New England Soccer Today

The Warmup: #PHIvNE

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Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

 

After last weekend’s scoreless home draw to Columbus Crew SC, the New England Revolution go back on the road for a nationally-televised match against the Philadelphia Union.

Location: PPL Park, Chester, Pa.

Scheduled kick-off: 5:00 pm

TV/Radio: ESPN2; 98.5 Sports Hub

All-time/Season series:

• These squads should be familiar with each other after meeting five times in all competitions during 2014. After a 1-1 draw in the preseason, the Union were victorious in two of the three regular season matches against the Revolution, winning 1-0 on Mar. 15 and 3-1 on Jun. 28. The Revolution’s only win over Philadelphia came in a 5-3 win at PPL Park on May 17. The Union won the last meeting, however, winning 2-0 at home in a U.S. Open Cup match on Jul. 8.

• This will be the first of three contests between the conference foes, with the Union making their only appearance in Foxborough on Aug. 29 and the Revolution returning to PPL Park on Sept. 26.

• Overall, this will be the 14th regular-season meeting, with the Philadelphia Union leading the series with 7-3-3 all-time against the Revolution. The Union have also won the only U.S. Open Cup match between the squads last July.

• The Revolution have historically sturggled at PPL Park, with a record of 1-4-2 at the Union’s home park.

Revolution update:

• 2-2-2 overall, 8 points through six games (1.33 points per game), with 5 goals scored and 7 goals against.

• Currently in tied for 2nd place in the Eastern Conference Standings with the New York Red Bulls and Orlando City SC, and two points behind the conference-leading D.C. United.

• The Revolution are 1-2-0 on the road in 2015, with two goals scored and five goals against. The five goals against came in their two road losses again NYC FC and the Seattle Sounders, while their two road goals were scored in their only victory at Colorado.

• Juan Agudelo and Lee Nguyen return to the team after a midweek match with the U.S. Men’s National Team in San Antonio on Wednesday. Agudelo contributed to a 2-0 victory scoring the second goal for the U.S., while Lee Nguyen did not enter the game.

• After missing last week’s match against the Columbus Crew, the Revolution expect Chris Tierney to return at Philadelphia. Revolution coach Jay Heaps said earlier this week: “It was tough losing Chris, but at the same time, I think it was the right move to shut him down and rest him and then have him ready for this weekend.”

• Jermaine Jones is also expected to play after making his 2015 debut last week. Jones stated after last week’s match he hopes to play all 90 minutes against the Union.

Union update:

• 1-3-3 overall, 6 points through 7 games (0.86 points per game), with 8 goals scored ,and 11 goals against.

• Currently tied for fifth place with the Chicago Fire and New York City FC,four points behind conference leaders D.C. United and two points behind the Revolution.

• Currently 1-1-1 at home in 2015, winning their most recent home game by scoring in stoppage time in a 2-1 win over NYCFC.

• The Union will be playing on short rest after a mid-week match at NYC FC on Thursday, which resulted in a 1-1 draw. Substitute C.J. Sapong scored in the 86th minute to tie the game and give the Union a point on the road.

• Forward Fernando Aristaguieta leads the team with three goals on the young season. The Union’s leading scorer in 2014, Sebastien Le Toux, has yet to score in 2015 after 12 goals last year. Le Toux’s tied for second on the team with twelve shots and four shots on goal, and is tied for the team lead with two assists.

• In goal for the Union will most likely be John McCarthy, the former keeper of the Revolution’s affiliate, the Rochester Rhinos. McCarthy won the 2014 USL Pro Goalkeeper of the Year and signed in the preseason with the Union as a trailist. After winning the third-string goalkeeper job, McCarthy has moved into the starting role after the planned starter and Algerian national Rais Mbolhi left the team two weeks ago. Backup and former #1 Superdraft pick Andre Blake is still recovering from knee surgery in February. McCarthy is 1-0-1 in his first two matches, both against NYC FC, including a win in his debut.

• It will also be McCarthy’s second time facing the Revolution, as he was in net for the Rhinos in a 2-1 U.S. Open Cup loss last season against New England.

• Philadelphia is coached by Jim Curtin, who is entering his first full season as MLS managerafter taking over for the fired John Hackworth last season. Curtin inherited a club with a 2-7-5 record on Jun. 10, and improved the team to go 10-12-12 while finishing in sixth place. Overall, Curtin has a 9-8-10 as Union manager in MLS competition which includes a 3-1 victory over the Revolution in his first game at the helm. Curtin also defeated the Revolution 2-0 in the U.S. Open Cup and led the team to the U.S. Open Cup finals where the Union lost to the Seattle Sounders 3-1 in overtime.

Next up for the Revolution: Saturday, April 25th, at 7:30 PM at home against Real Salt Lake.

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