MLS New England Revolution

Late Winner Sends Revolution Past Sporting Kansas City, 2-1

June 12, 2022 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


KANSAS CITY, Kansas - The New England Revolution (5-5-4; 19 pts.) defeated Sporting Kansas City (3-8-6; 14 pts.), 2-1, in 87-degree heat on Sunday afternoon at Children's Mercy Park. The victory, the Revolution's second straight triumph on the road, extends New England's unbeaten streak to six matches in league play. Forward Gustavo Bou delivered the opening goal, converting on midfielder Dylan Borrero's first MLS assist in the 30th minute. New England played with a man advantage for the majority of the second half, after Kansas City midfielder Oriol Rosell received his second yellow card of the afternoon in the 48th minute. Midfielder Emmanuel Boateng broke a 1-1 tie with the game-winning goal in the 87th minute.

Borrero registered his first MLS start after logging appearances off the bench in his first two matches. The 20-year-old Colombian winger, acquired by New England in April under the MLS U-22 initiative, posted a 73-minute shift with his first MLS assist on Bou's goal with a clever chipped ball behind Kansas City's back line. Bou, who has now scored in consecutive matches, led New England's attack with four shots, including three on target. Boateng's goal, scored after Bou's initial shot was spilled by Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia, marked the midfielder's second tally of the season. Boateng now owns five career game-winning goals, including two in a Revolution uniform.

Sunday's match featured the MLS debut of 22-year-old Serbian goalkeeper Djordje Petrović. Acquired in April from Serbian club FK Čukarički, Petrović tallied one save in the content, a point-blank denial on Russell's right-footed shot in the 67th minute to keep the score knotted at 1-1.

New England returns to action on Wednesday night, when the Revolution host Orlando City SC at Gillette Stadium on the club's annual Pride Night. The Revolution's first midweek MLS match of the season kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and airs locally on TV38, myRITV (Rhode Island), and Cozi TV (Western Mass.). The match also airs on the radio via 98.5 The Sports Hub and 1260 AM Nossa Radio in Portuguese.

POSTGAME NOTES

New England Revolution 2, Sporting Kansas City 1

June 12, 2022 - Children's Mercy Park (Kansas City, Kansas)

TEAM NOTES

The Revolution extended their unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3) dating back to April 30.

New England collected its 20th road victory since the start of 2020 across both the regular season and playoffs, most in MLS during that span.

New England's 14 road goals this season are tied for the most in MLS.

New England is now 6-2-1 against Kansas City since the start of 2014 while the victory is New England's first at Children's Mercy Park since Sept. 26, 2014 (3-2).

The victory also marked New England's first road win against a Western Conference foe since July 4, 2019 at Colorado (2-1).

New England has now scored in each of its last nine matches, tallying 18 goals over that span (2.0 GPG).

Bruce Arena deployed three changes to his Starting XI from New England's most recent match against the Philadelphia Union on May 28, as goalkeeper Djordje Petrović and midfielders Matt Polster and Dylan Borrero started in place of Matt Turner, Arnór Traustason, and Sebastian Lletget.

INDIVIDUAL NOTES

Djordje Petrović made one save in his MLS debut as he collected his first MLS victory.

Gustavo Bou scored for the second straight game since returning from injury. Bou led the team with four shots, with three on target, and added one chance created on the day.

Dylan Borrero registered his first MLS start in his third league appearance on Sunday, and tallied his first Revolution assist on Bou's opening goal.

Emmanuel Boateng tallied his second goal of the season, the game winner, and led New England with a team-high three chances created in only 18 minutes played.

Carles Gil made his 75th MLS regular season start on Sunday, marking the occasion by winning a team-best five duels.

Gil and Tommy McNamara remain the only two Revolution players to appear in every match this season, with the latter making his 13th start of the year.

Wilfrid Kaptoum featured in the starting lineup for the third consecutive match.

Matt Polster returned to the starting lineup in MLS play for the first time since May 15 and completed 94-of-97 passes (92 percent) for the game.

