The New England Revolution are approaching Saturday's trip to Orlando City with a "chip on their shoulder" following a pair of disappointing results, says head coach Caleb Porter.

The Revs enjoyed a spectacular return to MLS action after the Leagues Cup break as they routed CF Montreal 5-0 on the road, but they were then beaten 2-0 at Real Salt Lake.

Last time out, New England squandered a 2-1 lead in a 2-2 draw with St. Louis City, leaving them five points adrift of the Eastern Conference playoff picture, albeit with two games in hand.

"It's really important that we make up for the two points we lost in the last game, so our mindset is to go on the road and get a result in Orlando," Porter said.

"Our guys have trained really well and they definitely have an edge or a chip on their shoulder to go and make up for the last game."

Orlando, meanwhile, occupy the final automatic playoff place in the East after thrashing Nashville SC 3-0 last time out, their first win since returning to MLS action.

Head coach Oscar Pareja believes having a week off for the international break has benefitted his side, saying: "Getting the boys ready for this game has been good, in training we've tried to keep the players in competition mode.

"It's just been exactly what we do normally, so we're good. We have the national team players here and we're ready."

Reflecting on Orlando's last win, he added: "It's a good base and a good foundation, but my thoughts are always the same.

"That has already passed and now we need to build a new gameplan for this one."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Facundo Torres

Torres scored twice in Orlando's 3-0 win over Nashville last time out on August 31, his ninth and 10th goals of the season in MLS play. 

Torres, who scored 14 goals last season, is the second Orlando City player to record consecutive 10-goal seasons, along with Cyle Larin (three straight from 2017 to 2019).

New England Revolution – Carles Gil

Including playoffs, Gil has scored six goals against Orlando, more than against any other opponent in his MLS career.

MATCH PREDICTION – ORLANDO CITY WIN 

Orlando have won their last two meetings with New England, including a 3-1 road victory on July 13. The Lions had managed two total wins in their first 16 regular-season matches against the Revs (seven draws, seven losses).

New England have only lost once in their last seven matches across all competitions (two wins, four draws), following a 2-2 draw with St. Louis last time out.

However, the trip to Florida is a tough one, with Orlando unbeaten in their last seven home matches (four wins, three draws), keeping clean sheets in each of their last two. The hosts go in as favourites.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 56%

New England Revolution – 21.3%

Draw – 22.7%

Orlando City head coach Oscar Pareja praised his side’s “seriousness” of returning to winning ways ahead of welcoming New York City FC to Inter&Co Stadium this weekend.

The Lions recorded a fourth straight MLS triumph against Nashville SC last time out having won just one of their previous seven league encounters.

Orlando’s upturn in form has seen them bridge clear daylight between the sides below them and currently sit seventh in the Eastern Conference table, just five points behind New York Red Bulls.

Pareja is hoping to continue their upward trajectory on home soil this weekend, with his players’ maintaining their responsibilities highlighted as a key component to their recent success.

"We are really happy, indeed with the result, but most importantly with the seriousness of the team, the discipline, the responsibility that the boys have had on bouncing back from those difficult moments,” Pareja said.

“And not just bounce back, but just keeping the level and the feeling and the plays against a [Nashville] team that is very difficult. I thought we played a very serious game.

“I see that group just playing the way we are and keeping our responsibilities, but at the same time being productive for the group. Very complete game for us and we're happy and ready to move toward the next one.”

For NYCFC, they are now without a win in their last three league fixtures following their 2-2 draw with Atlanta United in midweek.

But the draw at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium did come with its positives. Daniel Rios and Saba Lobzhanidze had given the hosts a comfortable two-goal advantage heading into half-time.

However, Nick Cushing’s side showed their powers of recovery to score twice after the interval, with Talles Magno’s late penalty securing what could prove to be a very important point.

NYCFC are currently in fifth in the Eastern Conference table, and know a win is a must ahead of the Leagues Cup break next week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Orlando City – Martin Ojeda

The Lions have been among the goals in their recent MLS fixtures, with Martin Ojeda key to their goal-scoring output.

Ojeda has registered four goal contributions in his last five league games (two goals, two assists), with one of those assists coming in the reverse fixture between the two sides back in June.  

NYCFC – Talles Magno

Having suffered a knee injury in NYCFC’s opening game against Charlotte, Talles Magno had to bide his time for a return to first-team action, but he took that opportunity with both hands upon his return.

Magno scored a penalty in their draw with Atlanta and boasts an impressive record against this weekend’s opponents.

In his four games against Orlando, the Brazilian has scored two goals and provided two assists, losing just once against the Lions.

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN

Orlando came into the contest with their confidence sky-high following their fourth consecutive league victory. Their last longer winning streak came between October – November 2023 when they won six on the bounce.

The Lions have scored 22 goals in their last eight league games, the most they have managed this season, as they continue to climb the Eastern Conference table.

NYCFC are enduring another period without a victory and have now gone three games without a win. However, they boast an impressive record over this weekend’s opponents and are unbeaten in their four meetings (W3, D1), with their last defeat coming in August 2022.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 46.5%

Draw – 26.5%

NYCFC – 27%

Toronto FC must keep moving forward after their dramatic defeat to Atlanta United made it four straight losses, said John Herdman ahead of Wednesday's clash with Orlando City.

The Reds' miserable run continued on Saturday as they were beaten 2-1 by Atlanta in remarkable circumstances.

The Five Stripes' Jamal Thiare lurked behind Toronto goalkeeper Luka Gavran and stole possession from him as he went to kick the ball long, before converting into an empty net. 

