NASHVILLE, Tenn. (October 14, 2023) – The New England Revolution (14-9-10; 52 pts. – 5th in East) fell to Nashville SC (13-10-10; 49 pts. – 7th in East), 3-2, at GEODIS Park on Saturday night in the club’s final road match of the regular season. Argentinian striker Tomás Chancalay accounted for both of New England’s goals with tallies in the 49th and 70th minutes, marking the 23-year-old’s second brace of the season. Goalkeeper Jacob Jackson, New England’s first-round selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, recorded seven saves in his MLS debut.
After the hosts jumped out to a three-goal lead in the opening half, Chancalay put New England on the board just four minutes after the intermission with a right-footed shot from the center of the box. Fellow countryman Gustavo Bou provided the assist, delivering a cross to hit Chancalay in stride. He then cut the deficit to one in the 70th minute as he buried a rebound for his sixth goal in 10 MLS appearances, and his fourth goal in the last five games.
Bou’s assist marked the striker’s fourth helper of the season and his 20th in MLS play. It marked his fourth straight appearance and first start for the club since July 15. Now one appearance away from 100 MLS games played, Bou finished the match with a game-high five chances created over a 90-minute performance.
Defender Henry Kessler featured in New England’s starting lineup for the first time since sustaining an injury on April 8 and played 64 minutes. Dave Romney, starting alongside Kessler and Omar Gonzalez in a three-man backline, made his return to Nashville, where he played three seasons from 2020-22. A candidate for MLS Defender of the Year, Romney is one game away from becoming the second Revolution player to play every minute of a 34-game season.
New England will conclude the regular season at home next Saturday night, October 21, on MLS Decision Day presented by AT&T against the Philadelphia Union (15-8-10; 55 pts. – 3rd in East) at Gillette Stadium. All Eastern Conference fixtures on Decision Day are scheduled to kick off at 6:00 p.m. ET. Watch the match on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish, or listen to the Revolution’s local radio calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM) and 1260 AM Nossa Radio in Portuguese.
POSTGAME NOTES
- With one more match remaining in the 2023 regular season, New England sits in fifth place in the Eastern Conference after tonight’s result and still has an opportunity to finish in the top-four to secure homefield advantage in Round One of the Audi 2023 MLS Cup Playoffs.
- Tomás Chancalay tallied his second multi-goal game of the season giving him six goals in 10 MLS appearances for New England, including four in his last five matches. The Argentine finished with a team-high five shots, including three on target.
- Chancalay’s six goals since his MLS debut on Aug. 26 are tied for the fifth most in MLS over that span.
- Gustavo Bou logged his first start since July 15 – his 99th career MLS appearance – marking the occasion with his fourth assist of the campaign. Bou matched a season high with five chances created.
- Henry Kessler made his first start since April 8 after returning to action last weekend following a nearly six-month injury absence, logging 64 minutes and recording six recoveries.
- Jacob Jackson, New England’s first-round pick from the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, made his MLS debut and notched seven saves.
- Dave Romney made his return to Nashville where he spent the past three seasons with the club. Romney matched his career high in appearances and starts (33 in 2021) as he continued to play every minute for New England in regular season play.
- Omar Gonzalez made his 275th MLS appearance, finishing the night with five duels won, including four aerials won, and a team-high five clearances.
GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 2, Nashville SC 3
October 14, 2023 – GEODIS Park (Nashville, Tenn.)
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr.
Assistant Referees: Ian McKay (AR1), Ben Pilgrim (AR2)
Fourth Official: Chris Ruska
Video Assistant Referee: Jon Freemon
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mike Kampmeinert
Weather: 58 degrees and cloudy
Attendance: 27,780
Scoring Summary:
NSH – Dax McCarty 1 (Unassisted) 19’
NSH – Sam Surridge 1 (Jacob Shaffelburg 1, Daniel Lovitz 5) 30’
NSH – Sam Surridge 2 (Hany Mukhtar 11, Shaq Moore 5) 45’+3
NE – Tomás Chancalay 5 (Gustavo Bou 4) 49’
NE – Tomás Chancalay 6 (Unassisted) 71’
Misconduct Summary:
NSH – Hany Mukhtar (Yellow Card – Dissent) 42’
NSH – Dax McCarty (Yellow Card – Tactical Foul) 59’
NE – Matt Polster (Yellow Card – Hard Foul) 90’
New England Revolution: Jacob Jackson; Dave Romney, Omar Gonzalez (Giacomo Vrioni 85’), Henry Kessler (Ben Sweat 64’); Emmanuel Boateng (Ryan Spaulding 45’), Mark-Anthony Kaye (Tommy McNamara 45’), Carles Gil ©, Matt Polster, Nacho Gil (Jack Panayotou 45’); Tomás Chancalay, Gustavo Bou.
Substitutes Not Used: Earl Edwards Jr., Justin Rennicks, Bobby Wood.
Nashville SC: Joe Willis; Daniel Lovitz, Jack Maher, Walker Zimmerman © (Josh Bauer 45’), Shaq Moore; Jacob Shaffelburg (Alex Muyl 42’), Aníbal Godoy, Dax McCarty (Sean Davis 78’), Randall Leal (Taylor Washington 86’); Hany Mukhtar, Sam Surridge (Teal Bunbury 78’).
Substitutes Not Used: Elliot Panicco; Brian Tah Anunga, Luke Haakenson, Laurence Wyke.
Full statistics available HERE.