Brandon Bye also won five duels, including both of his aerials, and added two chances created.

GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Chris Penso

Assistant Referees: Corey Parker (AR1), Mike Rottersman (AR2)

Fourth Official: Jon Freeman

Video Assistant Referee: Daniel Radford

Assistant Video Assistant Referee: Mike Kampmeinert

Weather: 85 degrees and partly cloudy.

Attendance: 18,703

Scoring Summary:

NE - Gustavo Bou 2 (Dylan Borrero 1) 30'

SKC - Johnny Russell 5 (Free Kick) 52'

NE - Emmanuel Boateng 2 (Unassisted) 86'

Misconduct Summary:

NE - Gustavo Bou (Yellow Card - Bad Foul) 7'

NE - Matt Polster (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) 24'

SKC - Korte Ford (Yellow Card - Bad Foul) 34'

SKC - Uri Rosell (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) 45'+2

SKC - Uri Rosell (Second Yellow Card - Bad Foul) 48'

NE - Andrew Farrell (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) 50'

NE - DeJuan Jones (Yellow Card - Tactical Foul) 56'

New England Revolution: Djordje Petrović; DeJuan Jones, Andrew Farrell, Omar Gonzalez (Jon Bell 55'), Brandon Bye; Wilfrid Kaptoum (Jozy Altidore 64'), Matt Polster; Dylan Borrero (Emmanuel Boateng 72'), Carles Gil ©, Tommy McNamara (Arnór Traustason 72'); Gustavo Bou (Maciel 89').

Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, A.J. DeLaGarza, Justin Rennicks, Damian Rivera.

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Logan Ndenbe, Robert Voloder (Andreu Fontàs 46'), Kortne Ford (Nicolas Isimat-Mirin 46'), Graham Zusi (Kayden Pierre 90'); Roger Espinoza, Uri Rosell (Red Card 48'); Rémi Walter (Khiry Shelton 33'), Felipe Hernández, Cam Duke; Johnny Russell ©.

Substitutes Not Used: Kendall McIntosh, Ben Sweat, Julian Vazquez, Kaveh Rad.

Sporting Kansas City

Team Statistics

New England Revolution

9 (2)

Shots (on Target)

12 (5)

3

Blocked Shots

1

0.84

Expected Goals (xG)

1.25

3

Saves

1

6

Corner Kicks

5

1

Offsides

2

9

Fouls

10

370 (83.0%)

Passes Attempted (% Completed)

562 (89.2%)

39.8%

Possession

60.2%

POSTGAME QUOTES: New England Revolution 2 at Sporting Kansas City 1

New England Revolution Sporting Director & Head Coach Bruce Arena

On today's match and the hot playing conditions:

Arena: "Games in the summer months in our league should not be played in the afternoon. Really difficult for both teams. The heat, humidity was really challenging today. It made for a bit of a slow and sloppy game, but you know, I give their team credit. When they went down to 10 men, I thought for 15 minutes, they played very well and had advantages on us. And then I think over the last 15-20 minutes of the game, we played pretty well, and created some chances, but were sloppy with our chances and got a bit of an ugly goal, which we're going to take. It's an important three points on the road."

On Gustavo Bou's performance:

Arena: "Yeah. He [Gustavo Bou] did well. He's getting himself back in form. I thought he did well. Very good goal. Excellent pass by Dylan [Borrero]. So, it's good to have Gustavo back. I thought Jozy [Altidore] came in and played well also. So, you know, we have some options up front for sure."

On Djordje Petrović and Dylan Borrero's first starts with the club:

Arena: "Yeah. [Djordje] Petrović was good the entire game. As he gets a little bit more experience and a little better technically, he's probably going to make saves on that free kick. It was a very good free kick. Don't get me wrong. We were the team fouled, by the way, on that call, which was interesting. So, probably a poor call, but give [Sporting Kansas City] credit. It turned into a goal for them."

