat Sebas Mendez to the end line and crossed through the area for Penilla to sweep home in the 47th minute as Ruan was caught napping.

Rowe prevented a quick third goal by denying Teal Bunbury in the 52nd minute as he was left alone in the area.

Three minutes later, Ruan fired wide of goal from the right.

Things got worse in the 57th minute when Bou smashed a shot from a yard away from Mendez that hit the inside of his elbow. After video review a penalty was awarded and Gil converted to make it 3-0.

Rosell was caught by a Bye horror tackle in the 67th minute but instead of being down a man, New England got away with just a yellow. The play was reviewed and judged not to be a clear and obvious error, but Rosell’s leg would disagree. He went off two minutes later for Dwyer.

The striker made a difference in the attack almost immediately. He fired a shot that was deflected wide in the 72nd minute and provided a missing spark to the Orlando offense in the final third. Unfortunately the score got worse anyway.

Mendez opted not to close down Fagundez at the top of the area and the Revs’ second-leading all-time scorer blasted a laser that will be an MLS Goal of the Week contender, making it 4-0 in the 75th minute.

Akindele finally got the goal that had been eluding him all night in the 77th minute, smashing a cross from Dwyer into the roof of the net to make it 4-1 and at least avoid the shutout. Nani picked up the hockey assist on the play with his great vision to find a lane to get the ball to Dwyer.

Dwyer nearly pulled back a second in the 80th off a cross from Ruan but Antonio Delamea made a vital challenge at the last second to keep Dwyer from getting a clean shot off.

That was about the last good opportunity of the match. Gil missed a shot wide for New England and Orlando had several shots blocked at the other end, with Robinho firing a weak shot in on goal as well.

Shots finished nearly even, with New England holding a 20-17 advantage, but the Lions got more on target (8-6). Orlando ended up with 58% of the possession and the better passing accuracy (85%-81%).

In the end, Orlando simply wasn’t good enough at either end. Akindele had good enough chances to give the Lions a first-half lead and the defensive lapses early in both halves were crucial mistakes. In between, Orlando held its own on the road against one of the league’s hottest teams, but that will be of little comfort after absorbing the team’s worst loss of the year.

Additionally, O’Connor will have to wonder if he should have started Dwyer or brought him on earlier, and it made little sense to bring Robinho on in the 87th minute with too little time for him to make any impact in a game that was already out of hand.

The Lions will be off for the All-Star break except for Nani, who will participate in both the match and the skills challenge. Mueller will presumably be OK to participate in the skills challenge as well. Orlando will try to halt its two-game losing streak next Saturday night at home against FC Dallas but maybe it’s time to put all the emphasis on the U.S. Open Cup after falling seven points adrift of New England.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/2/25

Big names leave Toronto FC, hot conditions in Club World Cup match, FIFPRO makes ACL recommendations, and more.

Published

19 hours ago

on

July 2, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Happy Wednesday, everyone. It already feels like it’s been a long week, as I just got home from being out of town traveling up and down the East Coast for the last few days. The soccer world hasn’t stopped in my absence though, and as usual we have a lot to cover today. Let’s wish a happy birthday to OCB defender Tahir Reid-Brown, and jump into today’s links!

Italians Leave Toronto FC

It’s the end of an era at Toronto FC, as the club has parted ways with both Federico Bernardeschi, and Lorenzo Insigne. The Reds used both of their two buyouts of guaranteed contracts this season in order to get the transactions done, so the club was pretty keen to get them out the door. It’s hard to blame the Reds, as Insigne was the second-highest paid player in the league while Bernardeschi was the fifth highest. They didn’t have much to show for it though, as Bernardeschi had 26 goals and 22 assists in 99 games across all competitions, while Insigne had 19 goals and 17 assists in 76 matches. TFC never made the playoffs while the duo was on the team, and the decision to turn the page is an understandable one.

Difficult Conditions in Juventus vs. Real Madrid

The Club World Cup Round of 16 concluded on Tuesday, with Real Madrid knocking off Juventus 1-0 in afternoon match. Kylian Mbappe made his tournament debut for Madrid as a substitute, but it was Gonzalo Garcia’s 54th-minute goal that made the difference in the game. Juve boss Igor Tudor highlighted the difficult conditions in Miami, saying in his postgame press conference that 10 different players asked to come off the field during the game. Tudor didn’t outright blame the loss on the high heat and humidity during the 3 p.m. kickoff at Hard Rock Stadium, but noted that they were among several factors that made the game a very difficult one for his side.

