LAKEWOOD RANCH, Fla. — The New England Revolution fell 2-0 to the Philadelphia Union on Sunday in the club’s second match of the 2023 preseason. Five Homegrown Players suited up for New England on Sunday, with midfielder Jack Panayotou starting and playing 61 minutes. Esmir Bajraktarević, Noel Buck, Justin Rennicks, and Damian Rivera all entered the match in the second half.
The Revolution nearly pulled in front early when Panayotou slid a line-breaking pass to Jozy Altidore, who narrowly missed from a tight angle. Philadelphia grabbed the lead in the 36th minute when Dániel Gazdag slotted home a through ball from Julian Carranza for the game’s opening goal. Revolution midfielder Dylan Borrero had a chance to equalize moments before halftime but was denied by a kick-save from Union goalkeeper Andre Blake. In the 71st minute, the Union doubled the advantage when Jesus Bueno finished off a rebound from a Mikael Uhre shot.
Midfielder Joshua Bolma, New England’s first-round pick from the 2023 MLS SuperDraft and a Generation adidas signing, started and played the full 90 minutes. Reigning Revolution Team MVP Djordje Petrović also notched a start on Sunday before being relieved by Earl Edwards Jr. for the second half.
The Revolution resume training this week before playing their third preseason match behind closed doors on Friday, Feb. 10 against Nashville SC at Al Lang Stadium in St. Petersburg, Fla. (12:00 p.m. ET).
New England kicks off its 2023 MLS Regular Season slate on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Charlotte FC (7:30 p.m. ET), before the home opener on Saturday, March 4 vs. Houston Dynamo FC at Gillette Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET). Every Revolution, MLS and Leagues Cup match airs on MLS Season Pass – all in one place, with no blackouts.
MLS Season Pass: Introducing an unprecedented subscription service to fans that features every live MLS and Leagues Cup match, as well as hundreds of MLS NEXT Pro and MLS NEXT games. MLS Season Pass is now available on billions of devices through the Apple TV app Apple TV app on Apple devices, smart TVs, streaming devices, set-top boxes, and game consoles, and on the web at tv.apple.com.
Fans can now subscribe to MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app for $14.99 per month during the season or $99 per season, and Apple TV+ subscribers can sign up at a special price of $12.99 per month and $79 per season. As an exclusive benefit of their full-season membership, New England Revolution Season Members will receive one MLS Season Pass subscription with each account. Visit Revolutionsoccer.net or call 1-877-GET-REVS to learn more about becoming a Season Member.
Match Notes:
- Newly signed Homegrown midfielder Jack Panayotou started in central midfield for his second appearance of the preseason. The Cambridge, Mass. native played 61 minutes alongside Latif Blessing and Carles Gil.
- In all, five Homegrown Players saw minutes for New England in Sunday’s contest, with Justin Rennicks starting the second half and Esmir Bajraktarević, Noel Buck, and Damian Rivera all entering the match in the 61st minute.
- 2023 MLS SuperDraft picks Joshua Bolma and Victor Souza each saw action, with the former serving as the lone Revolution player to log 90 minutes.
- Dave Romney, acquired from Nashville SC in January, logged 61 minutes as he continued to see action in his first preseason with the Revolution.
- Revolution II center back Pierre Cayet notched 29 minutes off the bench. The Frenchman is currently the only Revolution II player in preseason camp with the first team.
GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 0, Philadelphia Union 2
February 5, 2023 – Premier Sports Complex (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.)
Weather: 72 degrees and partly cloudy.
Scoring Summary:
PHI – Dániel Gazdag (Julian Carranza) 36’
PHI – Jesus Bueno (Unassisted) 71’
Disciplinary Summary:
NE – Latif Blessing (Yellow Card) 40’
PHI – Jakob Glesnes (Yellow Card) 40’
NE – Giacomo Vrioni (Yellow Card) 57’
New England Revolution (1st Half): Djordje Petrović; Ryan Spaulding, Dave Romney, Christian Makoun, Brandon Bye, Joshua Bolma; Latif Blessing, Jack Panayotou, Carles Gil ©; Dylan Borrero, Jozy Altidore.
New England Revolution (2nd Half): Earl Edwards Jr.; Dave Romney (Victor Souza^ 61’), Christian Makoun (Omar Gonzalez 61’), Brandon Bye (Pierre Cayet* 61’); Joshua Bolma, Carles Gil © (Esmir Bajraktarević 61’), Jack Panayotou (Noel Buck 61’), Latif Blessing (Damian Rivera 61’), Emmanuel BoatengT; Justin Rennicks, Giacomo Vrioni.
* = Revolution II player
^ = Unsigned 2022 MLS SuperDraft pick
T = Trialist
