TORONTO (May 6, 2023) – The New England Revolution (7-1-3; 24 pts.) defeated Toronto FC (2-3-6, 12 pts.), 2-0, at BMO Field on Saturday night to maintain their first-place position in the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference standings. New England improves to 3-1-1 on the road and is now undefeated in eight consecutive games. 

Forward Bobby Wood opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a breakaway goal following a Toronto turnover, giving the visitors an early lead. Defender DeJuan Jones doubled the advantage in the 62nd minute with his first goal of the season, finishing a rebound set up by Carles Gil’s one-timed shot on a cross from Emmanuel Boateng. Gil paced the Revolution with three chances created. Goalkeeper Petrović made five saves to guide New England to its fifth clean sheet of the campaign. 

Wood, who collected his 40th MLS appearance tonight, netted his third tally of the season, tied for the team lead. Boateng made his third consecutive start, a first for the midfielder in a Revolution uniform. Boateng featured alongside Homegrown Players Noel Buck and Esmir Bajraktarevic, who logged their ninth and fourth starts of the season, respectively. Midfielder Latif Blessing returned to action to help close out the victory as a substitute. 

The Revolution’s 24 points through 11 games are the second most in team history at this stage of the season. With the shutout, New England has conceded nine-or-fewer goals in its first 11 games for the third time. The victory also marks the Revolution’s 11th consecutive triumph when leading at halftime. 

New England continues its three-game road swing in league play with a 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Inter Miami CF next Saturday, May 13 at DRV PNK Stadium. (FREE on Apple TV; 98.5 The Sports Hub; 1260 AM Nossa Radio). First, the Revolution shift focus to the 2023 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup for a Round of 32 meeting with USL Championship side Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC. The 7:30 p.m. kickoff on Tuesday, May 9 streams live on the U.S. Soccer YouTube channel.

TEAM NOTES

• The victory maintains the Revolution’s first-place position in the Supporters’ Shield and Eastern Conference standings as they stay ahead of FC Cincinnati on goal differential. 
• New England’s 24 points (2.18 ppg) through 11 games are the second most in club history at this stage of a season (2005 – 25 pts.).
• The Revolution are now undefeated in their last eight MLS games (5-0-3) dating back to the season’s lone loss on March 12. 
• New England remains unbeaten against Eastern Conference opponents (5-0-3).
• With their fifth shutout of the season, the Revolution have conceded only nine goals through 11 games for the third time in club history (8 in 2005, 9 in 2013). 
• The victory was New England’s 24th road win under Bruce Arena (incl. playoffs), most in MLS since he took the helm on June 2, 2019. The Revolution are 3-1-1 on the road this season. 
• This season, New England is 6-0-2 when scoring the first goal and 4-0-0 when leading at halftime. 
• The Revolution have won 11 consecutive games when leading at halftime dating back to March 13, 2022. 

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

• Bobby Wood, in his first start since April 8, scored a breakaway goal against TFC goalkeeper Sean Johnson for his third of the year, tied for most on the team. In his first season with the club, Wood has three goals and two assists in nine appearances. 
• Homegrown Players Noel Buck and Esmir Bajraktarević, both 18, featured together in the starting XI. Buck has played in all 11 matches to begin the season, starting nine, while Bajraktarević made his fifth appearance and fourth start of the campaign. 
• Goalkeeper Djordje Petrović made five saves and now owns 12 shutouts in 32 regular season starts. This season, the Serbian has recorded five shutouts and seven wins in 11 games. 
• Emmanuel Boateng has made three consecutive starts in MLS play for the first time since 2020. 
• DeJuan Jones tallied his first goal of 2023, and the sixth of his MLS career, as he buried a rebound after Boateng’s cross set up a one-timed shot by Carles Gil, which was parried right into Jones’ path to put the Revolution ahead by two.  
• Defenders Dave Romney and Brandon Bye remain the only Revolution outfield players to see all 990 minutes of action during the regular season.
• Latif Blessing played 29 minutes in his return to action after missing the last two games (visa).

GAME CAPSULE
New England Revolution 2, Toronto FC 0
May 6, 2023 – BMO Field (Toronto, Ontario)

Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Oscar Mitchell-Carvalho (AR1), Ian McKay (AR2)
Fourth Official: Gianni Facchini
Video Assistant Referee: Younes Marrakchi
Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mike Kampmeinert
Weather: 58 degrees and partly cloudy

Scoring Summary: 
NE- Bobby Wood 3 (Unassisted) 19’
NE- DeJuan Jones 1 (Unassisted) 62’

Misconduct Summary: 
TOR- Kobe Franklin (Yellow Card- Hard Foul) 11’
TOR- Alonso Coello (Yellow Card- Hard Foul) 40’
TOR- Richie Laryea (Yellow Card- Hard Foul) 51’

New England Revolution: Djordje Petrović; DeJuan Jones, Dave Romney, Andrew Farrell, Brandon Bye; Matt Polster, Noel Buck; Emmanuel Boateng (Justin Rennicks 84’), Carles Gil ©, Esmir Bajraktarevic (Latif Blessing 61’); Bobby Wood (Jozy Altidore 61’)

Substitutes Not Used: Earl Edwards Jr., Omar Gonzalez, Christian Makoun, Jack Panayotou, Ben Sweat, Giacomo Vrioni

Toronto FC: Sean Johnson; Sigurd Rosted, Kobe Franklin, Richie Lareya, Shane O’Neill (Aime Mabika 69’); Mark-Anthony Kaye, Brandon Servania (Adama Diomande 60’), Alonso Coello; C.J. Sapong, Federico Bernardeschi, Lorenzo Insigne ©

Substitutes Not Used: Thomas Romero, Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty, Ayo Akinola, Deandre Kerr, Kosi Thompson, Themi Antonoglou

Full statistics available HERE.