Orlando City goalkeeper Mason Stajduhar is likely out for the season while Jonathan Spector and Lamine Sane are expected to be absent with injuries. Shane O’Neill is suspended.New England Revolution lists Chris Tierney and Femi Hollinger-Janzen as injured.
Orlando City
Suspended: Shane O’Neill
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Mason Stajduhar (localized Ewing sarcoma), Lamine Sane (quadriceps), Jonathan Spector (hamstring)
New England Revolution
Suspended: None
Doubtful: None
Injured/unavailable: Chris Tierney (knee), Femi Hollinger-Janzen (elbow)
MATCH PREVIEW
MAIN PREDICTION: HOME WIN
Orlando City played an excellent away game against the LA Galaxy on Sunday night, but had nothing to show for it in the standings after falling 4-3. Orlando took the lead three times, but couldn’t hang on as they were eventually done in by three goals from Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Cristian Higuita and Dom Dwyer scored for the visitors in the 18th and 54th minutes, with the Galaxy’s Michael Ciani scoring an own goal in the 44th, but they blew their 3-2 lead when Ibrahimovic levelled in the 67th minute and won it in the 71st. Orlando’s Eastern Conference playoffs hopes took another hit with their 12th loss in 13 league games (along with one win) as they remain at 22 points. They are not out of it though as they trail the Montreal Impact and the New England Revolution and a playoff spot by just six points. They are ranked 17th at home at five wins, one draw and five losses and have been outscored 20-19.
The New England Revolution took last week off and haven’t played an MLS match since losing away 2-0 to the New York Red Bulls on July 21st. They have lost three in a row after going unbeaten in their previous seven with two wins and five draws. The Revolution has seven wins, seven draws and seven losses on the year for 28 points and are hanging onto the fifth, just a single point ahead of the seventh place Philadelphia Union. They have taken only seven of a possible 28 road points with a lone win, four draws and four defeats and are winless on their past seven trips with three losses and four draws.
Orlando has played two great games in a row and lost both of them. They are at home against a New England side that has just one away win and if they keep up the good work they should take three points.
SECOND PREDICTION: HILO – HIGH
The New England Revolution and Orlando City have met seven previous times and scored an average of 4.3 goals per game with a total of 11 in their past two meetings. I’m expecting another relatively high-scoring contest.
HEAD TO HEAD
Orlando City won last year’s home encounter 6-1 while the New England Revolution won their home fixture 4-0. The teams each have two wins, two losses and three draws in their seven previous encounters.