Do or die for Revolution, Orlando City (Sep 02, 2017)

By AP
Published

Juan Agudelo and the Revolution are hoping home field advantage pays off as New England hosts Orlando City SC in a crucial match Saturday night at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass.

New England (8-12-5) is among MLS' better teams on home turf this season with an 8-2-2 record on the Gillette pitch. Orlando City (8-11-7) has struggled away from home, going 2-7-3.

"We're a very tough team to beat at home," Agudelo told the Revolution's official website. "It's very important for us to get three points."

Both the Revolution and Lions are in desperate need of a win to keep their playoff aspirations alive.

New England is 10th out of 11 teams in the Eastern Conference and is seven points out of a playoff spot. Orlando City enters the match ninth in the East, just five points off the pace.

"I think it's going to be an interesting game. Both teams are basically do or die," Lions coach Jason Kreis told the team's official website.

Kreis' team began the season with six wins in its first seven league matches, but has fallen apart since and is winless in its previous seven matches (0-5-2).

Orlando City fell 2-1 to Vancouver Whitecaps FC in its most recent match last Saturday, with Cyle Larin scoring the Lions' lone goal in the 62nd minute.

New England also lost its match last Saturday as Luciano Acosta's goal in the 71st minute sent D.C. United past the Revs 1-0.

Agudelo is the Revs' co-leader in goals this season with eight, along with Lee Nguyen and Kei Kamara. Larin has paced the Lions with a team-high tally of 10 goals on the campaign.

Orlando City will likely be without Larin (Canada) and Yoshimar Yotun (Peru) on Saturday, as they are away on international duty. New England's Je-Vaughn Watson (Jamaica) and Antonio Delamea (Slovenia) will also be away for the same reason.

Kelyn Rowe (right knee sprain) remains sidelined for New England while Jonathan Spector (knee) and Will Johnson (ankle sprain) are both out for Orlando City.

Victor "PC" Pagliari Giro (adductor) is day-to-day for the Lions.

Saturday's match was scheduled to be the Revolution's 2017 home opener on March 11, but extreme freezing temperatures resulted in the match's postponement.

Each teams has one win and they have played to three draws in five prior meetings.