WATCH: RIFC coach Khano Smith ‘proud’ of his team in loss to Revolution
The New England Revolution beat Rhode Island FC in penalty kicks on Tuesday, April 14. The Revs move on to the Round of 16 in the US Open Cup.
- The New England Revolution lost to Orlando City SC, 4-3, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16.
- Zakaria Taifi scored the winning goal for Orlando in the 92nd minute of the match.
- The game was played at Centreville Bank Stadium in Pawtucket, Rhode Island.
PAWTUCKET — The New England Revolution’s streak at Centreville Bank Stadium has ended.
The Revolution won its first two games in Pawtucket since the stadium’s opening last May. But it dropped a thriller to Orlando City SC, 4-3, in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday, April 29.
New England was the de facto host, as it has been in each of its matches in Pawtucket, with the Boston Legacy of the National Women’s Soccer League playing at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday. Two Open Cup victories against Rhode Island FC, including a penalty-kick win two weeks ago, predated the Round of 16 match.
Zakaria Taifi turned back the Revolution in the 92nd minute and delivered Orlando a quarterfinal berth. New England now returns to Major League Soccer play on Saturday night against Charlotte FC at Gillette Stadium.
“Obviously, every time you lose the game, it’s not a good feeling,” Revolution coach Marko Mitrović said. “But I felt that those young guys deserved more. Then when we got to the end, they had some very good moments. I think, in general, they had a very good game tonight. It’s just small details that I believe will help them to grow as players.”
For three thoughts on the match, read on below:
Centreville Bank Stadium’s usage
Rhode Island FC is doing exactly what it needs to do with the new stadium by opening the field to other teams.
The stadium should keep the Seekonk River busy during the season — it’s a disappointment for Rhode Island any time it sits idle. It benefits the Ocean State when New England opts not to play, or can’t play, at Gillette Stadium.
New England also played last year’s Round of 16 game against Chicago Fire FC at Chapey Field at Anderson Stadium in Providence, which it had done in the past.
“It is a really nice stadium,” Mitrović said of Centreville Bank. “I hadn’t been here before [the Round of 32 match]. When we played our first game here, there was more of a crowd than tonight. I was kind of intimidated, in a good way. I love this kind of environment, where there is real passion on the field and in the stands. I actually like the stadium. It’s a nice space. It’s a proper stadium. It’s a turf field, but it’s a good surface. It’s an enjoyable stadium to play games.”
New England Revolution sits most of its lineup
Half of the stadium was closed, with the grandstands opposite the river and the south concourse blocked off. Attendance, which wasn’t announced, didn’t warrant a full opening.
Andrew Farrell was the biggest player draw for the Revolution as a longtime MLS veteran and first overall pick in the 2013 SuperDraft. Of Wednesday’s starting lineup, Diego Fagúndez had appeared in the most MLS games this season, with just five. A more competitive lineup would have certainly drawn a better crowd and lent more credibility to the Open Cup.
“I know in preseason that is the type of game where most of the young guys get an opportunity,” Mitrović said. “But to play in these games that matter, especially in cup games where there is one shot and you have to win [to determine] if you are in or out. We spoke after the first game against Rhode Island and now this game. Trust me, even if we won the game, we wouldn’t change our approach, because it’s so important for their development to play in these kinds of games and get that experience.”
Orlando wins in stoppage time
Taifi’s run from the top of the box during the winning sequence was timed perfectly as Tyrese Spicer’s cross landed from the left side. Taifi beat two Revolution defenders to the spot and slipped the shot past Donovan Parisian for the winner.
Orlando rallied from three one-goal deficits with goals in the 31st, 40th and 70th minutes to deny New England. Farrell, Malcolm Fry and Marcos Zambrano scored for the Revolution.
“When you play against good players, they will use those small details on the field to hurt you,” Mitrović said. “But I was very positive about their effort and their braveness, because we were so young, and playing against almost the full [starting] 11 from Orlando. They didn’t back up, and they were brave to face [Orlando], to challenge them, and that’s very positive.”
