FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (5-4-4, 19 pts.) played Atlanta United FC (8-3-2, 26 pts.) to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday evening. Forward Teal Bunbury converted a penalty kick in the 88th minute to equalize the match and secure a point for New England. The penalty kick was awarded to the Revolution after forward Krisztián Németh drew a foul on the right side of the penalty area. Atlanta's Josef Martínez scored the game's opening goal in the 23rd minute, tucking a grounded cross from Julian Gressel inside of the near post.
Bunbury's goal was his seventh of the season, which brings the nine-year MLS veteran within two tallies of his single-season career high of nine – a mark he set in 2011 with Sporting Kansas City. The goal also keeps Bunbury within two tallies of the league lead, currently held by Atlanta’s Martínez with nine goals.
Goalkeeper Matt Turner tied his single-game career high with six saves, keeping the Revolution within striking distance despite a flurry of Atlanta chances in the second half. Turner has now registered six stops in a match on two occasions this season, and his 48 saves are currently the fourth most among all MLS goalkeepers.
New England will train in Foxborough on Thursday and Friday before returning to action on Saturday, June 2 vs. the New York Red Bulls. That match will kick off at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston. Fans may also listen on the radio in English on 98.5 The Sports Hub and in Portuguese on 1260 AM Nossa Radio.
New England Revolution 1, Atlanta United FC 1
May 30, 2018 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Revolution Play Atlanta United FC to a Draw, 1-1
·The Revolution played Atlanta United FC to a 1-1 draw on Wednesday, bringing the club’s record to 5-4-4 (19 pts.) through 13 matches of the 2018 regular season. The Revolution are now 4-2-2 at home in 2018.
·New England's all-time record against Atlanta moves to 0-1-2, including an unbeaten 0-0-2 mark at Gillette Stadium.
Bunbury's Seventh Goal Earns Revs a Point, Matches Revolution-Career High
·Forward Teal Bunbury evened the scoreline from the penalty spot in the 88th minute of tonight's match. Bunbury has now scored seven goals on the season, all coming in New England's last 10 matches dating back to March 31 at Houston.
·Bunbury's goal from the penalty spot was his first career regular season penalty kick goal in MLS. Bunbury previously tallied from the spot in the 2011 Eastern Conference Semifinals Playoffs with Sporting Kansas City on Oct. 30, 2011 at Colorado. He has also converted a penalty as a member of the U.S. Men’s National Team on Jan. 22, 2011 vs. Chile.
·Bunbury's seven goals tie his Revolution-career high of seven tallies in 2017. Bunbury needs just two more goals to match his MLS-career high of nine goals, which he recorded with Sporting Kansas City in 2011.
·The Prior Lake, Minn. native moves into a tie for the fourth most goals in MLS this season. He trails only Josef Martinez (nine), David Villa (eight), Bradley Wright-Phillips (eight), and Gyasi Zardes (eight).
·The Revolution remain unbeaten this season when Bunbury scores a goal, moving to 4-0-3.
Turner Ties Career High With Six Saves
·Goalkeeper Matt Turner turned away six attempts from Atlanta United FC in tonight's contest. Turner has now recorded six saves on two different occasions this season, having previously reached the mark on March 31 at Houston.
·Turner now ranks fourth in MLS with 48 saves through 13 matches this season.
Revolution Make Three Changes to Starting XI
·Revolution Head Coach Brad Friedel made three changes to the club’s starting lineup from its most recent MLS match on May 26 at Vancouver Whitecaps FC. Midfielder Scott Caldwell, defender Antonio Delamea, and defender Chris Tierney replaced midfielder/defender Brandon Bye, defender Claude Dielna, and defender Gabriel Somi.
·Defender Chris Tierney left the match with a knee injury in the 45th minute of play and was replaced by defender Gabriel Somi.
GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Silviu Petrescu
Assistant Referees: Richard Gamache (AR1), Gianni Facchini (AR2)
Fourth Official: Robert Sibiga
VAR: Alan Kelly
Weather: 67 Degrees and Sunny
Attendance: 10,547
Scoring Summary:
ATL – Josef Martínez 9 (Julian Gressel 4, Darlington Nagbe 3) 23'
NE – Teal Bunbury 7 (Penalty Kick) 88'
Misconduct Summary:
ATL – Julian Gressel (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 36'
NE – Wilfried Zahibo (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 54'
NE – Jalil Anibaba (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 73'
NE – Krisztián Németh (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 81'
ATL – Brad Guzan (Yellow Card – Dissent) 88'
ATL – Romario Williams (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 89'
New England Revolution: Matt Turner; Chris Tierney (Gabriel Somi 45'), Jalil Anibaba, Antonio Delamea, Andrew Farrell, Scott Caldwell © (Kelyn Rowe 82'), Wilfried Zahibo (Krisztián Németh 62'), Luis Caicedo; Cristian Penilla, Diego Fagundez, Teal Bunbury
Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, Claude Dielna, Brandon Bye, Brian Wright
Atlanta United FC: Brad Guzan; Chris McCann, Michael Parkhurst ©, Franco Escobar; Mikey Ambrose, Jeff Larentowicz, Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel; Miguel Almirón; Josef Martínez (Romario Williams 79'), Ezequiel Barco (Kevin Kratz 85')
Substitutes Not Used: Alec Kann, Sal Zizzo, Miles Robinson, Brandon Vazquez, Andrew Carleton