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Intelligence Report: Scouting Orlando City vs. New England Revolution

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The good thing about having an unbeaten streak snapped is that the next game presents an opportunity to start a new one. Orlando City will try to do just that when the New England Revolution visit the Citrus Bowl tomorrow afternoon. The Lions have yet to beat the Revs, so it’ll take a full team effort for 90+ minutes to get it done.

New England is off to a 1-1-4 start, with those four draws helping the Revolution sit just one point behind Orlando in the Eastern Conference table. A draw is the best that the Lions have done so far against the Revs. The teams met twice last season, with Orlando City rallying from a 2-0 deficit in the final 17 minutes to draw 2-2 at the Citrus Bowl last April, getting goals from Cyle Larin and Aurelien Collin. New England won the return leg 3-0 against a depleted Lions side missing Kaká, Larin, Brek Shea and Darwin Ceren — in addition to having lost Kevin Molino early in the year.

Here to help us scout the Revolution is Jake Catanese from SB Nation's New England blog, The Bent Musket. I've answered Jake's questions as well, and you can check those out here.

Who are New England’s key off-season additions and subtractions that we should know about and how have they affected Jay Heaps‘ team and approach so far in 2016?

Jake Catanese: Gershon Koffie and Je-Vaughn Watson are the two big additions that have made a major impact for the Revs already. Yes, both Koffie and Watson have served red card suspensions but the depth of the Revs at right back and holding midfield allowed them to overcome those absences. Koffie has effectively replaced Jermaine Jones as the starting CDM next to Scott Caldwell and, while the Revs offense isn’t clicking like it was with Jones in 2014, the Revs have been playing fairly well. They just don’t have the results yet to show for it. Koffie in particular was stellar last week against Toronto, completing over 90% of his passes and, for the most part, keeping Giovinco out of dangerous areas to limit his chances on the field

Watson has come in and solidified a right back position that was a revolving door last season with a platoon of London Woodberry, Kevin Alston and Jeremy Hall covering for the long-term injury to utility defender Darrius Barnes. Alston is now with Orlando (jerks) while Hall is with the NASL’s Tampa Bay Rowdies. Woodberry filled in well for the two games Watson missed for international duty with Jamaica and his suspension and Barnes is back from injury but has yet to feature for the Revs, though he is a regular on the subs bench.

New England has four draws in six matches to stay in the race early but only one win so far this season. Why haven't the Revs been able to get over the hump in these close games early in the season?

JC: The easy answer is that the Revs haven’t been finishing well to start the season. They’ve created good chances but have either fired them wide or straight at the opposing keepers. Part of this could be due to the inconsistency of the starting striker up front, where Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies, and Teal Bunbury have all seen time, with a minor knock keeping Agudelo out last week and Davies welcoming twins into the world. But the group as a whole hasn’t been capitalizing on chances.

On the flip side, they haven't been getting much help from the referees on the offensive end either. The two (deserved) red cards aside, the Revs had multiple penalty shouts against Houston and Toronto go unnoticed, as well as a legitimate goal disallowed in stoppage time last week. While the Revs were able to battle to a draw with 10 men against NYCFC, it's hard to get over the hump when three or four chances from the penalty spot aren't awarded to you. Referees aside, the Revs just have to finish better, plain and simple. They've played well enough in most of the draws to scrape out wins and just haven't been able to do it and, as we've seen this year, you can't rely on the referees to bail you out.

What kind of formation and tactics can we expect from the Revolution against Orlando City, and what do you view as the game's key match-up?

JC: Basically, the Revs use a standard 4-2-3-1, with fullbacks Chris Tierney and Watson providing service, and Caldwell and Koffie recycling the ball around to the advanced midfielders. I want to see the Revs break out on the counter more but it seems like MLS is figuring out that you don’t want to see Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen, and Kelyn Rowe running unopposed downfield. While the Revs’ build-up play has improved, they have struggled at times to get shots and chances against a packed defense.

Last week, the Revs scored a wonderful goal from Watson sending in a cross to Kelyn Rowe unmarked on a back-post run, so, while shutting down Lee Nguyen in the middle of the field is a must, taking away the second chances and service from the fullbacks in particular will go a long way to Orlando keeping the Revs off the score sheet.

What is your anticipated starting XI, key injuries/suspensions, and score prediction for Sunday?

JC: No suspensions, but Juan Agudelo missed last week with a minor knock, and while he could likely feature off the bench on Sunday, I'll play it safe and keep him out of the starting lineup.

