Five points is the chasm separating New England Revolution from an MLS playoff spot. It may not sound big, but as the season wears down, every game assumes an added layer of significance. For head coach Caleb Porter, the next few weeks loom huge in closing that gap and securing their place in the playoffs. And New England happens to have a couple of advantages that might turn out critical in the final stretch: they've got more games to play than many of their direct competitors and-most importantly-key players are returning to the starting lineup.
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Let's be real: The home loss to St. Louis SC wasn't in the plans. With key players back, there should have been a better display of soccer. But Porter has made it clear that his and the team's attention should be on what they can control, meaning their performance on the pitch. On those terms, there are still some positive signs:.
A Team with Surprising Potential
Remember, this is the same New England side that bossed Montreal on the road not so long ago. And without their midfield maestro Carles Gil, they still allowed Orlando City only a 1-0 lead by halftime in their last meeting. The side now hopes to repeat such good displays with Gil and other key players back as they host Orlando.
The return of Carles Gil is not to be overstated. He's chasing assist records in MLS, and the talent that he has around him, he has everything in place to meet that mark. Another one would be Giacomo Vrioni. The forward was in excellent form before an injury, netting six goals in six games between June and July, returning to score against Montreal. With Gil feeding the attack and Vrioni looking to regain his form, New England Revolution could be tough to handle.
Beyond Gil and Vrioni, though, the depth across the field is impressive. The wings are well-covered, and even young defender Peyton Miller has shown the ability to push forward and create scoring chances. If Vrioni is on fire, he'll have plenty of chances to put the ball in the net, with more than a few teammates ready to contribute.
Orlando City SC's Challenge: A Team on Unstable Ground
Orlando City SC might seem to be in a comfortable position, considering it sits 10 points ahead of New England in the Eastern Conference standings. Appearances can be deceiving, though. Although they won convincingly, 3-0, over Nashville, this team isn't as solid as it may look, and that's something New England could exploit.
Orlando's defeat to Sporting Kansas City after the Leagues Cup - against a team that was down to 10 men, no less - did highlight some vulnerabilities. The fact that they then showed some resilience in beating Nashville only serves to highlight inconsistency. To further complicate the scenario, the Lions have been marginally worse at home compared to on the road so far this campaign, and that makes the encounter at Inter&Co Stadium hard to predict.
Standing among the rest is Iván Angulo for Orlando City SC. This Colombian winger has been one of the consistent performers for the team, starting all 27 matches this season and directly contributing to 11 goals in the process. While the names of Facundo Torres and Duncan McGuire may be among the more recognizable, Angulo has been at the heart of affairs, bringing regularity and creativity into this attack. He will be an eternal danger to New England's defense.
What's at Stake for Both Teams?
The mission is simple for New England: win, or watch their playoff aspirations continue to slip further away. The quality is in the team, key players return from injury, and they have more games left than some of their direct rivals. However, there is zero room for error.
Orlando City hopes to continue to be at the top of the standings, which may only be a reality with avoiding the so-called late-season stumbles. A comfortable lead in the standings means little as a string of poor results can shatter the confidence of any team. And confidence is something that can disappear in an instance in soccer, especially when the team hasn't been that consistent at home.