WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 25, 2023) –The New England Revolution (4-1-0, 12 pts.) came from behind to defeat D.C. United (1-3-1; 4 pts.), 2-1, on Saturday night at Audi Field to improve to four wins in five games to open the 2023 MLS regular season. Revolution captain Carles Gil recorded his 50th MLS assist on Gustavo Bou’s equalizer in the second half, before Homegrown Player Noel Buck tallied the game-winning goal in the 88th minute to secure the three points and lift New England into first place in the Eastern Conference through Matchday 5.

Bruce Arena deployed a starting lineup that featured three players 18-years-old or younger with Homegrown Players Noel Buck (17), Esmir Bajraktarevic (18), and Jack Panayotou (18) all featuring in the Starting XI. Buck, making his fifth consecutive start to begin the season, tallied his second MLS goal with the game-winning tally in the 88th minute as his deflected shot broke the 1-1 tie. Panayotou played 77 minutes in his MLS debut, while Bajraktarevic made his season debut in his second MLS start and fourth career appearance.

Despite the Revolution outshooting the hosts 11-5 in the first half, D.C. United got on the board first with a goal from Christian Benteke moments before halftime. The Revolution rebounded quickly as Gil entered the match in the 62nd minute and made one of his first touches count. The captain sent a cross to Bou at the back post, who corralled the long pass off his chest to set himself up for a right-footed shot that pulled the Revolution level at 1-1 in the 63rd minute.

With his 50th assist, Gil becomes the third Revolution player to reach the half-century mark and pulls even with Lee Nguyen for second-most assists in club history. With the goal, Bou now has 39 regular season tallies with New England and two on the season after three starts.

New England’s next match on Saturday, April 1 at home against New York City FC is also free to watch on the Apple TV app. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium will be available locally on 98.5 The Sports Hub, with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies calling the action, and on 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA in Portuguese. 

MATCH NOTES

• New England improves to 4-1-0 (12 pts.) and is currently in first place in the Eastern Conference after five matches. 
• The Revolution improve to 23-18-16 on the road under Bruce Arena (including playoffs), the most away wins in MLS since he took over as head coach in June 2019.
• New England has won eight of the last nine meetings with D.C. and are now level in the all-time series (35-35-15) with the fellow MLS original club.
• Gustavo Bou scored his second goal of the season in his third start, giving him 39 regular season goals with the Revolution. His 41 total goals including playoffs are fourth most in MLS since he entered the league in 2019. 
• Carles Gil recorded his 50th MLS regular season assist within a minute of entering the match as a substitute in the second half. Gil is the third player in club history to reach 50 assists as he pulls level with Lee Nguyen for second most in club history. 
• The Revolution are the first MLS team this season to start three players 18 or younger in a league match with Homegrown Players and midfielders Noel Buck (17), Esmir Bajraktarevic (18), and Jack Panayotou (18) all featuring in the Starting XI. 
• Buck scored his second MLS goal – the game winner – in the 88th minute when his deflected shot from the top of the penalty area found the back of the net. Buck has started all five matches to begin his second MLS season. 
• Panayotou, an 18-year-old Homegrown Player from Cambridge, Mass., played 77 minutes in his MLS debut and first start. Panayotou played one semester of college soccer in the nation’s capital at Georgetown University. 
• Bajraktarevic made his fourth MLS appearance, his first of 2023, and second career MLS start. 

GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 2, D.C. United 1
March 25, 2023 – Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)

Referee: Filip Dujic
Assistant Referees: Gianni Facchini (AR1), Ben Pilgrim (AR2)
Fourth Official: Alyssa Nichols
Video Assistant Referee: Geoff Gamble
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Fabio Tovar
Weather: 51 degrees and cloudy

Scoring Summary: 
DC – Christian Benteke 3 (Ruan 1) 45’
NE – Gustavo Bou 2 (Carles Gil 2) 63’
NE – Noel Buck 1 (Unassisted) 88’

Misconduct Summary: 
DC – Derrick Williams (Yellow Card – Tactical Foul) 58’
NE – Brandon Bye (Yellow Card – Foul) 82’

New England Revolution: Djordje Petrović; DeJuan Jones, Dave Romney, Henry Kessler, Brandon Bye; Esmir Bajraktarevic (Carles Gil 62’), Noel Buck, Matt Polster, Jack Panayotou (Emmanuel Boateng 78’); Bobby Wood (Jozy Altidore 62’), Gustavo Bou © (Giacomo Vrioni 87’)

Substitutes Not Used: Nico Campuzano, Joshua Bolma, Andrew Farrell, Omar Gonzalez, Justin Rennicks

D.C. United: Tyler Miller; Jacob Greene (Nigel Robertha 79’), Derrick Williams, Steven Birnbaum ©, Chris Durkin, Jackson Hopkins (Yamil Asad 68’), Russell Canouse, Mateusz Klich, Ruan, Theodore Ku-Dipietro (Taxi Fountas 68’), Christian Benteke

Substitutes Not Used: Alex Bono, Luis Zamudio, Donovan Pines, Hayden Sargis

Full statistics available HERE.