Bobby Shuttleworth; Chris Tierney, Jose Goncalves, Andrew Farrell, Je-Vaughn Watson; Gershon Koffie, Scott Caldwell; Diego Fagundez, Lee Nguyen, Kelyn Rowe; Charlie Davies

Just one change, as the Revs put Davies back up front, though it wouldn't shock me if Teal Bunbury starts the game at striker or at right wing coming off a solid game against Toronto, especially with the hold-up play that Davies is more known for. The Revs desperately need a win, but the draw train continues, 1-1 in Orlando.

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Big thanks to Jake from The Bent Musket for giving us some insight on the New England Revolution.

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/29/24

Lions brace for the Red Bulls, Pride take on Chicago, OCB will play Inter Miami II in Bradenton, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando Pride / Jeremy Reper

Happy Friday! Today marks one year since we here at The Mane Land published our first story here at our new independent home. It’s a bit hard to believe that it’s already been a year. Thank you all for sticking with us or checking us out since our move. That kind of support goes farther than you might think. I joined the team back in October of 2016 as an editor and it’s only just now hitting me that I’ve been here for nearly a quarter of my entire life. Here’s hoping for another great year of independence and Orlando soccer!

Orlando City Set to Host New York Red Bulls

Orlando City’s match at home Saturday night against the New York Red Bulls was noted as one of the top matches in the league this weekend. The Lions earned their first win of the MLS season last weekend and will look to build on that momentum heading into tomorrow. The Lions will also get a boost from players returning from international duty, with Duncan McGuire, Facundo Torres, David Brekalo, and Peruvian duo Pedro Gallese and Wilder Cartagena back. They’ll have their hands full against a New York team that’s coming off of a 4-0 win over Inter Miami. Lewis Morgan had a hat trick in that match and Orlando’s defense will have to find a way to keep him and the rest of the Red Bulls from running rampant.

Orlando Pride Take On Chicago Tonight

The Orlando Pride’s third match of the NWSL season kicks off tonight at 7 p.m. when they host the Chicago Red Stars. The Pride enter this match following a gritty 1-1 draw against Angel City FC, with Brazilians Angelina and Marta linking up on a corner kick for a late equalizer. One thing to keep an eye on in tonight’s match will be how the Pride’s shorthanded defense can limit Chicago’s attack. The Pride have targeted versatile players while rebuilding, and that proved to be worth it last week as multiple players stepped up to fortify the back line. The last time these two sides squared off in Orlando was in August of last year, with the Pride coming up with a big 5-0 win. Hopefully we get to see a similar result tonight.

OCB Match Will Be Part of Generation Adidas Cup

Tuesday’s MLS NEXT Pro match between Orlando City B and Inter Miami II will take place at IMG Academy in Bradenton and will be part of this year’s Generation Adidas Cup. The participating teams of the tournament were invited to attend the match, along with their families, and fans can watch the match for free on the league website. The match will be broadcast in English, but a new AI dubbing platform will be used to instantly translate it into Spanish, French, and Portuguese. It will supposedly maintain voice and tone, so I’m morbidly curious to hear just how artificial it will sound.

Generations Adidas Cup Kicks Off Tomorrow

Speaking of the Generation Adidas Cup, the youth tournament kicks off tomorrow. All MLS academy teams will compete alongside some of the top youth teams from around the world in both the U-15 and U-17 age groups. Orlando City’s U-15 side was noted as one to watch after a strong run of form this year. Caleb Trombino has been solid defensively and Jakob Garcia has the attacking talent to light it up in this tournament. The team can make a statement when it takes on Arsenal’s U-15 squad at 10 a.m. this Sunday. That match, along with 27 others, will be broadcast on MLS Season Pass.

Free Kicks

  • The Lions received some special visitors for their training.
  • Somehow, the Seattle Reign’s Ji So-Yun beat Marta to win NWSL Goal of the Week.

That’s all I have for you today. I hope you all have a fantastic Friday and rest of your weekend!

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Orlando City

Orlando City vs. New York Red Bulls: Three Keys to Victory

What does Orlando City need to do to earn a second victory in a row at home this Saturday?

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC / Mark Thor

Orlando City is coming off its first win of the MLS regular season and will look to carry that momentum into Saturday night’s Eastern Conference matchup against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions will have several players back from international duty, making Oscar Pareja’s job a bit easier, although some of them will be on short rest. What does Orlando City need to do to earn all three points against the Red Bulls?

