New England Soccer Today

The Warmup: #NEvCLB

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Foxborough, Mass. — The Revolution carry a 4-2 aggregate goal lead going into the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Columbus Crew on Sunday.

Location: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.

Scheduled kick-off: 5:00 pm

TV/Radio: ESPN2 and ESPN Deportes; 98.5 FM The Sports Hub

Season series: Fifth overall match between the MLS originals this season. The Revolution won the last match 4-2 in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals. Last match at Gillette Stadium was a 2-1 in favor of the Revolution on October 4th. The previous two matchups on the season were both won by Columbus, who won 2-1 on July 26th at Gillette Stadium, and 1-0 on September 20th at Crew Stadium.

Scenario to advance: The Revolution’s 4-2 victory at Columbus gives them a pretty favorable advantage going into the final leg. Not only do they possess a two-goal aggregate advantage, but they also have the away-goal tiebreaker going into Sunday’s second leg at Gillette, where the Revolution haven’t lost since July 26th.

Columbus will advance in the following scenarios: A win by 3+ goals, a win by 2+ goals with a score of 5-3 or higher, or winning 4-2 and advancing through penalty kicks. If the score is 4-2 in their favor after 90 minutes, the series will be decided by 30 minutes of extra time (two 15-minute halves) and penalty kicks if still tied at the end of extra time.

Revolution update: 17-13-4 overall (regular season), 55 points through 34 games (1.62 points per game), with 51 goals scored and 46 goals against….Finished the regular season in second place in the Eastern Conference, only behind D.C. United by 4 points ….At home, the Revolution went 11-4-2, with 35 points in 17 games (2.06 points per game), with 28 goals and 14 goals against….The Revolution are unbeaten in their last six matches and have won ten of their last twelve matches….The Revolution are 7-0-1 in their last eight home matches, with their last loss at home coming to Sunday’s opponent, Columbus, on July 26th by the score of 2-1. During this stretch, the Revolution have outscored their opponents 15-5….The Revolution have scored at least twice in nine of their last eleven games, and have only been shutout once during that span, which also was at the hands of the Columbus Crew. Over the same eleven game stretch, the Revolution have scored 24 goals….The Revolution have lost by 3+ goals this season, but both times on the road: A 5-1 loss against the LA Galaxy and a 4-0 loss against the Houston Dynamo….The Revolution have not allowed three goals in any match this season at Gillette Stadium and have only allowed two goals at home twice this season: In a 2-1 loss on July 26th to the Columbus Crew and a 2-0 loss on June 8th vs. the New York Red Bulls….The Revolution have never lost a home playoff game in regulation with a 10-0-4 record…The Revolution are 3-0-3 in six postseason matches against the Columbus Crew…The Revolution only have one player listed on the injury report: Shalrie Joesph, who is listed as out with a left groin strain.

Columbus Crew update: 14-10-10 overall (regular season), 52 points through 34 games (1.53 points per game), with 52 goals scored and 42 goals against….Finished the regular season in third place in the Eastern Conference, three points behind the Revolution….In road games, the Crew went 5-6-6, with 21 points in 17 games (1.23 points per game), with 25 goals scored and 27 goals conceded….The Crew have gone 5-2-1 in their last seven matches, with their only two losses coming to New England….In their last nine games, Columbus has scored 28 goals, including 13 goals in their last four road games….Columbus have scored twice seven times in their last nine matches, with the Revolution being the only team to hold them under two goals in that span….Federico Higuain was named Columbus’ most valuable player on the season, tied for the team lead with Ethan Finley in goals (11) and assists (7). Combined, Finley and Higuain have scored five of the six Crew goals against the Revolution this season…Columbus leads the all-time regular season series between the two teams with a 32-21-11 record, including a 15-12-15 record in Foxborough.

Next for Revolution: Barring an improbable comeback from the Crew, the Revolution will face the winner of the New York Red Bulls/D.C. United Conference Semifinal series, which wraps up on Saturday in D.C. New York owns a 2-0 aggregate advantages going into the second leg.

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