Leagues Cup | Group Stage: Match #1
New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls
Saturday, July 22 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Red Bull Arena | Harrison, N.J.
Watch: MLS Season Pass on Apple TV
English Talent: Callum Williams (Play-by-Play), Calen Carr (Analyst)
Spanish Talent: Bruno Vain (Play-by-Play), Andres Agulla (Analyst)
Local Radio: 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
LEAGUES CUP
This weekend marks a new chapter for North American soccer with the launch of the first annual Leagues Cup competition. The month-long, World Cup-style tournament will see all 47 MLS and Liga MX teams compete across 77 games in the first major soccer tournament to feature every club from two top-flight leagues. An official competition of the Concacaf Champions Cup, three 2024 CCC places will be up for grabs – the team who lifts the trophy will earn entry to the Round of 16, while the second and third-placed teams will qualify for the Opening Round.
The tournament will run from July 21 through August 19, as the MLS and Liga MX regular league seasons break, with all games hosted in the U.S. and Canada. Three points will be awarded for a victory in group play, while there will be no ties in the tournament – teams level after 90 minutes will each claim a point, with a penalty shootout then required to determine who will clinch a bonus point. Of the 47 teams competing, 45 have been divided into 15 groups across four regions: West, Central, South, and East – domestic champions Los Angeles FC and Pachuca received direct passage into the Round of 32. Each team in the group stage will play two games at MLS venues, and the top two teams from each group will advance. First-placed teams will face a runner-up from another group in the same region in the knockout stages.
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION FIXTURES
Group: East 4 (New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, Atlético de San Luis)
MD1: New England Revolution at New York Red Bulls – Saturday, July 22, 7:30 p.m. ET at Red Bull Arena
MD2: New England Revolution vs. Atlético de San Luis – Wednesday, July 26, 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
2nd in Eastern Conference (12-4-7, 43 pts.)
Last Result (MLS) | 4-0 win vs. D.C. United
The New England Revolution head into Leagues Cup action in excellent form, and boasting a fine 8-2-1 record against Liga MX opposition. Tallying a 5-1-4 mark over their last 10 matches, the Revolution enter the tournament on the back of successive victories over Atlanta United and D.C. United, thumping the Black-and-Red 4-0 at Gillette Stadium last time out. An Ian Harkes’ brace – his first goals for the club – plus a Gustavo Bou header, and a Brendan Hines-Ike own goal, secured an impressive triumph, as the hosts extended their unbeaten league record in Foxborough to 9-0-3 in 2023. Mateusz Klich was also sent off late on for the visitors.
Bruce Arena’s side travel to New Jersey for the second time in two weeks, having contested a controversial clash against the New York Red Bulls earlier this month, when Andrew Farrell’s last-gasp equalizer was incorrectly ruled out for an offside infringement to deny the visitors a dramatic 2-2 draw. Brandon Bye had canceled out Frankie Amaya’s opener for the 10-man Revs (with midfielder Latif Blessing dismissed on the hour), but Wikelman Carmona’s late effort proved the matchwinner for the home side. Having responded to that setback with successive home wins, the Revs will hope to inflict some measure of revenge, whilst kicking off their Leagues Cup campaign on a high.
New York Red Bulls
11th in Eastern Conference (6-9-8, 26 pts.)
Last Result (MLS) | 3-1 loss at Real Salt Lake
In contrast, the Red Bulls head into the game on the back of successive defeats since New England’s visit earlier this month, falling 2-1 at home to FC Cincinnati and 3-1 away to Real Salt Lake. Against RSL last time out, the New Jersey outfit fell behind with just two minutes played at America First Field, courtesy of Diego Luna’s early effort, and the midfielder doubled his personal tally to hand his side a strong advantage on 53 minutes. Frankie Amaya pulled a goal back for the visitors with 10 minutes of normal time left on the clock, but the glimmer of hope was quickly extinguished as Jefferson Savarino restored the hosts’ two-goal lead just a minute later. Troy Lesesne’s side have a 5-3-4 record on home soil, and have lost three of their last four matches. While they sit joint-second as the Eastern Conference’s lowest scorers (22), they also boast one of the meanest defenses with just 26 goals conceded – the third-best return in the division.
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
The second fixture between the two sides this season, this weekend’s game marks the 96th meeting in all competitions, as two MLS originals go head-to-head once more. The Revs lead the series 40-35-20 – victorious in three of the last six encounters, but looking to snap a three-game losing streak in the series, having fallen to defeat at Red Bull Arena two weeks ago, and in both 2022 clashes. The Revolution have a tough record in New Jersey of just 2-12-2, but edged a five-goal thriller in July 2021’s trip, thanks to goals from Gustavo Bou, Brandon Bye and Adam Buksa.
Overall Record vs. Red Bulls: 40-35-20
Away Record vs. Red Bulls: 12-27-10
Last meeting at Gillette Stadium: Red Bulls 1, Revs 0 (April 2, 2022)
Last meeting at Red Bull Arena: Red Bulls 2, Revs 1 (July 8, 2023)
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Mark-Anthony KayeSet for his first New England appearance on Saturday, new recruit Kaye could step out in Revolution colors for the first time, eager to make an impression for his new club. Acquired in a trade with Toronto FC with Latif Blessing heading north, Kaye arrived in Massachusetts last week but Saturday’s visit of D.C. proved too soon for the midfielder to feature, allowing the veteran (in his sixth MLS season) time to settle into his new surroundings. Leading the league’s charts for tackles won (55) and with an 82.1% success rate, the Canada international’s impressive numbers caught the attention of Revs head coach Arena, and Kaye expressed his excitement to help bolster a team competing for trophies. Outlining his best attributes as his ability on the ball and passing range, as well as his tackling, the versatile midfielder is eager to show what he can do, and will hope to savor a winning start in New Jersey.