Stop Morgan

Lewis Morgan has been on a tear this season with five goals in five matches. That is more than every Orlando City player combined so far this season. The Red Bulls were held scoreless in two matches, meaning those five goals have come in three matches, with Morgan scoring a hat trick against Inter Miami. I love that he took it to the Herons like that, but I’m going to need him to cool off a bit against the Lions.

If Orlando City is to stop Morgan it will take excellent defending from the Lions’ back line and of course Pedro Gallese, who is returning from international duty. Orlando City also gets Wilder Cartagena and David Brekalo back, meaning more of the first choice lineup will be available to keep a clean sheet. With the match at home, earning a clean sheet is all the more important.

Proper Rest and Preperation

It might seem silly to say, but having more than a few days between matches is conducive to earning points. When Orlando City was participating in the Concacaf Champions Cup, the Lions never had time to properly recover or train with a game plan for the next match. Now, the Lions are able to do so, and the result against Austin FC reflects that.

Pareja is a top level MLS coach. We know that he has a plan for about the first 20 minutes of any match, and then makes adjustments throughout the remainder of the match. Even so, many of those adjustments have been planned out prior to the match. That, paired with a more rested roster, allows the Lions to be the protagonists Pareja wants them to be.

Shots, Shots, Shots

Orlando City was able to create plenty of chances against Austin FC, and will need to do so again against the Red Bulls. The Lions took 22 shots Saturday night, with eight on target, and they put two in the back of the net against Austin. Hopefully, Orlando City can be more efficient going forward, but if you don’t create opportunities, you won’t score.

The Red Bulls have some decent defenders who Orlando City will have to deal with, including fullback John Tolkin and Carlos Coronel at keeper. If the Lions can pass even close to the way they did against Austin, the opportunities will come, and if that is the case, hopefully the goals will come. Orlando City still has a sizable goal deficit, thanks to the early part of the season, that can only be corrected with more goals on the other end.


That is what I will be looking for this Saturday night at Inter&Co Stadium. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below. Vamos Orlando!

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Lion Links

Lion Links: 3/28/24

Getting to know Rafael Santos, Orlando Pride prepare for Chicago, Midge Purce out for the season, and more.

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Image courtesy of Orlando City SC

How’s it going, Mane Landers? I hope the work week has been treating you well as we gear up for another weekend of soccer. March flew by for me and April is shaping up to be a pretty busy month as well. In other news, I’m looking into adopting a cat and gathering the supplies to make that happen. Let’s dive into today’s links!

Getting to Know Rafael Santos

Orlando City left back Rafael Santos was the latest Lion to field questions as part of the club’s video series for fans to learn more about its players. The 26-year-old spoke about the decision process behind joining Orlando and playing outside of Brazil for the first time in his career after five years with Cruzeiro. He’s brought his attack-minded style of play to the team, particularly in terms of providing lethal crossing from the wing. Make sure to check out the full video as Santos also shared photos of his newborn and showcased his skill with a cavaquinho.

Orlando Pride Prepare to Host Chicago

After a pair of draws to start their season, the Orlando Pride will have a chance to claim their first win of the season when they host the Chicago Red Stars tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Head Coach Seb Hines spoke about how the Pride have shown plenty of resilience so far this young season. The team managed to secure a point in last week’s 1-1 draw with Angel City FC despite a patchwork back line due to injuries. That defense will likely have its hands full against Mallory Swanson and a Chicago team that won both of its first two games. Hines spoke about how the Pride are preparing for Chicago and how they will need the home crowd to bring the support tomorrow night.

Sophia Smith Signs Record-Breaking New Deal

American forward Sophia Smith signed a new contract with the Portland Thorns that will make her the highest-paid NWSL player, according to the club. The new deal will last through the 2025 season, with an option for 2026 as well. The 23-year-old was drafted by the Thorns with the first overall pick in the 2020 NWSL Draft and has gone on to score 34 regular-season goals. Smith re-signed with the club in 2022 and was set to become a free agent following this season, but will instead stay in Portland.

Midge Purce Out for NWSL Season

NJ/NY Gotham FC forward Midge Purce will miss the remainder of the NWSL season after tearing her ACL. The 28-year-old will undergo surgery and suffered the injury in her team’s 1-0 victory over the Portland Thorns this past weekend. She’s been with Gotham since 2020 and assisted on both goals in her team’s 2-1 win in the 2023 NWSL Championship. It’s a tough blow for the United States Women’s National Team too, as she will not be representing the U.S. during this summer’s Olympics in France.

Free Kicks

  • Orlando City B’s match against Carolina Core FC on April 14 has been rescheduled.

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

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