Despite the nature of the result, Herdman believes their performance represented a step in the right direction, saying: "The team took a big step.

"The players were all in. You got that sense they were grinding out a result, but also had chances to win it.

"What can you say about the last goal? It's tough. I didn't have too many words. It's just gut-wrenching, but at the same time, there has got to be a response coming into the midweek game at home against Orlando. 

"We've got to keep moving forward. It's tough to take with 10 seconds left. I asked the fourth official how long was left, he said 10, I turned to walk to the bench and it was in the back of the net."

Orlando are also out of sorts, only winning one of their last seven matches (two draws, four losses), and going down 4-2 at New York City last time out.

Midfielder Dagur Dan Thorhallsson says finding a better balance out of possession will be key to changing their fortunes. 

"We've done it before and we know how to do it, but I feel like right now the balance just isn't quite there and that's something that we need to look at," he said.

"It's good that we started scoring, but now we need to stop conceding so many goals."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Toronto FC – Federico Bernardeschi 

Bernardeschi scored his eighth goal in MLS this season – a team-high total – in last week's defeat to Atlanta. 

He has overperformed his expected goals (xG) total of 6.21 for the campaign and ranks joint-fifth in the league for total shots on target (28, alongside Andres Gomez). Can he provide the inspiration?

Orlando City – Duncan McGuire 

McGuire is Orlando's leading scorer for 2024 after netting his seventh goal of the season last time out, with that tally coming from just 12 shots on target.

MATCH PREDICTION: ORLANDO CITY WIN

Having won seven of nine matches across all competitions between late April and May 22, Toronto have now failed to win any of their last seven (two draws, five defeats).

They have lost their last four, including each of their last two at home – 1-4 versus the Chicago Fire and 1-2 against Nashville SC.

Orlando, meanwhile, have taken 12 points on the road so far this season – a tally only bettered by five Eastern Conference rivals. The Lions are also unbeaten on their last five trips to Toronto, winning on three occasions and drawing twice.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Toronto FC – 30.7%

Orlando City – 44.2%

Draw – 25.1%

Oscar Pareja believes it is important for Orlando City to rediscover their self-confidence ahead of Saturday's clash with in-form Los Angeles FC at Inter&Co Stadium.

The international break means Orlando have been out of action since a 1-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls on June 2, their third straight game without a victory.

While they sit a lowly 11th in the Eastern Conference standings with 17 points, LAFC are second in the West with 30 points after winning five in a row in MLS play.

Asked about the value of having time off to reflect on their poor run, Pareja said: "It's important, because with the work we do, the intensity of how we do things is important.

"We are optimistic after having a refresh when we needed it."

On the challenge of facing LAFC, the Orlando coach added: "Many teams have challenges with players being away. We are professionals, we expect a team that is playing well.

"But at the same time, it's a great opportunity for us to play well and raise our confidence, to get the points we need right now." 

In all competitions, LAFC have won their last six matches without conceding, becoming the first team from MLS to ever accomplish that feat.

Head coach Steve Cherundolo believes that achievement is the result of a team effort, saying: "I think the team is playing a mature, professional, complete 90 minutes.

"Some teams have better defensive solutions against us so we don't have quite as many chances, but in every game we are creating chances and we are not giving up many chances.

"Our collective defending is very good. You're seeing it all come together."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Orlando City – Nicolas Lodeiro 

Lodeiro has been involved in nine goals in MLS play against Los Angeles (five goals, four assists, including playoffs). 

Only Cristian Espinoza (15) and Zlatan Ibrahimovic (11) have been involved in more versus them.

Los Angeles FC – Denis Bouanga 

Bouanga scored LAFC's goal in their 1-0 win over FC Dallas last time out on June 1. 

The goal was Bouanga's 48th in all competitions since the start of last season, 16 more than any other MLS player in that time.

MATCH PREDICTION – LOS ANGELES FC WIN

LAFC are unbeaten in four all-time meetings with Orlando (two wins, two draws), though the Lions did eliminate them on penalties from the quarter-finals of MLS is Back in 2020.

Orlando are winless in their last five home matches, drawing two and losing three while failing to net in each of their last three – they had only previously gone three home matches without netting in their second, third and fourth home MLS games back in 2015.

LAFC, meanwhile, have won seven successive matches in all competitions, the last six of them to nil. They will fancy their chances of victory, even without home advantage.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Orlando City – 37.7%

Los Angeles FC – 35.9%  

Draw – 26.4%

Conor Benn will make his boxing comeback in Orlando on Saturday in his first bout since his two failed drugs tests.

Benn has not stepped into the ring since he knocked out Chris van Heerden in April last year. His proposed October bout with Chris Eubank Jr fell through following two positive tests for the banned drug clomifene, which resulted in him being hit with a provision suspension.

Benn promised to prove his innocence and, while he was formally charged by UK Anti-Doping in April, it was announced in July he had been cleared by an independent National Anti-Doping Panel.

UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control appealed against the decision to lift Benn’s provisional suspension last month, which prevented the son of former two-weight world champion Nigel Benn being able to resume his boxing career in his home country.

Benn and promotion company Matchroom have now decided to try and get his career back on track with a bout in the United States.

Mexican veteran Rodolfo Orozco has been drafted in as a last-minute opponent for Benn, whose fight will be the co-main event of the show also involving super-lightweights Richardson Hitchins and Jose Zepeda at Caribe Royale.

Benn said: “I am undefeated in the ring, and in spirit. A return on Saturday is a step closer to redemption.

“After that, I’m putting the 147-160 divisions on notice. You are looking at a determined man with a deep desire to beat them all.”