Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup | Round of 32
New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC (USL Championship)
Tuesday, May 9 | 7:30 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
Watch: Streaming live on the U.S. Soccer YouTube channel
- Talent: Sean St. Jacques (play-by-play), Kacey White (analyst)
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
1st in Eastern Conference (7-1-3, 24 pts.) | Major League Soccer
Last Result (MLS) | 2-0 win at Toronto FC
Last Result (U.S. Open Cup) | 2-1 win vs. Hartford Athletic
Bobby Wood and DeJuan Jones scored either side of halftime and Djordje Petrović backstopped his 12th clean sheet in 32 MLS appearances as the Revs rolled to a 2-0 win over Toronto FC this past weekend at BMO Field. The win stretched the Revolution’s unbeaten run to nine games in all competitions (6-0-3) as they remain atop the Supporters’ Shield standings with the second-best start to a season in club history (2005, 7-0-4).
New England’s current unbeaten stretch includes a hard-fought, 2-1 win over Hartford Athletic in the Third Round of the U.S. Open Cup two weeks ago at Gillette Stadium. Carles Gil and Dave Romney came off the bench late in the second half to combine on the game winner as the Revs claimed victory in their first-ever competitive match against another team from New England.
Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC
6th in Eastern Conference (2-2-5, 11 pts.)
Last Result (USL Championship) | 2-2 draw at Monterey Bay F.C.
Last Result (U.S. Open Cup) | 2-0 win vs. Maryland Bobcats
Much like Toronto FC – the Revolution’s most recent MLS opponent – Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC has been difficult to beat this season while at the same time struggling to find wins. The Riverhounds have drawn five of their nine league contests in the USL Championship, including back-to-back road draws against Monterey Bay F.C. and Indy Eleven the last two weekends.
Pittsburgh advanced to the Open Cup Round of 32 with a 2-0 win over the Maryland Bobcats of the NISA, with former Revolution forward Edward Kizza scoring the game-winning goal in the 81st minute. Kizza, who made 11 appearances for the Revs during their record-setting 2021 campaign, is one of three Revolution connections on the Riverhounds roster along with former Revolution II players Mike DeShields and Trevor Zwetsloot.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution forward Justin Rennicks
New England used a youthful lineup in their Third Round meeting with Hartford Athletic – so youthful, in fact, that 24-year-old forward Justin Rennicks was the oldest player in the Revolution’s front six. Rennicks made the most of his opportunity, scoring the Revs’ opening goal with a clever header at the near post and contributing to the victory with an energetic 90-minute performance.
It’s likely that sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena will once again rotate his squad heavily for the midweek showdown, meaning there could be another opportunity for Rennicks, who has appeared in back-to-back league games since that Open Cup showing.
Pittsburgh forward Albert Dikwa
The Revs will know Edward Kizza quite well from his time in New England, but it’s fellow forward Albert Dikwa who’s been the focal point of Pittsburgh’s attack through the early part of the season. The 25-year-old Cameroonian has registered seven goals in nine appearances, tied for the league lead in the USL Championship.
Dikwa is currently in his fourth season with the Riverhounds, having previously spent time with Saint Louis FC and Orlando City B as he began his professional career with the MLS reserve side at just 19 years old.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
Dylan Borrero started the Revolution’s victory over Hartford in the last round of the Open Cup, but the 21-year-old winger has unfortunately since been lost for the season to a torn ACL. Borrero is joined on the sidelines by Henry Kessler (hamstring surgery), Nacho Gil (right leg), Jacob Jackson (left ACL), Maciel (left Achilles), and Tommy McNamara (left leg).
Gustavo Bou, meanwhile, did not make the trip to Toronto for the Revolution’s 2-0 win this past weekend, with Arena saying postgame that the veteran forward is dealing with “a slight injury.”
In the good news department, both Jozy Altidore and Latif Blessing returned to action with substitute appearances at BMO Field, while Giacomo Vrioni was available on the bench after missing the recent draw with FC Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh
Information not available.
