MLS Regular Season | Match #27
New England Revolution at Minnesota United FC
Saturday, September 9 | 8:30 p.m. ET
Allianz Field | Saint Paul, Minnesota
English Talent: Max Bretos (Play-by-Play), Danielle Slaton (Analyst)
Spanish Talent: Diego Pessolano (Play-by-Play), Walter Roque (Analyst)
Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub (English); 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
Radio Talent: Brad Feldman (Play-by-Play), Charlie Davies (Analyst)
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
2nd in Eastern Conference (13-5-8, 47 pts.)
Last Result | 2-2 draw vs. Austin FC
With eight MLS regular season games to go, the New England Revolution sit in second place in the Eastern Conference and third in the Supporters’ Shield standings. The only team to boast an unbeaten home record (10-0-4) in 2023, the Revs now head into a three-game road stretch – starting with this weekend’s trip to Minnesota United FC – on the back of a 1-0 win and 2-2 draw against the New York Red Bulls and Austin FC at Gillette Stadium. Tomás Chancalay’s first goals for the club had put the hosts ahead against the Verde and Black last time out after Emiliano Rigoni’s opener, but Alexander Ring snatched a point in injury time for the visitors. As the battle for a postseason spot heats up and with a game in hand on the teams around them (bar the Philadelphia Union) in the East, the Revolution will look to finish the campaign strongly, building a run of momentum in their playoff push.
Minnesota United FC
7th in Western Conference (9-8-9, 36 pts.)
Last Result | 1-1 draw at San Jose Earthquakes
Minnesota United FC are three points above the playoff line in the Western Conference with 36 points from their 26 matches, in what has been a very mixed campaign for the Loons. Tallying a 9-8-9 record, they are unbeaten in their last six league games (alternating wins and draws) and reached the quarterfinals of the Leagues Cup before falling to eventual runners-up Nashville SC. Adrian Heath’s side have fared better away from home this term, recording just three wins at Allianz Field (drawing seven) compared to their six victories on the road. They head into this Saturday’s encounter on the back of a 1-1 draw at the San Jose Earthquakes. Teemu Pukki broke the deadlock after just four minutes at PayPal Park, collecting Emanuel Reynoso’s clever clipped pass and drilling home his second goal in two games, before Cade Cowell leveled 12 minutes later.
HEAD-TO-HEAD HISTORY
This weekend’s fixture marks just the fifth occasion the two sides will have met in all competitions (with the Loons entering MLS as an expansion team in 2017), as well as the Revs’ first visit to Allianz Field. Of the four previous clashes, the home team has always emerged victorious. As a result, New England have dominated the series with three of the meetings contested at Gillette Stadium, but the Eastern Conference side were edged out, 2-1, at TCF Bank Stadium in their only other visit to Minnesota in July 2018. The Revolution triumphed by the same scoreline in the most recent encounter, thanks to Dylan Borrero’s first MLS goal and a Gustavo Bou free kick in June 2022.
Overall Record vs. Minnesota: 3-1-0
Away Record vs. Minnesota: 0-1-0
Last meeting at Gillette Stadium: Revs 2, Minnesota 1 (June 19, 2022)
Last meeting in Minnesota: Minnesota 2, Revs 1 (July 18, 2018)
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Nacho Gil
Returning from a lengthy lay-off in the Revs’ Leagues Cup campaign, the Spaniard has been gradually building up his minutes over the past few months and has impressed in the last two games with fine individual performances against the New York Red Bulls and Austin FC. Earning his first starts of the season, the attacking midfielder conjured his first assist for the club in Saturday’s draw with the Verde and Black, whipping an inch-perfect cross to the back post for Tomás Chancalay to nod home his second goal of the game. Speaking after the match, assistant coach Richie Williams heaped praise on Nacho Gil, highlighting his offensive threat, technical quality and defensive work ethic, but also noting that the 27-year-old is still finding his form and fitness after his long-term absence. Clocking 65 and 70 minutes in his last two games, the winger will look to make another positive impact in Minnesota in what would be his third straight start, in the hope of more game time as the playoff race intensifies.
