The New England Revolution look to extend their two match winning streak today when they welcome the LA Galaxy to Gillette Stadium.
The Revs (4-4-4, 16 points) come into the match winners of their last two in the league and their last three overall. The two league wins came by virtue of a pair of 2-0 victories against Houston and Toronto, with Diego Fagundez (pictured) and Juan Agudelo each scoring in both contests. The victories put New England 7th in the Eastern Conference table, just one point behind Columbus and three points adrift of Philadelphia.
Jay Heaps’ men continued their fine form this past Wednesday when they smashed the Rochester Rhino’s 5-1 in US Open Cup action. Kelyn Rowe scored twice and Andy Dorman, Jerry Bengtson and Chad Barrett also added goals.
The Galaxy (6-4-2, 20 points) enter the match on a one game winning streak after putting four past Seattle Sounders in a shutout victory at The Home Depot Center. Robbie Keane led Los Angeles with a hat-trick and an assist on Sean Franklin’s goal, which opened the scoring after only 12 minutes. The victory provided Los Angeles with some reassurances following their 1-0 loss to New York Red Bulls on May 19th, moving Bruce Arena’s men to fourth in the Western Conference, on 20 points from 12 matches.
Just as things looked to be improving, however, the Galaxy were blanked 2-0 by the Carolina Railhawks in US Open Cup action at WakeMed Soccer Park on Wednesday night. The NASL side’s goals came just after the hour mark through Brian Shriver and Austin da Luz.
It will be all to play for today as this is the only meeting of the season between the two clubs. They’ve done battle 36 times in the past, with the Revolution claiming 14 victories and the Galaxy 16 while six have ended up as draws. Nine of those 14 victories for the Revs have come in Foxborough, where the Galaxy have only claimed all three points on six occasions.
Last year when these two sides met in Los Angeles it was New England coming away with the 3-1 victory, putting an end to three straight winless meetings with the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center. If Arena’s side is to come up with the win today they’ll have to do it without hat-trick hero Keane, who is away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland, as well as Omar Gonzalez, who is away with the U.S. Men’s National Team, and Oscar Sorto, who is on duty with the U.S. Under 20’s. Jack McBean is also out with a fractured clavical.
For the Revs, international duty won’t be claiming any of the players but Kevin Alston (illness), Dimitry Imbongo (groin), Clyde Simms (knee), and Donnie Smith (hamstring) are all out while Ryan Guy (calf) is questionable to feature.
The match kicks off at 4:30pm on the NBC Sports Network, directly following ESPN’s coverage of the friendly match between the U.S. Men’s National Team and Germany.
OTHER NOTES
- Fagundez, New England first-ever Home Grown Player, has been on fire of late, scoring in each of the last three consecutive games, the first Revs player to accomplish the feat since Saer Sene in May 2012.
- Chris Tierney has come into his own as a wing back of late, recording two assists in the last three matches.
- Saer Sene earned his first assist last match as he came off the bench for the seventh time in eight matches.
- The Galaxy have scored four goals three times this season - last week against Seattle, the week prior against Philadelphia and on opening day against Chicago.
- Robbie Rogers made his Galaxy debut against Seattle, entering the match in the 77th minute. Rogers was acquired from Chicago on a swap deal for Mike Magee.
- Galaxy Home Grown player Gyasi Zardes made his first MLS start against Seattle and was dangerous the entire match, earning his side a penalty.