MLS Regular Season | Match #14
New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire FC
Saturday, May 27 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
Watch: **_MLS Season Pass_ on Apple TV**
- English Talent: Chris Wittyngham (play-by-play), Lori Lindsey (analyst)
- Spanish Talent: Bruno Vain (play-by-play), Andres Agulla (analyst)
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 (English), 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
- English Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst)
o Call also available to sync on MLS Season Pass
Click here for a guide on how to sync the home call with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies on MLS Season Pass
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
3rd in Eastern Conference (7-3-3, 24 pts.)
Last Result | 3-0 loss at Philadelphia Union
The Revs have cooled off after a red-hot start to the season, following up their eight-game unbeaten run (5-0-3) with back-to-back losses to Inter Miami CF and the Philadelphia Union. Those results have seen the Revs drop from first to third in the Eastern Conference standings, though they remain a single point behind Nashville SC with a game in hand and could climb back into second place on Saturday night.
This will be the Revolution’s only MLS home game in the month of May, as they’ll return to the road next week for two more trips to visit Atlanta United FC and New York City FC. Gillette Stadium has been something of a fortress for the Revs this season, as they’ll enter the weekend unbeaten in six home games (4-0-2).
Chicago Fire FC
14th in Eastern Conference (3-4-6, 15 pts.)
Last Result (MLS) | 3-3 draw vs. Atlanta United FC
Last Result (Open Cup) | 2-0 win at Austin FC
It’s been a rocky start to the season for the Fire, who parted ways with head coach Ezra Hendrickson earlier this month and installed Frank Klopas on an interim basis for the remainder of the year. The players seem to have responded to the change, as Chicago are 3-1-1 in all competitions in five games under Klopas. That includes a pair of wins in the Open Cup as the Fire have advanced to the quarterfinals, most recently taking down Austin FC, 2-0, on Wednesday night at Q2 Stadium.
In league play Chicago earned a dramatic 3-3 draw with Atlanta last Saturday night, remaining unbeaten at Soldier Field with a record of 2-0-6. They’ve dropped four of their five road games, however, including three straight losses on their travels.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution midfielder Noel Buck
As the Revs have been decimated by injuries through the first half of the season, one of the few constants has been midfielder Noel Buck. The 18-year-old is one of just three Revolution field players – along with Brandon Bye and Dave Romney – to appear in all 13 games thus far, and he’s been one of New England’s steadiest performers despite his relative inexperience.
Especially as the Revs continue to deal with injuries to key players, Buck’s influence in the middle of the field could be even more important for a Revolution side looking to bounce back on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Fire goalkeeper Chris Brady
Chicago saw multiple high-profile departures this past offseason, including teenaged goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina, who joined English Premier League side Chelsea this past January. In his place, another teenaged goalkeeper, Chris Brady, has stepped up to start 12 of the Fire’s 13 games this season.
Brady made his MLS debut in last year’s season finale, making four saves in a 1-1 draw with the Revolution. The Homegrown shot-stopper has kept two clean sheets this season, and he could be a key figure for Chicago on Saturday night as they aim to slow down a Revs side that is averaging two goals a game at home this season.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
Injuries continue to be a storyline for the Revolution with seven players listed as out for Saturday night’s game: Dylan Borrero (ACL surgery), Gustavo Bou (left leg), Brandon Bye (left shoulder), Nacho Gil (right leg), Henry Kessler (hamstring surgery), Maciel (left Achilles), and Tommy McNamara (left leg). Bye’s injury was suffered last weekend in Philadelphia and Bruce Arena said the Revs will evaluate the right back “on a weekly basis.”
There is good news for Carles Gil, however, after the Revolution captain left last Saturday’s game in the first half with a right leg injury. Gil returned to full training late this week, and Arena said he’s hopeful the 2021 MLS MVP will be available for selection against Chicago. Matt Polster, who also left that game in Philadelphia early, was a full participant in training all week.
Fire
Chicago will be without five players on Saturday night because of injury and suspension: Jonathan Dean (left upper leg), Carlos Terán (right upper leg), Chris Mueller (right upper leg), Sergio Oregel (right upper leg), and Federico Navarro (red-card suspension).
Two additional players – Victor Bezerra (left upper leg) and Justin Reynolds (left upper leg) – are listed as questionable.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena
“I think in Miami, we were pretty sloppy in conceding two goals and the last game in Philadelphia, I think the same. We need to be better defensively, and we need to be a little bit better in the attacking end of the field as well, so to answer your question, we can be better everywhere in the field.”
New England Revolution midfielder Ema Boateng
“Three games out on the road. That was a lot and we definitely didn’t get the results that we wanted so we need to make it right this time. [We can] sleep in our own beds, train and wait for our opponents to fly here. It feels nice but we have to make it count. [We need to] look fresh, play hard, and get back to winning ways.”
