JAMAICA, N.Y. – The New England Revolution fell to New York City FC, 0-1, after extra time at Belson Stadium on the campus of St. John’s University in the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Round of 16 on Wednesday night. Despite a six-save performance from Revolution goalkeeper Djordje Petrović to keep the game scoreless through 90 minutes, NYCFC’s Santiago Rodriguez broke through for the game’s lone goal in the 94th minute.
The Revolution shift focus back to the MLS regular season ahead of a home meeting with the Philadelphia Union this Saturday, May 28 at Gillette Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. ET start airs locally on WSBK-TV38, myRITV (Rhode Island), and CoziTV (Western Mass.), as well as on the radio at 98.5 The Sports Hub and 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese).
Bruce Arena deployed a rotated lineup for the Round of 16 contest, featuring 10 changes from New England’s latest MLS win on May 21. Petrović recorded his second start of the Open Cup campaign and made an early impact with a stunning double save in the 12th minute, as the Serbian denied a pair of point-blank attempts to keep the match scoreless. Petrović logged another close-range stop in the 59th minute and finished the night with six saves.
Esmir Bajraktarević, announced as the club’s latest Homegrown Player signing on Monday, made his first team debut with a start in the midfield. The 17-year-old recorded a shot on target in the 44th minute when he directed a cross from Justin Rennicks on frame, but the attempt was saved. Revolution II defender Ben Reveno also made his first team debut, earning the start at center back.
Bajraktarević was one of seven Revolution players who made their U.S. Open Cup debuts on Saturday, along with Reveno, Jon Bell, Gustavo Bou, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Maciel, and recent U-22 Initiative signing Dylan Borrero. This marked Borrero’s second appearance with New England since arriving at the club earlier in May, while Bou played in a second straight game since returning from injury and nearly tied the game in the 119th minute with a headed shot on frame.
POSTGAME NOTES
New England Revolution 0, New York City FC 1 (AET)
May 25, 2022 – Belson Stadium (Jamaica, New York)
- GK Djordje Petrović recorded six saves in his second start with New England’s first team since joining the club in April.
- Seven Revolution players made their U.S. Open Cup debuts: M Esmir Bajraktarević, D Jon Bell, M Dylan Borrero, F Gustavo Bou, M Wilfrid Kaptoum, M Maciel, and D Ben Reveno all made their U.S. Open Cup debuts tonight. For Bajraktarević and Reveno, it also marked their Revolution first team debuts.
- Bajraktarevic, announced as the club’s ninth Homegrown Player signing on Monday, made his first team debut. The 17-year-old played 67 minutes and recorded one shot on target.
- Three Homegrown Players featured in the starting lineup for New England: F Justin Rennicks, M Damian Rivera, and Bajraktarević. Rivera and Esmir each recorded one shot on target.
- Midfielder Dylan Borrero logged his second New England appearance, coming on in the 67th minute for Emmanuel Boateng. Borrero, 20, was acquired in April using the MLS U-22 Initiative from Brazilian Serie A champions Atlético Mineiro.
- New England rotated its starting lineup from the Round of 16 match, as Bruce Arena made eight changes from the last U.S. Open Cup match vs. FC Cincinnati on May 11. The three returning starters were GK Djordje Petrović, M Maciel, and Rivera.
- New England’s all-time record in the U.S. Open Cup moves to 22-18-5.
GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Luis Arroyo
Assistant Referees: Tom Felice (AR1), Nicholas Balcer (AR2)
Fourth Official: Christian Centeno
Weather: 61 degrees and sunny
Scoring Summary:
NYC- Santiago Rodriguez (Heber) 94’
Misconduct Summary:
NYC- Thiago Andrade (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 22’
NE- Ryan Spaulding (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 55’
NYC- Justin Haak (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 60’
NE- Matt Polster (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 62’
NYC- Geeidon Zelalem (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 84’
NE- Bruce Arena (Yellow Card- Dissent) 92’
NYC- Santiago Rodriguez (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 100’
NYC- Valentin Castellanos (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 120’
New England Revolution: Djordje Petrović; Ryan Spaulding (DeJuan Jones 91’), Ben Reveno (Wilfrid Kaptoum 116’), Jon Bell (Andrew Farrell 46’) , A.J. DeLaGarza; Matt Polster ©, Maciel, Damian Rivera (Brandon Bye 91’), Esmir Bajraktarević (Gustavo Bou 67’), Emmanuel Boateng (Dylan Borrero 67’); Justin Rennicks
Substitutes Not Used: Jacob Jackson
New York City FC: Luis Barraza; Malte Amundsen (Christopher Gloster 70’), Maxime Chanot ©, Tayvon Gray, Thiago Martins; Justin Haak (Santiago Rodriguez 68’), Andres Jasson, Keaton Parks (Nicolas Acevedo 67’), Geeidon Zelalem (Vukashin Latinovich 102’); Thiago Andrade (Heber 77’), Talles Magno (Valentin Castellanos 68’)
Substitutes Not Used: Sean Johnson
Full statistics available HERE.
