ORLANDO, Fla. — Orlando City was not expected to make it this far. The five-year-old MLS franchise had struggled to make its mark since joining the league, failing to make the playoffs.

After a stirring run through the mid-season MLS is Back Tournament, Orlando City found itself in an unfamiliar position -- inside the playoffs. The Lions' incredible survival in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals in a penalty shootout against NYCFC put the team on the doorstep of reaching the title game.

They had to be in a new position though -- going from the hunters to the hunted.

This Cinderella story was not meant to be. There was a new upstart in town.

Gustavo Bou scored his second goal of the game in the 86th minute to help the 8-seed New England Revolution beat a 10-man Orlando City 3-1 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference semifinals, ending the Lions' season. Orlando City had a chance to tie the game in the 74th minute, but captain Nani missed a penalty kick, allowing the Revolution to strike and put the game away near the end of the match.

It ended a historic season for the Lions that saw them make their first postseason. Those accomplishments did not ease the pain of missing the opportunity to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

"Obviously, at this moment, there is a lot of pain," coach Oscar Pareja said. "And there is a lot of frustration that we have been carrying over the last 10 days with that that happened and we could not flush them off."

Mounting frustration boild in fact in the second half. Already down star goalkeeper Pedro Gallese after he picked up a controversial red card in the shootout against NYCFC the previous week, Orlando City compounded the mistake with frustrations with officials over missed calls and warnings. Orlando was not just physically playing from behind, but it did so mentally as well.

Midfielder Mauricio Pereyra was ejected from the game with a straight red card after a slide tackle missed the ball and hit Matt Polster in the shin in the 60th minute. It was one of five cards issued to Orlando City in the second half.

"We are professionals," Pareja said. "And I think we have to learn and find a way to find our character and deal with all these things that are part of the game. Today was another moment where we lost our head."

Everything that once went right went wrong for Orlando City as the team tried to chase the game and equalize after falling into a 2-0 hole.

The teams combined for three goals in the opening 33 minutes. Carles Gil opened the scoring in the 17th minute on a penalty kick after Uri Rosell was taken down at the edge of the box. Gustavo Bou gave New England a 2-0 lead in the 26th off a rebound off the post.

Junior Urso brought the Lions within one goal in the 33rd minute when he fired back in a rebounded shot from Chris Mueller. But down one with a chance to tie midway through the second half, Orlando City's superman, Nani, was called upon. But he met his match once again, missing a penalty kick for the second straight week. 

"Today, I couldn't take the penalty," Nani said. "I feel sorry for my teammates because the dream finished right there."

Nani has made only five of his nine penalty kicks since coming to MLS with Orlando City. He made one last week against NYCFC, but missed a potential clinching kick in the penalty shootout.

"It's something that now obviously we think we should have done different," Pareja said. "But Nani had the confidence from everybody."

It was an opportunity lost with a chance to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, one step away from the MLS Cup title. But it was still so much gained after Orlando City defied all the odds and predictions to become one of the Eastern Conference's best teams.

"I'm very proud of this group through our goods and our bads," Pareja said. "Today people see us, they recognize this group, they view them as competitors. And they're proud of that."

Orlando City will close the book on the greatest season in the franchise's history since joining MLS. The impact this year had will likely be immeasurable for years to come.

It leaves everyone eager to see the team return in 2021 for another shot at the title.