Red Bulls midfielder Frankie AmayaOn the scoresheet in the Revs' recent trip to Red Bull Arena, Amaya will be fresh in New England's minds as one to keep an eye on, should he feature. The midfielder broke the deadlock in the July 8 meeting, rising to head home Dante Vanzeir’s delivery, nodding low past Djordje Petrović. Though the Red Bulls are the joint-second-lowest scorers in the Eastern Conference with 22, Amaya has four goals and two assists to his name in his 15 appearances, and heads into this weekend’s encounter with those four goals scored in his last five games, ignited with a brace against Atlanta United in June. Introduced from the bench at Real Salt Lake on 56 minutes, he found the net with what proved to be a late consolation last Saturday, while his opener against the Revolution saw the 22-year-old become the first Red Bulls player to net three goals in three games since Bradley Wright-Phillips in 2014.
STATUS REPORT
New England RevolutionMark-Anthony Kaye could be in line for his first New England minutes, having arrived from Toronto FC last week, while the Revolution could also welcome back defender DeJuan Jones, following his return from international duty. Away representing the United States Men’s National Team at the Concacaf Gold Cup, the defender missed five Revs games but could return at Red Bull Arena.
Noel Buck could also feature, having made his comeback to the matchday squad last weekend – named on the bench for Saturday’s visit of D.C. – while head coach Arena confirmed forward Tomás Chancalay is still awaiting international clearance, but should arrive in Boston next week.
Nacho Gil and Tommy McNamara are continuing to build their fitness on the training pitch after lengthy layoffs, but Christian Makoun has been sidelined for the last six games through injury. Dylan Borrero (ACL), Henry Kessler (hamstring) and Maciel (Achilles) remain unavailable.
New York Red BullsRed Bulls duo John Tolkin and Cory Burke returned to club action in last weekend’s trip to Real Salt Lake, having also been away on Gold Cup action with the U.S. and Jamaica, respectively. The New Jersey side confirmed this week defender Dylan Nealis has undergone core muscle surgery, and will be out indefinitely. Lewis Morgan (hip) has been sidelined for the last six games, and Dru Yearwood (hip) has missed the last three, while Serge Ngoma (hamstring) and Steven Sserwadda (knee) are longer-term absentees. Stalwart center back Andrés Reyes, who has started 19 games this season with two goals, is questionable with an upper body injury.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena on facing the Red Bulls:“We’re looking forward to the match. It’s been a good week of training, and it’s nice to get some of our players back from the All-Star Game, so we’ll be prepared for a good New York Red Bulls team. I don't think we played well in that particular game [two weeks ago]. Yet, we felt that we got a bad call at the end of the game obviously with [Andrew] Farrell’s goal, so that was difficult to swallow. But on the day, you’ve got to get Red Bulls credit – they did a very good job in pressing us, and making the game difficult – and we’ve got to do a better job playing against their pressure tomorrow. We look forward to that challenge. Again, it'll be a good game, and it'll be an interesting game.”
On Leagues Cup and the MLS vs. Liga MX rivalry:“There's been a quiet rivalry among the leagues over the last probably two decades. Mexico has always had the edge, so it's exciting for MLS teams to be matched up in this particular competition where all clubs are involved. It'll be interesting to see how we fare. Our opening game is against the Red Bulls, and then we play San Luis next week, so we look forward to that as well – but our focus is on the New York Red Bulls at this moment, and then we’ll look forward to the game next Wednesday.”
New England Revolution midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye on joining the club:“I'm excited to be here, excited to be part of a team that is competing to win trophies, and that has done really well in this season so far. I'm just looking to come in and be an addition, and help the team continue the momentum they're on. So far, this week has been a pretty smooth transition. I've had a very warm welcome, coming in here, getting to know all the guys, and training has been really good. I feel like I'm fitting in nicely, and we're excited for tomorrow, so I look forward to playing in the game, and playing the role that I need to do in order to help the team succeed. It's going to be exciting.”
On New England’s style of play and his best attributes:“I'm getting used to the system here. What I like it about it is: there are a lot of players who are good on the ball, and very fluid in their movement. Obviously, when you're playing with one of the best players in the league with Carles [Gil], it makes a lot of things easier. The team is very sound and understands how to play with each other, so I just need to figure out a complete way to fit in with everything going on. That's exciting, but it's good to be part of a team that has a real identity, and is mature about the way they go about things.
“I think some of my best attributes are actually: my ability on the ball, my ability to find key passes to play forward. Tackling is something that I had to pick up during my time in Toronto – I tried to help out more defensively in the role I was put in due to injuries and stuff – but it's helped me develop that aspect of my game. I'm happy to know that people have seen that, and are appreciative of that quality. I'm definitely going to make sure that's something I add here, and continue to improve on, but I'm excited to be a guy who can get on the ball, and help us defend well, but also attack well. As long as I continue to do well at what I came here to do, and I can find little moments to continue to improve, I'll definitely help the team get better.”
On the Leagues Cup and facing the Red Bulls: “Leagues Cup is an interesting tournament. I think it is good to go up against an opponent that we are familiar with – not just me, but also our team here because they had just played each other in the last week or so. It’s going to be exciting. We know what to expect from Red Bulls – high press, really high intensity; good going forward, quick transition, so we look forward to the game tomorrow.”