On if the identity or the team's style of play has changed since the transfer of Adam Buksa:

Arena: "Let us, you know, get some games under our belt. Adam [Buksa] hasn't been gone that long. Gustavo [Bou] just came back. You know, we will be bringing back Henry Kessler. So, we're not yet ready to, you know, we're not going to reinvent ourselves. But, we're going to play into our strengths and we know our players. So, you know, I don't think you're going see a whole lot different than we've shown in the past."

On the impact that the substitutions made in today's match:

Arena: "I thought Arnór [Traustason] played very well. Ema [Boateng], obviously the goal and you know, some energy getting forward, putting them under pressure. He was fresh and helped us defensively as well. Jozy [Altidore] held the ball up. I thought Arnór [Traustason] did a very good job of holding the ball and creating some chances. I think he had two good chances as well. So, I think the reserves helped us today."

New England Revolution Midfielder Dylan Borrero

(Translated from Spanish)

On assisting Gustavo Bou's goal and the chemistry they're building together:

Borrero: "I think that with each training session and every day we spend together, we're getting to know one another more and more. With all his experience, he talks to me about his movements, and it was nice to assist his goal because he's picking up more confidence."

On whether he suffered an injury toward the end of the match or just a minor cramp:

Borrero: "No, it was just a minor cramp. I'm good."

On playing 90 minutes with Revolution last weekend in Miami:

Borrero: "I think it was a good decision from the coaching staff [to allow me to play in the Revolution II match]. Thanks to that, I was able to understand the game a little more and the team's style of play. I picked up some experience and learned about the physicality in MLS. I'm happy with the coaching staff's decision and I also owe thanks to my teammates on the second team."

On adjusting to MLS and his Revolution teammates:

Borrero: "Well, I'm happy that I'm more and more adjusted to the league and my teammates. I find myself happy in New England."

On if he describes himself as a player who likes to attack quickly:

Borrero: "I think we're ready for that, for moments when the opponents lose the ball, to counterattack. But we also have to be smart when it's time to slow the game down."

New England Revolution Midfielder Emmanuel Boateng

On the game-winning goal and if he was expecting a rebound on Gustavo Bou's shot:

Boateng: "You know, playing with Gustavo [Bou] for the last year and a half, I know his tendencies, especially if he drifts out to the left and he cuts it inside, you know, he's taking a shot. He hits some pretty powerful shots so I just took a chance on it knowing if he gets a touch on it, I will be there for the rebound. So, I just read it. I knew Gustavo coming in, was going to take a shot and just be there for the rebound."

On if he could sense that Sporting Kansas City was breaking down:

Boateng: "It's tough conditions and you know, being down a man, we knew the longer this game goes, it's an advantage for us. And you know got too, fresh legs. I thought Arnór [Traustason] played really well too. Jozy [Altidore] was doing well holding balls up. So, we knew we were going to create chances and we just had to take it. And we were just being aggressive, creating a lot of chances. So, we felt good, as the game went on, that we would have a clean shot of putting it away."

On if he felt confident he could make an impact coming into the game in the second half:

Boateng: "Yeah. I mean, a game like this, starting or not, especially coming off the bench, I just know that I'll be fresher than most of the guys there. So just looking for my opportunities. And you know, right when it came, took it. So, it's just great for a winger coming into a game like this. Especially they're a man down too, so you know they're going to be sitting back. You have more opportunities to get on the ball and make a difference. So yeah, just stayed aggressive and we got a win out of it."

On Dylan Borrero's style of play and if he is faster:

Boateng: "Man, what are you talking about? Come on. Come on man. We have to set up a 100 meter race in training? Is that what you want? (Laughter) No, but he's a great player. I love playing with him. He's always positive. And I was talking to Arnór [Traustason] actually yesterday in training. He's looked very good as the weeks have been going on. So, I'm excited, you know. Really nice assist today and you know, looking for him to have a lot more contributions like that going forward."

Check out the New England Revolution Statistics



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