On a picturesque summer evening at Gillette Stadium, Orlando City SC secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the New England Revolution, extending the Revolution’s winless streak to eight games and leaving fans wondering if the home side can turn their fortunes around anytime soon.
The match, played on July 19, 2025, kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET before a crowd of 24,954, setting the stage for a tense Eastern Conference clash. Orlando City SC, sitting comfortably with 38 points, came into the game with a clear game plan: maintain speed, focus, and precision throughout the 90 minutes and beyond. Meanwhile, the Revolution, struggling with a 6-7-10 record and 25 points, aimed to capitalize on home advantage and snap their troubling streak.
Orlando wasted no time asserting dominance. In the 18th minute, midfielder Martín Ojeda opened the scoring with a clinical finish that left New England goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič grasping at air. The goal was expertly crafted by Eduard Atuesta, who delivered a perfectly timed through ball that set Ojeda free behind the Revolution’s backline. Ojeda’s composure in rounding the keeper and slotting the ball into the net was a testament to his growing influence on the MLS stage.
“Perfectly placed by Atuesta. Driven home by Ojeda,” MLS’s official Twitter account highlighted the opening goal, underscoring the precision and teamwork behind the strike.
Despite the early setback, the Revolution showed signs of life, but their efforts in the first half failed to produce any shots on target, a worrying statistic for head coach Caleb Porter. The team’s best moments came from winger Luca Langoni, whose blistering pace troubled Orlando’s defense, but ultimately, the home side couldn’t convert their chances before the break.
Halftime saw Porter make a tactical change, substituting center-back Tanner Beason for forward Tomás Chancalay and shifting from a 3-4-1-2 to a 4-2-3-1 formation. The adjustment paid dividends almost immediately. In the 55th minute, Chancalay, making an instant impact off the bench, leveled the score with a well-placed shot into the low corner after receiving a precise cross from Ilay Feingold, who recorded his third assist of the MLS season.
“Immediate impact. Tomás Chancalay subs in and scores,” MLS noted, capturing the moment New England fans dared to hope for a turnaround.
However, the Revolution’s joy was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Orlando’s resilience shone through. Winger Iván Angulo drove into the penalty area and laid the ball off to Ojeda, who delivered a stunning bar-down finish to restore his team’s lead at 2-1. This goal marked Ojeda’s second of the night and continued his remarkable run of form, with 15 goal contributions (eight goals and seven assists) in his last 15 matches, tying the club’s 2019 record set by former captain Nani.
“What a response! Martín Ojeda bags his brace for Orlando City SC,” MLS exclaimed, highlighting the significance of the goal.
The second half was a flurry of activity. Both teams traded chances, with Orlando midfielder Marco Pašalić and New England’s Tomás Chancalay testing the respective goalkeepers. Pašalić’s long-range efforts were met with spectacular saves by Ivačič, while Orlando’s keeper Pedro Gallese was equally impressive, denying multiple New England attempts including a fierce shot from Peyton Miller.
Discipline became a factor as well, with yellow cards issued to Revolution midfielder Matt Polster in the 29th minute, Orlando’s Pašalić in the 54th, Gallese for time-wasting in the 65th, and Revolution defender Brayan Ceballos in the 66th minute. These cautions underscored the intensity and urgency felt by both sides as the clock ticked down.
New England’s captain and attacking midfielder Carles Gil was a constant threat, tallying five key passes and four shots, but his efforts couldn’t produce the equalizer the home crowd craved. The Revolution’s poor home form in 2025—now 2-6-2—continues to be a major obstacle in their quest for a playoff spot, sitting 11th in the Eastern Conference and eight points adrift of the postseason line.
Looking ahead, the Revolution face a crucial test as they host CF Montréal on Friday, July 25, 2025, at Gillette Stadium, kicking off a three-game home stand. The team’s last victory came in a 3-0 triumph over Montréal on May 31, and with momentum slipping, the pressure on Caleb Porter and his squad is mounting.
Orlando City SC’s victory was a masterclass in focus and execution, with Martín Ojeda leading the charge. His ability to consistently find the back of the net and create chances has made him one of the league’s most productive players this season. The Lions’ game plan—maintain energy, speed, and precision—worked perfectly against a Revolution side that, despite some flashes of promise, couldn’t sustain their challenge.
As the 2025 MLS season continues to unfold, Orlando City SC looks poised to build on this win, while the New England Revolution must find answers fast if they hope to reverse their fortunes and climb back into playoff contention.