FIFPRO Makes Recommendations to Curb ACL Tears

Amid a rash of ACL injuries to women’s soccer players, FIFPRO has made some recommendations to cut down on the rate at which they occur. Rather than focusing on things that can’t be controlled, the federation has suggested modifying the calendar, number of games, and the playing surfaces. FIFPRO member Alex Culvin is calling for minimum standards in the women’s game relating to pitch conditions and access to physiotherapists. More research around risk factors is also necessary, as is implementing preventative exercises at the youth levels of the game.

Transfer Rumor Roundup

Summer transfer business is in full swing, so let’s catch up on some of the hot rumors currently flying around. First up, Arsenal is said to be in the final stages of signing Viktor Gyokeres to a five-year deal. Staying in the Premier League, Manchester United is reportedly interested in signing midfielder Fabian Ruiz from Paris Saint-Germain. Juventus reportedly is close to signing Jonathan David after his contract with Lille expired. Finally, Bayern Munich is reportedly preparing a formal offer for Liverpool for Colombian winger Luis Diaz.

Free Kicks

Apparently a non -#usmnt drone has crashed the training session. US Soccer staff aiming to identify it.

— Jeff Carlisle (@jeffreycarlisle.bsky.social) 2025-07-01T17:25:12.954Z

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

Continue Reading

Lion Links

Lion Links: 7/1/25

Pride signings, OCB draws, both U.S. national teams in action Wednesday, and more.

Published

2 days ago

on

July 1, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Welcome to July, Mane Landers. If you’re like me, you balanced the excitement and dread of the USMNT advancing on penalty kicks the other night. It was one thing watching Guatemala take out Canada but a whole other level of heart palpitating stress while watching the U.S. avoid a similar fate. There’s no time to relax with plenty of soccer to watch as we head towards Independence Day. Before we get to the links, please join us in wishing Orlando Pride/USWNT defender Emily Sams and OCB defender Clovis Archange each a happy birthday.

Orlando Pride Signings

The Orlando Pride announced a pair of transactions Monday. Midfielder Viviana Villacorta and the club have agreed to exercise the midfielder’s mutual option for the 2026 season. Villacorta was the No. 9 overall pick in the 2021 NWSL Draft. The Pride also signed midfielder Ally Lemos to a new contract through the 2027 season with a mutual option for 2028. The Pride selected Lemos with the No. 9 overall pick of the 2024 NWSL Draft. Orlando continues to lock down current players ahead of time. Now, we wait to see if any new players will be added.

OCB Earns a Point on the Road

Orlando City B played Philadelphia Union II to a 1-1 draw in a Monday afternoon match. Unfortunately, the Young Lions lost the end-of-regulation shootout 4-2 and did not get the additional point. Gustavo Caraballo assisted Jackson Platts on the early goal for OCB. Philadelphia equalized early in the second half. Carlos Mercado was the difference maker in the match, recording a career-high 12 saves.

USMNT’s Gold Cup Run Continues vs. Guatemala

The USMNT will face Guatemala Wednesday night in a 2025 Gold Cup semifinal match. The U.S. advanced past Costa Rica on penalties thanks to a stellar performance from goalkeeper Matt Freese. Guatemala stunned Canada with a second-half equalizer and advanced on penalty kicks. Guatemala has been the overachieving underdog of the competition so far. This will be the USMNT’s 17th Gold Cup semifinal appearance.

USWNT Hosts Canada

The USWNT will host Canada in a third friendly of this international window Wednesday at Washington, D.C.’s Audi Field. The U.S. is coming off two 4-0 victories over the Republic of Ireland. Canada should prove a tougher opponent for Emma Hayes’ squad. There is a possibility that the match will feature two Orlando Pride players — Emily Sams for the U.S. and Zara Chavoshi for Canada. Kerry Abello has returned to her club team after picking up a knock.

Free Kicks

Sources: Bayer Leverkusen are finalizing a deal to sign USMNT attacker Malik Tillman from PSV.Deal in region of $40m.

— Tom Bogert (@tombogert.bsky.social) 2025-06-30T20:36:24.359Z
  • Former Orlando Pride midfielder Erika Tymrak has retired from professional soccer.

That will do it for today. Check back as we get you ready for Orlando City’s match against Charlotte FC this weekend. Vamos Orlando!

Continue Reading

Orlando City

Orlando City Striker Ramiro Enrique Hindered By Inconsistency

Ramiro Enrique’s inconsistent play raises the question if he can be the go-to striker Orlando City desperately needs.

