ATLANTA (March 9, 2024) – The New England Revolution (0-3-0; 0 pts.) fell on the road to Atlanta United FC (1-1-0; 3 pts.), 4-1, on Saturday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Carles Gil tallied the lone goal for New England, combining with his younger brother, Nacho, marking the second time the two have connected on a goal so far this season in all competitions.
New England began the match on the front foot, with Tomás Chancalay striking the cross bar with a powerful header in the 14th minute off Nick Lima’s pinpoint cross. The Argentine led his team with seven shots, including three on target, marking a seventh straight league game in which Chancalay has attempted at least five shots.
Atlanta broke the deadlock with a penalty kick moments before the halftime whistle. Atlanta forward Giorgios Giakoumakis was tripped up in the box by Revolution goalkeeper Henrich Ravas, and Thiago Almada converted from the penalty spot to give the hosts a lead at the break. Giakoumakis added to the lead with a hat trick in the second half, scoring from the penalty spot in the 55th minute before tallying again in the 60th and 74th minutes.
Carles Gil pulled one back for the Revolution with his second goal of the season, a curling effort past his former Aston Villa teammate Brad Guzan in the 83rd minute, assisted by Nacho Gil and Homegrown midfielder Esmir Bajraktarević, who made his 25th career MLS appearance one day shy of his 19th birthday. The assist gives Bajraktarević one goal and two assists in his last four appearances. Carles Gil, who signed a multi-year contract extension with the Revolution this week, is now one goal away from becoming the fifth Revolution player to achieve 40 goals and 40 assists in all competitions for the club.
New England will play two more games next week, beginning with Leg 2 of the Round of 16 series against LD Alajuelense in Costa Rica on Thursday, March 14. The 8:00 p.m. kickoff will air nationally on FS2 in English and TUDN in Spanish. Then, on Sunday, March 17, the Revolution return to Gillette Stadium to host the reigning Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati in MLS play. The 2:00 p.m. ET kickoff is available to watch free on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Listen to the Revolution’s local radio calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) or 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA” in Portuguese.
MATCH NOTES
- After signing a multi-year contract extension on Thursday, Carles Gil logged the full 90 minutes and tallied his second goal of the MLS season in the 83rd minute.
- Tomás Chancalay led New England with seven shots attempts, placing three on target and another off the crossbar.
- Nacho Gil entered the match in the 75th minute and registered his first assist of the campaign on older brother Carles Gil’s late goal.
- Esmir Bajraktarević entered the match in the 56th minute for his 25th first team appearance in all competitions, marking the occasion with his first MLS assist on Gil’s tally.
- Bajraktarević has reached the scoresheet in three of New England’s last four games, twice as a sub, with one goal and two assists.
- Henry Kessler earned his 75th MLS regular season start as the center back logged the full 90 minutes. The center back won a team-high seven possessions on the night.
- Mark-Anthony Kaye collected his first start in MLS this season, marking his 150th MLS regular season appearance.
GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 1, Atlanta United FC 4
March 9, 2024 – Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, Ga.)
Referee: Rafael Santos
Assistant Referees: Salvador Reyes (AR1), Wilmer Soriano (AR2)
Fourth Official: Mario Maric
Video Assistant Referee: Shawn Tehini
Weather: 58 degrees and clear
Attendance: 67,727
Scoring Summary:
ATL – Thiago Almada 1 (Penalty Kick) 45’+2
ATL – Giorgios Giakoumakis 1 (Penalty Kick) 55’
ATL – Giorgios Giakoumakis 2 (Brooks Lennon 1) 60’
ATL – Giorgios Giakoumakis 3 (Unassisted) 74’
NE – Carles Gil 2 (Nacho Gil 1, Esmir Bajraktarević 1) 83’
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Matt Polster (Yellow Card – Dissent) 45’+1
New England Revolution: Henrich Ravas; DeJuan Jones, Dave Romney, Henry Kessler, Nick Lima (Ryan Spaulding 75’); Ian Harkes (Nacho Gil 75’), Matt Polster (Noel Buck 84’), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Esmir Bajraktarević 56’); Carles Gil ©, Tomás Chancalay, Giacomo Vrioni (Emmanuel Boateng 84’).
Substitutes Not Used: Earl Edwards Jr, Andrew Farrell, Tommy McNamara, Jonathan Mensah.
Atlanta United FC: Brad Guzan ©; Brooks Lennon, Derrick Williams, Stian Gregersen, Caleb Wiley; Bartosz Slisz (Dax McCarty 84’), Tristan Muyumba (Jay Fortune 79’), Thiago Almada; Saba Lobjanidze (Edwin Mosquera 79’), Xande Silva (Tyler Wolff 70’), Giorgios Giakoumakis (Jamal Thiare 84’).
Substitutes Not Used: Josh Cohen, Luis Abram, Nicolas Firmino, Ronald Hernandez.