Minnesota midfielder Emanuel Reynoso
With 13 goal involvements in his 16 appearances this year, the Argentine No. 10 has lit up the Minnesota attack and heads into this weekend’s clash with two goals and an assist in his last two games. A 2022 MLS All-Star, Reynoso stands as the club’s joint-top scorer in MLS action this term (6) and second in all competitions behind Bongokuhle Hlongwane (15) – but leads the Loons’ assist charts with five overall, notching a league-best 4.07 return for chances created per 90 minutes among players with 20+ assists. In United’s five Leagues Cup fixtures, he tallied two goals and three assists, and bagged a brace in the Western Conference triumph over the Colorado Rapids in his side’s last home game to scoop the MLS Player of the Matchday prize. He has crafted the highest number of key passes, dribbles and crosses for Minnesota in MLS this year, teeing up former Premier League striker Teemu Pukki last weekend to help his side to a 1-1 draw with the San Jose Earthquakes. Particularly in Pukki’s absence with the forward away this week representing Finland, Reynoso’s creative spark will be key for the Loons.
STATUS REPORT
New England Revolution
Noel Buck (England U-19) and Christian Makoun (Venezuela) are out of contention with the pair away on international duty, while new goalkeeper Tomáš Vaclík is awaiting his visa. Defenders DeJuan Jones and Ryan Spaulding, and goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, could return from injury with Jones having made a brief cameo from the bench against Austin last weekend. Elsewhere, Gustavo Bou is listed as questionable with a leg injury, and Brandon Bye (ACL), Dylan Borrero (ACL), Henry Kessler (hamstring) and Maciel (Achilles) remain unavailable.
Minnesota United FC
Defender DJ Taylor may return after serving a suspension against San Jose for yellow card accumulation, and top scorer Bongokuhle Hlongwane could feature after missing the last three games through injury. Teemu Pukki (Finland), Joseph Rosales (Honduras) and Sang Bin Jeong (South Korea Under-23s) are on international duty, and Kervin Arriaga, Ryen Jiba and Robin Lod are sidelined with knee injuries.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Revolution assistant coach Richie Williams on the team’s preparation for Saturday’s game at Minnesota United FC:
“Preparations are going well. The team is ready to go. The only issue this week has been the heat a little bit over the last couple days of training, so we had to not necessarily go as long on the field because it's pretty hot – but other than that, the guys are in good spirits. We were disappointed at the end of the game [against Austin FC] last week not to come away with three points and we know we made a mistake at the end, but we have to learn from it, move on, and now get ready for Minnesota, who is a good team. Our preparation has been good this week, and I think the guys will be ready to go on Saturday.”
On the threats Minnesota possess, including midfielder Emanuel Reynoso:
“He's the biggest one, Reynoso. I guess [Teemu] Pukki won't be playing this weekend because he got called in with Finland and he's done really well linking up with Reynoso, but he won't be there this weekend. Reynoso is just a really top-quality player – one of the better players in the league, a really good number 10. He kind of floats around offensively and finds the little gaps and spaces in the midfield to find the ball, and then he's very dangerous at playing balls in behind or combining with his teammates and creating goal-scoring opportunities. So, it's really important to make sure that we're aware of him throughout the game, and his positioning and what he does. He's obviously a difference-maker, a very good player, and a very good number 10, so you've definitely got to make sure you're aware of his ability, understanding where he is in the field, how he wants to operate, and try to make it difficult for him.
“They have a really good solid team from the backs to the midfielders and to the front. They have two other very good midfielders in [Wil] Trapp and [Ján] Greguš – they are just really good technically, keep the ball, know their position, and know how to play. Their center backs are solid, and they got some good attacking options, also. The goalkeeper is very strong, also. So, it's going to be tough opponent and we need to be prepared and ready to go on Saturday.”
