New England Soccer Today

First Look: New York City FC

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com

The winless Revolution will return to the scene of their last regular season victory on Saturday when they face New York City FC at Yankee Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:00pm.

In last year’s season finale on Oct. 25, the Revolution staked a 3-1 win over New York City to punch their ticket to the postseason. The locals claimed the advantage on the season series against City by going 2-1-0 in 2015.

City enters the contest eight days removed from a frustrating 1-0 defeat to Orlando City SC in the Bronx. Despite firing 15 shots against a porous Lions backline, the hosts couldn’t buy a strike before the final whistle.

Similarly, the Revolution head into the weekend coming off a 3-0 loss to the Philadelphia Union, thus keeping them out of the win column for an additional week.

Here are few things to know about New York City FC:

-The Bronx-based outfit will go into Saturday’s match with a 1-1-1 record (4 points), good for fifth place in the conference. They claimed a wild 4-3 win over the Fire on First Kick, and claimed a 2-2 draw to Toronto before last Friday’s loss to Orlando City.

-While the Revolution won’t have Lee Nguyen and Je-Vaughn Watson at their disposal due to international call-ups, City will be missing a trio of key players of their own. Starters Mix Diskerud (U.S.), Ronald Matarrita (Costa Rica) and Khiry Shelton (U.S. U-23s) will all be on international duty this week.

-City features a host of players with local or Revolution ties. Forwards Patrick Mullins and Tony Taylor both spent the 2014 season with the Revolution while another forward – Tommy McNamara – linked up with the Western Mass Pioneers in 2011 in between NCAA seasons at Brown University. Additionally, 2016 draft pick Jack Harrison was named 2015 Gatorade National Boys’ Soccer Player of the Year while at the Berkshire School in Sheffield, Mass.

-The Light Blues are guided by former EPL and Serie A star Patrick Vieira, who assumed the managerial reins after Jason Kreis departed during the offseason.

-Yankee Stadium features a particularly narrow pitch. The converted soccer set up measures 110 yards x 70 yards, which could tempt Revolution coach Jay Heaps to alter his tactics.

-NYCFC skipper David Villa scored in both of his club’s home matches vs. the Revolution last year.

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