SPORTING KC VS. LOS ANGELES

Gillette Stadium is the venue as New England Revolution and Orlando City go head-to-head in a mouth-watering Major League Soccer encounter.

Inspired by a 2-0 halftime lead, New England thumped Inter Miami 3-1 at home last time out to end an underwhelming run of three straight MLS draws and post their first league triumph since early May. Indeed, Bruce Arena’s side had been winless in five consecutive MLS outings (D3, L2) before dispatching Miami, ominously conceding three goals in three of them. Despite their rotten spell of form, the ‘Revs’ are close to securing a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, courtesy of an impressive 83% unbeaten ratio this season (W8, D6, L3). Things are looking even better at Gillette Stadium, as they come into this round as one of only two sides on the east yet to lose a single home league fixture this term (W5, D3).

On the other hand, visiting Orlando City have gone into overdrive since a 2-0 defeat at Montreal in early May, going unbeaten in their last six MLS games (W3, D3), including an outrageous 3-0 victory at New York Red Bulls on their most recent league travel. Each of Orlando’s three wins in that period yielded multi-goal margins, even though they failed to get on the scoresheet before halftime twice. But a more proactive early approach could prove necessary to help Orlando take home all three points, considering they’ve won all three away league matches after leading at the break this season. Manager Oscar Pareja can rest easy in this regard, knowing his men have found themselves trailing at halftime just once across seven MLS travels thus far.