MEXICO CITY (April 9, 2024) – The New England Revolution fell on the road to Club América, 5-2, on Tuesday night at historic Estadio Azteca in the second leg of the 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Quarterfinals. Giacomo Vrioni bagged a brace for New England, with both goals assisted by Esmir Bajraktarević, as the Revolution’s Concacaf Champions Cup campaign comes to a close following the two-leg aggregate defeat.
Vrioni tallied his second goal in this year’s Concacaf Champions Cup in the 65th minute, flicking a header off the post and just over the goal line. The cross came off a corner from Bajraktarević, who was credited with his team-leading third assist of Champions Cup play. In the final moments of second-half stoppage time, the two connected again with Vrioni scraping home the deflected cross from Bajraktarević.
For Club América, Julián Quiñones and Diego Valdés linked up twice in the opening 34 minutes to give the hosts an early two-goal lead. Club América added a third goal just before the break, as Luis Fuentes set up Henry Martín. On the other side of halftime, the hosts struck again with Alejandro Zendejas finishing off a counter-attack off a slipped pass from Brian Rodríguez. In the 76th minute, Rodríguez converted a penalty to wrap up the scoring for the hosts.
The MLS regular season slate continues on Saturday, April 13, with the Revolution visiting New York City FC. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Yankee Stadium is available to watch on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV in English and Spanish. Listen to the Revolution’s local radio calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 (WBZ-FM), with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies, and on 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA” in Portuguese.
MATCH NOTES
- New England concludes its 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup run with a 3-2-1 record. The Revolution’s three victories in this year’s tournament are the most in a single Concacaf Champions Cup campaign in club history.
- Giacomo Vrioni’s brace was the third multi-goal game by a Revolution player in Concacaf Champions Cup, joining Adam Buksa and Tomás Chancalay. It also marked the third multi-goal performance for Vrioni in his Revolution tenure.
- Esmir Bajraktarević was credited with two assists, giving him a team-leading three helpers in 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup play. The Homegrown midfielder, who tallied a team high three shots with two on target in 90 minutes of action, appeared in all six of New England’s 2024 Champions Cup matches.
- Mark-Anthony Kaye and Dave Romney each recorded their 10th career starts in Champions Cup play.
- Tommy McNamara logged the full 90 minutes to mark first start of the season and eighth Concacaf Champions Cup appearance of his career.
- Bobby Wood recorded his first start of the 2024 season and first career start in Champions Cup action.
GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 2 at Club América 5
April 9, 2024 – Estadio Azteca (Mexico City, Mexico)
Referee: Said Martinez (HON)
Assistant Referee: Walter Lopez (HON)
Assistant Referee: Christian Ramirez (HON)
Fourth Official: Julio Luna (GUA)
Video Assistant Referee: Ricardo Montero (CRC)
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Benjamin Pineda (CRC)
Weather: 72 degrees and partly cloudy
Scoring Summary:
AME – Diego Valdes (Julian Quiñones) 21’
AME – Julian Quiñones (Diego Valdes) 34’
AME – Henry Martín (Luis Fuentes) 45’+3’
AME – Alejandro Zendejas (Brian Rodriguez) 57’
NE – Giacomo Vrioni (Esmir Bajraktarević) 65’
AME – Brian Rodríguez (Penalty Kick) 76’
NE – Giacomo Vrioni (Esmir Bajraktarević) 90’+3’
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Henry Kessler (Yellow Card – Hard Foul) 49’
NE – Ryan Spaulding (Yellow Card – Hard Foul) 89’
NE – Mark-Anthony Kaye (Yellow Card – Hard Foul) 90’
New England Revolution: Earl Edwards Jr.; Ryan Spaulding, Dave Romney (DeJuan Jones 46’), Andrew Farrell ©, Nick Lima (Henry Kessler 46’); Noel Buck (Tomás Chancalay 64’), Mark-Anthony Kaye; Emmanuel Boateng (Carles Gil 73’), Esmir Bajraktarević, Tommy McNamara; Bobby Wood (Giacomo Vrioni 58’).
Substitutes Not Used: Jacob Jackson, Henrich Ravas, Nacho Gil, Ian Harkes, Jack Panayotou, Matt Polster.
Club América: Luis Malagon, Luis Fuentes, Sebastian Caceres, Kevin Álvarez, Alvaro Fidalgo, Diego Valdes (Dagoberto Espinoza 66’), Alejandro Zendejas (Salvador Reyes 66’), Richard Sanchez (Santiago Naveda 46’), Henry Martín © (Brian Rodríguez 46’), Igor Lichnovsky, Julian Quiñones (Javairo Dilrosun 66’).
Substitutes Not Used: Oscar Jimenez, Leonardo Palestina, Israel Reyes, Jonathan Dos Santos, Néstor Araujo, Cristian Calderon, Ramon Juarez.
