Score then Sleep: The Revs Strike First but Drop 3 Points to Surging Orlando City
The story for Orlando City this season has been one of struggle to start and finding form as of late. Not registering a win until their 5th regular season match, including a 5-0 embarrassing loss to Messi and Miami early in the season, it was a disappointing start for an Orlando team who finished second in the Eastern Conference in 2023. Coming into Saturday night with a 2 game win streak including a 5-0 bashing of DC United the week before, Orlando has been finding form just in time for a visit to injury ridden New England. Historically, the Revs have gotten the better of this matchup, as seen below. In fact, in 9 attempts, Orlando had never won a game in Foxborough. Until this weekend where the 10th try became the charm.
Looking at the New England starting lineup going into this matchup it unfortunately did not inspire much hope. I didn’t imagine a crushing 3-1 loss, but I knew it wouldn’t be an easy match. Looking at our starting eleven I tried to imagine where goals would be coming from. With his recent form, at least one from Vrioni was a decently safe bet entering the match. Beyond that, Esmir is dangerous and has been getting better and more comfortable each week. He definitely has potential to register a goal or likely an assist with his form lately. Jack Panayotou played solid in his first start of the season last match, but in only his second ever MLS start it is hard to expect too much from him. He has played well, made attacking moves, and proved he can be dangerous. I like what I’ve seen from him, but obviously we’re in a tough spot when he’s our starting right winger.
Beyond that, looking at the midfield, it’s the Spiderman meme pointing at himself 3 times, but it’s Ian Harkes, Matt Polster, and Tommy McNamara. 3 solid dudes. Literally solid. Play tough and work hard. Unfortunately, I don’t see any of them being the playmaker who’s transitioning from defense to offensive and helping keep play in Orlando’s half of the field. They aren’t bringing transitional speed. Solid dudes, but not much attack there. Hence why when the ball does move forward it’s Jones and Bye basically playing outside midfield and Polster and McNamara and Harkes as well dropping back to cover with Romney and Kessler. Note, no Arreaga Saturday night due to yellow card accumulation suspension. With injuries it’s outside the teams control, but unfortunately, this midfield doesn’t inspire me or make me expect lots of goals this game from the Revs. Playing a 4-3-3 rather than our typical 4-2-3-1, the midfield is missing a transitional player like Carles Gil who will move the ball from defense to offense.
Revolution Injury list going into Saturday’s game.
All that said, I do like Ian Harkes and what he brings when he gets the chance to get on the field. He’s a hard nose defender and a hard worker, but also knows how to move the ball forward at times and make some attacking chances. I remember being at the first game he played when joining the Revs in 2023 against DC United. The goalie came out on a breakaway opportunity and he chipped a bouncing ball over the goalies head for the goal to go up like 4-1 or something. That was all recalled from memory and could be a complete fabrication, but it went something like that.
Unfortunately, Harkes and others felt the effects of being shorthanded and the humid summer heat. Shout out my new homie Corey I met at the game and watched with. Dude wore a sweatshirt into the stadium but by halftime was stripping it off as the sweat started to accumulate. There was a mascot game at halftime and I didn’t even want to imagine how it felt inside those fuzzy costumes in the muggy New England Summer heat. All that to say, Harkes and others were gassed and the humidity did them no favors, and the Revs couldn’t sustain the solid played they exhibited in the first half into the second half. I guess Orlando had the Florida advantage and was less effected. I don’t know. Speculation.
Ali Ivacic had another solid night, consistently making 3-5 game changing saves in matches lately. Shots that almost seem surefire goals but he manages to make a save, not give away a rebound, and remain calm, cool, collected throughout. He’s been a stud (aside from a few headscratcher goals he’s given up) since joining the Revs. I’m a big fan. Caleb Porter commented in his postgame press conference that Ali Ivacic deserves better from his defense. He’s playing like one of the best goalies in the league right now. He doesn’t deserve to be letting up 2-3 goals per game. He deserves better support from the guys around him.
