ORLANDO, Fla. (April 28, 2016) – Orlando City (2-2-3, 9 points) and the New England Revolution (1-2-6, 9 points) battle for points for the second time this season when the Lions visit Gillette Stadium on Saturday, April 30. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Saturday’s contest will be televised on TV 27, as well as transmitted locally on Real Radio 104.1 FM in English and on La Grande 1030 AM in Spanish.
“They’ve played virtually the same players, same system for the past two years and they’re good at what they do,” head coach Adrian Heath said. “They’ve got a few bumps and bruises at the minute and we’re not quite sure what the personnel is, but I think we’re pretty certain how they’re going to play. Just a matter of if we can cope with it and if we can impose our own attacking principles on them.”
Entering its fourth road match of the season, Orlando City aims to regain momentum and build off the tenacious defensive efforts displayed by Joe Bendik and the Orlando City backline against the New York Red Bulls. The Lions held a lead for the majority of the game following Cyle Larin’s team-leading fourth goal of the season in the third minute, but were unable to hold off the Red Bulls in the second half, eventually falling 3-2.
The Revolution, currently in sixth place in the Eastern Conference, face a short turnaround following Wednesday’s 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers. Portland gained a second-half lead with Jack Barmby’s 64th-minute goal, but a Jermaine Taylor own goal in the 89th minute salvaged a point at home for the Revs.
New England has picked up six of a possible 12 points at home this season. An Orlando City victory at Gillette Stadium would mark the first home loss for the Revolution since falling 1-0 to the Montreal Impact on October 17, 2015.
These two teams are fresh off a thrilling finish to their first matchup of the season in Orlando on April 17. Kaká scored the fastest penalty kick in MLS history to give the Lions an early lead and Kevin Molino recaptured the lead in stoppage time, but the Revolution equalized on a penalty kick following a controversial stoppage time decision.
Striker Cyle Larin is available after missing the first meeting due to a hamstring injury suffered in the first half of City's 4-1 win over the Portland Timbers on April 3. The reigning MLS Rookie of the Year leads the Lions with four goals in six appearances.
Orlando City returns to action on May 6 at the Camping World Stadium, formally known as the Orlando Citrus Bowl, to host the New York Red Bulls. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. E.T.