Revolution midfielder Ian Harkes on Minnesota and the learnings from the draw with Austin FC:
“We're obviously looking forward to a tough away match with Minnesota. We looked at a lot of video this week on them, highlighting some of their key players – [Emanuel] Reynoso, obviously, is very dangerous in the attack. I think they a very strong midfield, they're very solid. They like to play on the back and are very patient with their buildups, so we just have to be smart in terms of the way we're pressing them. We know that they're a good team. We're looking to see where we can exploit them and just kind of working on things that we could pick up from the Austin game as well, in terms of just being smart, game management, and just learning those lessons. Being away from home, it's going to be important for us to get the three points in a tough place to go.”
On settling into life at the club and building a partnership in midfield with Mark-Anthony Kaye:
“First of all, settling in has been great. It's been a great club to be a part of, I was very grateful to join here, especially with the position that the club's in, in the league and we want to continue that.
“Mark[-Anthony] and I – obviously just both kind of being new to the team – we had to form a partnership pretty quick. Anyone who's in the midfield – I think at the start it was Matt [Polster] – [had to gel] very quickly, and we played well together and got some results. Then Matt's doing the job for us right back right now and is doing well, and Mark-Anthony is a great player with a lot of quality. He's kind of more of a six role and allows me to get ahead, but we're just working on those partnerships and he's kind of picked me out in key points. So, it's been great to work with them.”
On the team’s mentality heading into the final stretch of the regular season:
“I think there's definitely pressure mounting on each game. You see how close the table is, especially in the East, and we know the teams are kind of chasing us – but we're also just focusing on ourselves and just continuing to bring that confidence that we've kind of brought in the first half of the season. It's going to be very important. [We need to be] learning the lessons from the Austin game because those three points would have been huge, so we need to finish out games, we need to be smart away from home, and manage the game.”
Revolution defender Andrew Farrell on Minnesota and the three-game road stretch:
“Hopefully, [we’ll get] some wins. We’re going to some tough environments. It’s an important thing to get points and maximize our points on the road. When we’re at home, we’re pretty good but if we can pair that up with some good results on the road, we’re going to put ourselves in a good spot. The first game is against Minnesota and that’s a good team at home. [We need to] be sound defensively, score when we have the opportunity to score and if we have the chance to have points in the bag late in the game – whether it’s one or three – we need to be smart, lock it down, and see the game out. These last couple of games right before the playoffs are going to be crucial to keep the points that we have.”
On constant rotation of players through injuries and players stepping up to contribute:
“It’s just that ‘next-man-up’ mentality. Tomás Chancalay came in after we signed him and came on as a substitute a couple of times. Getting the start, I think he did really well and scored two goals for us. It’s not just the goals, his movement off the ball, work defensively, he’s got the whole package. We’re excited for him and all the other guys that are coming back from injury. It’s like we get new players every week, which is good, but we have to keep on trying to stay healthy. That’s an important thing on this road stretch.”
Revolution defender Ben Sweat on his recent run of starts:
“I think it takes time for any player to be in form for another team. To come in and have not trained for three or four weeks after I was let go by Sporting [Kansas City], trying to get back into form for a new team in a new system took some time, but I’m patient. I’ve been helping the guys on the pitch and in training. I have been pushing the guys, and I made sure I was ready for my chance and opportunity.”
On what the team wants to accomplish on the three-game road stretch and Minnesota’s threats:
“[For] road games, it’s one at a time. Right now, we’re looking at Minnesota. I think we can get three points at Minnesota – at a minimum you want to walk away with a point. You want to garner as many points as possible on the road. They have their own version of Carles [Gil], so it’s something that we have to shut down with Reynoso. They’re a good team and playing well right now to get results, so we can’t go into that game and half-ass it.”
On trying to thwart Reynoso:
“It’s difficult. It’s not going to be a man-to-man kind of thing. You have to be ready. On the practice side of it, he’s probably going to cheat into places and move freely, so it has to be tactical and [we need to] have more positional awareness from the group.”