Published

3 days ago

on

June 30, 2025

By

Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City’s strike force has been inconsistent this season, to say the least. At times, the players up top have looked like they can score at will, but at other times, they struggle on chances they should finish. Nobody displays that inconsistency better than Ramiro Enrique.

Joining the Lions in 2023, Enrique has primarily served in a backup role for Ercan Kara, Duncan McGuire, and Luis Muriel. The young Argentine has had the occasional start, but ultimately ends up back on the bench, entering later in games. 

Orlando City acquired Muriel prior to the 2024 season when it appeared McGuire was on his way to Blackburn Rovers. However, the English side’s struggle with simple paperwork resulted in the Omaha, NE, native returning to Orlando. It left Oscar Pareja with some decisions to make.

The Lions often employ a 4-4-2 formation with a single striker and Muriel playing underneath. As a result, the three forwards all saw plenty of action in 2024.  Enrique started 12 games, Muriel 14, and McGuire was listed 18 times in the starting lineup. However, Enrique’s strong form near the end of the season saw him start 11 of the final 12 regular-season games and all five playoff contests.

Aiding Enrique’s playing time were injuries to McGuire. The 6-foot-1 striker suffered a shoulder injury on Nov. 9 in an MLS Cup playoff game against Charlotte FC, guaranteeing a starting spot for Enrique. As McGuire continued to work towards his return at the start of the year, Enrique took his place.

At times, it looks like Enrique is more than a substitute for Muriel or McGuire and can be the go-to scorer the Lions have struggled to find since Daryl Dike. But his inconsistency eventually returns, making it hard for Pareja to depend on the young attacker. That issue has been most noticeable during the two most recent games.

Putting shots on frame has been a struggle for the Lions this year, but it wasn’t for Enrique Wednesday night in St. Louis. After the Lions lost back-to-back games against Atlanta United and the Chicago Fire, Enrique was inserted into the starting lineup for Muriel. He took advantage of his opportunity in St. Louis, placing three of his five shots on target. He scored a first-half brace, giving his team a commanding three-goal lead after just 22 minutes.

In the seventh minute, Martin Ojeda sent a strong ball across the box that Enrique ran onto with perfect timing. He didn’t try to do too much, tapping the ball in on the slide. After Marco Pasalic made it 2-0, a bad turnover in the 22nd minute gave the striker a second chance. He was in on goal and made no mistake, slamming the ball past Roman Burki to make it 3-0.

The performance had many wondering if the team had finally found the striker it had been looking for since McGuire went down. But it wasn’t to be as Enrique reverted to his inconsistency with a poor performance in Saturday night’s 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati.

The striker was unable to put any of his three shots on target, but that’s only part of the story. It’s how he failed to score that was the bigger problem.

In the 51st minute, Pasalic forced Brian Anunga into a turnover just outside the Cincinnati box. Enrique made a run toward the near post and Pasalic found him. The striker should’ve had no problem putting the shot on target, but he hit the ball with his left foot as his right came through, knocking the ball out of play for a goal kick.

He had a chance to redeem himself in second-half stoppage time with the Lions looking for an equalizer. Rafael Santos played a beautiful ball to the near post that only required a slight touch to beat Roman Celentano. However, the striker sent his header well wide, squandering a golden opportunity to claim a point.

These two games show the inconsistency that has plagued Enrique throughout his Orlando City career. He’ll look to be in excellent form and ready to claim the starting striker role, only to follow it up with a poor performance. It’s something that has held the Argentine back since his arrival and continues to do so this year.

Even more troublesome, it leaves Orlando City without a dependable striker. McGuire can’t seem to get over his shoulder problems, and he is currently on the sidelines again while he recovers from surgery on the opposite shoulder to the one he hurt in last year’s playoffs. Muriel and Ojeda often partner each other up top, but both are more comfortable in midfield positions.

Injuries and players in uncomfortable positions provide Enrique with the perfect situation. Consistent scoring would assure Pareja that he can depend on the 24-year-old to produce the goals his team has been searching for. But the striker can’t seem to put it together over the span of multiple games.

He’ll have plenty of opportunities in the near future to win the position he undoubtedly craves. McGuire’s absence due to injury and Muriel’s preference to play underneath means Enrique will likely get more playing time. However, he needs to show more consistency if he wants to hold onto the starting spot long-term.

Continue Reading

Trending