This match was a tale of two halves. The first half theme was Revolution domination. Despite a hobbled lineup, the Revs came into this game on their home field and asserted their style of play and came away with a 1 goal lead heading into the half to show for it. Caleb Porter commented that this was a ‘deserved goal’. And I agree. I find good things happen when the Revolution work the ball from side to side in the offensive zone. This goal came from a cross from Dejuan Jones that ended up going all the way through the box over to the other side to Brandon Bye. Working it back into the midfield to Esmir, he wasted no time in sending back in another cross from the opposite side of the first. This found Dejuan Jones still lurking near the back post who tactfully knocked the ball back to Vrioni for the easy finish. The Revolution created great opportunities and were eventually rewarded with a beautiful goal. Props were given to Jack Panayotou and Esmir Bajraktarevic from Coach Porter after the match. Porter expressed how happy he was with Esmir, Jack, and Tommy Mac, and really everyone from the midfield up. They worked hard and gave the team a shot to win.
Porter was emphatic with how disappointed he was in the back 4. Numerous times through his press-conferences expressing his dismay, mentioning Dave Romney by name a few times and Henry Kessler as well commenting how out of sync they both were despite being this deep in the season. In that regard, it is a good thing Arreaga returns from yellow card suspension in the next match. Porter commented on the records from the different defensive pairings, citing the best pairing to be Arreaga and Romney, so sounding like that is what we will see moving forward. The worst pairing being the one we saw Saturday night, Romney and Kessler. The amount of times Caleb Porter mentioned being ‘disappointed’ in the defense was too obvious to miss the theme. He wants them to have more ‘pride’ in their play. With Arreaga back, we should see some improvements. (insert Arreaga pride joke)
Caleb Porter also made some interesting comments regarding player availability in response to a question basically insinuating that maybe the Revs injury issues were due to training issues or something they were inherently doing wrong. Porter went on to describe the injury past of a number of players: Borrero, Mark Anthony Kaye, Carles Gil, etc… showing how these injuries aren’t surprises, and you need to be aware of player availability when signing players. I’m interested for August to roll around and see what changes are made to this team and lineup. Porter obviously has strong feelings regarding the defensive 4, and I felt a certain energy in the way he described some players availability. A player like Dylan Borrero is fantastic, but when it becomes a pattern of long periods of not being available, that takes a toll on the team. I’m curious to see what changes could be in store (because changes will be made. That’s for sure). “We need more of those kind of guys. Guys who are durable. Guys who are available. Can train and play every single game,” said Porter after Saturday's match against Orlando.
Unfortunately, it’s more of the same lineups to come. With no expected returns from injuries and only Arreaga returning from suspension, there will be very little change to this lineup moving forward in this busy 3 game week. The panic button isn’t out yet as the Revolution have 2 or 3 less games played than most Eastern Conference teams and that gives them hope in working back into a playoff spot. However, continuing to drop 3 points while putting our injured squads isn’t going to help the playoff push.
Next, the Revolution take of the Philadelphia Union, a team that has gotten the better of the Revs in their last 3 matchups. Despite that, Philly currently sits at the bottom of the Eastern Conference where the Revs used to reside, and hopefully this Wednesday night can be a get right game for the Revs. One of the Philly goal scorers against the Revs, Julian Carranza, was transferred since their last meeting, so that bodes well for the Revolution. A struggling Philly side is hopefully a chance to get 3 points and regain some confidence despite our short-handed lineups being sported the last few games.
Overall, I agree with my boy Corey who as we watched the Revs drop their early lead and fall behind in the second half asked, “What was said at halftime??” Porter obviously was pleased with the first half, what was said at halftime that the boys came out so slow and let in the tying goal within the first 5 mins or so? It seems Porter likes to get a lead then sit on it, go more defensive and play it out rather than add to it. In a game like this where attacking prowess is lacking, maybe that’s a decent plan. Get ahead and hold on. Unfortunately though, we are left wondering why, once again, the Revs come out so flat footed in the second half and results in a loss.
All in all, the season isn’t over. The Revs have a few games in hand and tons of potential if players can get back on the field and healthy. There is almost certainly some roster shake up to come in the August transfer window. The season isn’t over, the Revs are lurking and plotting on one of those last playoff spots. During this time of injury after finally getting healthy it is important to pick up a few points, get a win, get a draw. Can’t keep stacking losses. Need to pick up a few points here and there and stay in playoff contention. That’s my rant for the day. Let’s fricken go Revs.
