FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – A rejuvenated New England Revolution continue their three-game homestand on Saturday night when Western Conference foe FC Dallas visit Gillette Stadium.
After kicking off the homestand with a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire last weekend the Revs (2-3-7, 13 pts.) will host FCD (7-4-2, 23 pts.) at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday (BUY TICKETS). Brad Feldman, Paul Mariner and Jessie Coffield will have the call in English on CSN and 98.5 The Sports Hub, while Portuguese radio listeners can tune into WMVX 1570 AM Nossa Radio USA.
Dalen Cuff and Ethan Zohn will handle postgame duties on CSN, while Rich Keefe and John Murphy will take your calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub for 30 minutes after the final whistle.
For those of you coming to the game, donations of new or gently used clothing items to benefit Veterans, Inc., will be accepted at various locations outside the Gillette Stadium gates. Anyone who donates will have the choice of receiving a Revolution Charitable Foundation water bottle or notepad.
For more information on Veterans, Inc., visit their website HERE.
Current Form: Gut-check win over Chicago has Revs feeling like tides are turning
The current three-game homestand has been called “do or die” and last weekend’s meeting with Chicago was labeled a “must-win” by multiple players, so there was something of a sense of relief when Lee Nguyen’s stunner and Femi Hollinger-Janzen’s first professional goal helped the Revs to a 2-0 victory.
WATCH: Goals either side of halftime help Revs to much-needed win over Fire
But more than relief there was a feeling of belief in the Revolution locker room as the club was sparked to life in part by the arrival of Kei Kamara, and now they’re looking to turn that belief into more results moving forward.
“We have to do the same thing (against FC Dallas),” said Diego Fagundez. “Keep that energy going, keep that chemistry as a team going, and make sure that we’re all playing as a team and try to finish every chance we get.”
READ: Revitalized Revs aim to stay energized vs. FCD: “Maybe it was a new start for us”
FC Dallas used a pair of home games last week to steady the ship after a three-game road trip in late April and early May yielded zero points and zero goals. FCD suffered a trio of shutout road losses before returning to Toyota Stadium, where they got big wins over the Portland Timbers and Seattle Sounders FC.
Despite that recent blip Oscar Pareja’s side sits just one point back of the league-leading Colorado Rapids, and the Revs are preparing for a speed-heavy attack that’s racked up the third-most goals in MLS this season.
“They’re a quick-attack team where, if they do get space, it’s punishable,” said Revs head coach Jay Heaps. “They take you to the goal and you’re getting the ball out of your net.
“It’s got to be the same type of philosophy we had [against Chicago], but even tighten screws defensively and not give any room if possible. They’re a very good attacking team and a team we have to be very concerned about.”
Past Meetings: Revs hoping home-field advantage helps them end recent FC Dallas hex
FC Dallas have not been the Revolution’s favorite opponent in recent years.
Since going 15-3-0 against the Texas side from 2001 to 2009 the Revs have hit a bit of a rough patch in the series, winning just one of the last nine meetings (1-6-2), a 2-0 home win in September 2011.
The Revs have since suffered four straight shutout losses to FCD – including a 3-0 defeat last year – although three of those setbacks were in Texas.
All time, however, the Revs are 23-15-3 against Dallas, including 12-6-1 at home.
Injury Report: Bunbury, Goncalves, Tierney all on verge of returning; Davies remains out
A quartet of injured Revolution players could be set to return this weekend as Teal Bunbury (hamstring), Jose Goncalves (chest), Donnie Smith (hamstring) and Chris Tierney (hamstring) have all progressed throughout the week and are listed as questionable on the official injury report.
Charlie Davies remains sidelined, however, as he continues to recover from a groin injury.
READ: Injured quartet “should be ready” as Revs prep for FCD; Davies still “week to week”
FC Dallas also has a pair of players hoping to return from injury as Maxi Urruti (ankle) and Matt Hedges (knee surgery) are both listed as questionable after missing time recently.
Final Thoughts: Fresh off third shutout, Shuttleworth says Revs need to “stay organized”
“I thought it was really organized,” goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth said of the Revs’ defensive showing as they held Chicago without a shot on target last week. “Everyone really put a shift in and really got behind the ball and worked hard. Those moments when we needed to defend, we really dug in.
“Good step forward for us. We need to continue to do that and we need to continue putting in hard work behind the ball and stay organized.”
