MLS New York City FC

Flashback: Revolution Rumbles

Published on March 30, 2023 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New York City FC News Release


New York City Football Club travel to New England Revolution this Saturday.

The Boys in Blue are in action in a 7:30pm ET kick-off, looking to return to winning ways.

Ahead of the game, we Flashback to three great games at Gillette Stadium...

Quite Frankly

City's second trip to Massachusetts earned our second win over the Revolution, courtesy of a solitary Frank Lampard goal in July 2016.

In truth, the former England star probably did not know too much about the effort, adjusting his body in the nick of time to divert Tommy McNamara's cross into the back of the net - but with an impressive knack of making intelligent runs, the midfielder had made a name for himself throughout his career as a player who was always in the right place at the right time.

In a tense affair, both sides had struck the woodwork in the opening 45, before the visitors broke the deadlock on 58 minutes. Andrea Pirlo was the creator, clipping a delightful pass into McNamara's path, and the resulting cross hit Lampard and ricocheted in.

It would not go down as the best goal of his decorated career, but it was effective to net his third of the campaign!

Despite late pressure from the home side, NYCFC held firm, and would have almost certainly netted a second with an injury-time counter-attack if not for Bobby Shuttleworth's foul on Khiry Shelton.

Denying a goalscoring opportunity, the Revs shot-stopper was sent off, and City held on for a third consecutive clean sheet, and fourth successive win - the first time we had achieved both feats in our history.

On The Double

A foggy night in Foxborough saw City secure our second victory in New England, courtesy of two second half goals.

In the midst of the global pandemic in September 2020, the game was played behind-closed-doors, setting the stage for an eerie atmosphere.

It did little to deter the Boys in Blue however, as the visitors clinched a third straight victory, snapping the hosts' seven-game unbeaten run in the process.

The deadlock was broken courtesy of an own-goal just before the hour, as Michael Mancienne inadvertently converted Anton Tinnerholm's teasing cross under pressure from Héber.

The points were secured on 72', as Héber himself powered home Ronald Matarrita's corner, heading in off the far post for his first MLS goal of the year.

Two goals and three points for the City Boys, who had further cause for celebration with 17-year-old Homegrown Joe Scally also introduced for his league debut late on.

A Magical Night In MA

Saving the best 'til last... The 2021 MLS Playoffs pitted the two sides against each other at the Eastern Conference semi-final stage, with City traveling to face the Supporters Shield Champions.

The two sides had already met three times throughout the campaign, and with home advantage, the Revs fancied their chances of progression on a thrilling November night.

Few could have predicted what was to unfold at Gillette Stadium - one of the most exciting contests in NYCFC's and playoff history. It had everything: early goals, late drama, a red card and ultimately, a penalty shoot-out...

It was a dream start for New York, as the Boys in Blue broke the deadlock after just three minutes with Santiago Rodríguez's sweeping finish - but the joy was short-lived when Adam Buksa equalized just six minutes later.

Level after 90 minutes, the game headed into extra-time: an action-packed half an hour of twists and turns. Taty Castellanos thought he had snatched victory when he headed home Gudmundur Thórarinsson's cross, before the forward was dismissed for a second yellow four minutes later!

Battling with ten men, City came agonizingly close to seeing out the tie, only for Tajon Buchanan to hit back in the dying minutes, forcing the lottery of penalties.

With the momentum, and home field advantage, the Revs had the edge, but NYCFC had nerves of steel, converting all four penalties, while Sean Johnson denied Buksa, setting up Alex Callens to smash home the winning spot-kick to clinch our first Eastern Conference Final spot...

Navigating another tough trip to Philadelphia Union in the next round, New York would go on to book a place in the MLS Cup Final for the first time... and the rest is history!

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Major League Soccer Stories from March 30, 2023


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