New England Revolution return to Gillette Stadium boasting the Eastern Conference’s best home record, but a heavily rotated lineup with three starting defenders missing opens the door for a New York City FC side that has scored in eight of nine road trips. The visitors arrive on…
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Sign inNew England Revolution host New York City FC on Sunday afternoon in a Round 21 Major League Soccer Eastern Conference fixture, with both clubs looking to arrest worrying slides. The Revolution enter the weekend on the back of consecutive defeats, while NYCFC were beaten 3-2 at home by Philadelphia Union on August 16 and continue to grapple with a lengthy injury list.
New England head coach Marko Mitrović has no fresh fitness concerns reported ahead of this match. Winger Jack Harrison made his first start in the 2-1 loss at Toronto FC on August 15 and supplied the assist for Wilson Harris’s late headed goal — the forward’s first in MLS. Midfielder Carles Gil, who leads the club with seven goals and six assists, should again captain the side, while goalkeeper Matt Turner is set to continue between the posts.
NYCFC were without eight players for the visit of Philadelphia, including injured striker Alonso Martínez and top scorer Nico Fernández Mercau, who served a one-match suspension. Both remain doubts, leaving Agustín Ojeda and Luighi to lead the attack. Defender James Sands is expected to anchor a back line that has conceded seven goals in its last three outings.
Mitrović’s side suffered a 2-0 home defeat to Houston Dynamo on August 8 before falling 2-1 at Toronto, where they outshot the hosts 25-3 but were undone by a first-half own goal and a Niklas Dorsch strike. Those results left the Revs with a 9-7-3 record and 30 points, still fourth in the East before their midweek trip to D.C. United. The second-best defensive unit in the conference has been the bedrock of their campaign, but back-to-back losses have tested their resilience.
Center back Mamadou Fofana encapsulated the mood, telling the club’s website: “We are doing good things, so I think it will pay off. We just have to continue to work, we can never give up and keep going.”
The Pigeons’ 3-2 home reverse to Philadelphia was their first defeat in five league matches, yet they remain winless in two after a draw at CF Montréal. Head coach Nick Cushing’s side have a 7-6-6 record and sit fifth, but their squad depth is being tested by the ongoing injury crisis. Matt Freese again deputised in goal against the Union, while Maxwell Murray featured in central defence. Getting Fernández Mercau back would be a significant boost for a team that has struggled to convert chances in his absence.
The creative fulcrum of New England’s attack, Gil will look to exploit the gaps that appeared when Philadelphia repeatedly cut through NYCFC’s midfield three. Whether Andrés Perea and Keaton Parks can provide enough protection for the back four will go a long way to determining the contest. If Gil is afforded time on the ball, his link-up with Harris and Harrison could punish a defence that has kept only two clean sheets in its last seven matches.
With both sides jostling for playoff positioning in a congested Eastern Conference, a positive result on Sunday afternoon would be a timely reset. The Revolution’s road-heavy schedule eases after this, while NYCFC face another stern test at Red Bull Arena in their next outing.
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