BOSTON, Mass. – The New England Revolution advanced to the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Semifinals with a victory in penalties, 1(4)-1(2), over the Philadelphia Union at Jordan Field on Wednesday night. The Revs will face the Chicago Fire, the winner of the Central Regional, in the Semifinals, currently scheduled for August 9-10 (date to be confirmed). The host for that match will be determined by a live draw, which will be streamed live on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel on Thursday, July 21 at 11 a.m. ET.
New England opened the scoring shortly before halftime, as Diego Fagundez played a free kick to Je-Vaughn Watson, who found the back of the net for his first goal across all competitions as a Revolution player. Philadelphia leveled the score in the 90th minute, as Fabian Herbers scored to extend the match to extra time. Following a scoreless thirty minutes of extra time, the Revs advanced on penalties with goals from Lee Nguyen, Chris Tierney, José Gonçalves, and Je-Vaughn Watson, as well as a pair of stops from goalkeeper Brad Knighton.
The Revolution return to MLS action on Saturday, July 23, when the club hosts the Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium for the second of three League meetings between the two sides this season. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast locally on Comcast SportsNet, with Brad Feldman and Paul Mariner calling the action. The game can also be heard locally on the radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub in English and WMVX 1570 AM “Nossa Radio” in Portuguese.
New England Revolution 1(4), Philadelphia Union 1(2) (PKs)
July 20, 2016 – Jordan Field (Boston, Mass.)
GAME NOTES
Revolution Advance to Fourth U.S. Open Cup Semifinal in the Club History
The Revolution defeated the Philadelphia Union, 1-0 to win the East Regional and advance to the club’s first U.S. Open Cup Semifinal since 2008. The Revs previously advanced to the Semifinals in 2008, 2007, and 2001. New England advanced to the Final in 2001 and 2007, including a U.S. Open Cup Championship in 2007.
The Revolution are slated to play the Chicago Fire, the winner of the Central Regional over the Fort Lauderdale Strikers, 3-0. The host for that match will be determined by a live draw, which will be streamed live on U.S. Soccer’s YouTube channel on Thursday, July 21 at 11 a.m. ET.
Revs Win Open Cup Match in Penalties For First Time Since 2008
Tonight’s victory in penalties marks the first time the Revolution have won in penalties in a U.S. Open Cup match since the club defeated Crystal Palace Baltimore 1(5)-1(3) in the 2008 U.S. Open Cup Quarterfinals.
Overall, it was the fifth time the Revs have gone to penalties in the U.S. Open Cup and are now 3-2 all-time in matches determined by penalties.
Watson Records First Goal in a Revolution Jersey
Revolution defender Je-Vaughn Watson opened the scoring in the 44th minute to give the Revolution a lead shortly before halftime. The goal was Watson’s first across all competitions as a Revolution player. The Jamaican international also scored the match clinching penalty, earning the Revs their first appearance in a U.S. Open Cup Semifinal since 2008.
Watson has seven career MLS goals, with his most recent goal coming when he was a member of FC Dallas on Aug. 22, 2014 against Real Salt Lake.
Fagundez Adds Second Helper of 2016 U.S. Open Cup
Midfielder Diego Fagundez recorded an assist on defender Je-Vaughn Watson’s 44th minute goal. The assist was Fagundez’s second of Open Cup play, as the midfielder assisted forward Teal Bunbury’s first goal at the New York Cosmos on June 29.
The assist is Fagundez’s fourth across all competitions. Fagundez’s two League assists came in the Revolution’s season opener at Houston on March 6.
Revolution make four changes from U.S. Open Cup Fifth Round Contest
Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps made four changes from the Revolution’s U.S. Open Cup Fifth Round match at the New York Cosmos. Goalkeeper Brad Knighton, midfielder Daigo Kobayashi, midfielder Kelyn Rowe and forward Kei Kamara replaced goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth, defender Jordan McCrary, midfielder Teal Bunbury, and forward Juan Agudelo, respectively.
GAME HIGHLIGHTS
3rd minute (CHANCE) – Midfielder Steve Neumann crosses into the box to forward Kei Kamara, but a foul given to the Revs’ forward halts play.
8th minute (CHANCE) – Midfielder Kelyn Rowe dribbles through the attacking third to the top of the 18-yard box, but his shot is stopped by Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.
11th minute (CHANCE) – Forward Kei Kamara gains possession of a bouncing ball in the attacking third, but his shot is left of the woodwork.
28th minute (CHANCE) – Midfielder Diego Fagundez plays a ball into the box to forward Kei Kamara, but his shot is stopped by Union goalkeeper Andre Blake.
35th minute (CHANCE) – Forward Kei Kamara dribbles from the center circle to the endline, plays a back heeled pass to midfielder Steve Neumann, but the midfielder’s shot is wide left.
44th minute (GOAL) – Midfielder Diego Fagundez plays a free kick to defender Je-Vaughn Watson, who finds the back of the net to give the Revs the lead just prior to halftime.
47th minute (SAVE) – Goalkeeper Brad Knighton thwarts a headed chance from Union midfielder Tranquillo Barnetta.
48th minute (CHANCE) – Midfielder Scott Caldwell crosses into the box to find forward Kei Kamara, but the Sierra Leone native’s shot is wide right of the net.
51st minute (CHANCE) – Forward Kei Kamara plays a ball down the right side of the 18-yard box to defender Andrew Farrell, who passes back to Kamara, but the forward’s shot is deflected by a Union defender.
64th minute (CLEARANCE) – Defender Andrew Farrell clears a bouncing ball in the six-yard box to keep the clean sheet intact.
69th minute (CHANCE) – Forward Kei Kamara fires on net from just outside the 18-yard box, but Union goalkeeper Andre Blake is there to make the stop.
94th minute (SAVE) – Goalkeeper Brad Knighton stops a Leo Fernandes shot from point blank range to keep the score level.
105th minute (CHANCE) – Defender Andrew Farrell fires from inside the 18-yard box, but his shot is stopped by Andre Blake. Midfielder Kelyn Rowe fires on net on the rebound, but Blake makes yet another stop.
119th minute (CHANCE) – Midfielder Lee Nguyen crosses from the right side of the 18-yard box to midfielder Diego Fagundez, who fires a shot just high of the net.
GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Assistant Referees: Claudiu Badea (AR1), Tom Felice (AR2)
Fourth Official: Michael Dee
Weather: 78 Degrees and Clear
Scoring Summary:
NE – Je-Vaughn Watson 1 (Diego Fagundez 2) 44’
PHI – Fabian Herbers (Sébastien Le Toux) 90’
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Samba (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 13’
PHI – Warren Creavalle (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 28’
NE – Je-Vaughn Watson (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 109’
New England Revolution: Brad Knighton; Je-Vaughn Watson, José Gonçalves, Samba, Andrew Farrell; Scott Caldwell, Daigo Kobayashi (Lee Nguyen 70’); Diego Fagundez, Kelyn Rowe, Steve Neumann (Chris Tierney 76’); Kei Kamara (Zachary Herivaux 83’)
Substitutes Not Used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Darrius Barnes, London Woodberry
Philadelphia Union: Andre Blake; Fabinho, Richie Marquez, Ken Tribbett, Ray Gaddis; Warren Creavalle, Tranquillo Barnetta (Leo Fernandes 76’), Roland Alberg (Fabian Herbers 66’), Ilsinho, Chris Pontius (Sébastien Le Toux 66’); CJ Sapong
Substitutes Not Used: John McCarthy, Brian Carroll, Keegan Rosenberry, Joshua Yaro
