MLS NEXT Pro New England Revolution II

Revolution II Defeat Chicago Fire FC II, 3-2

Published on May 4, 2024 under MLS NEXT Pro (MLS NEXT Pro)
New England Revolution II News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution II (3-3-1; 11 pts.) defeated Chicago Fire FC II (3-1-3; 14 pts.), 3-2, on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. Forward Alex Monis recorded a brace against his former team, while Marcos Dias tallied the game-winner in second-half stoppage time to mark his 18 th career goal, becoming Revolution II's all-time leading scorer.

For the sixth time this season, Revolution II found the back of the net first with Monis giving New England the lead. Defender Hesron Barry sailed a long ball up to Dias who found Gevork Diarbian in the center of the box. The Cranston, R.I. native passed the ball to an open Monis who tapped the match's opening goal past the Chicago defender in the 40 th minute. Monis later capitalized on a defensive turnover by the Fire, carrying the ball to the top of the box and sending a left-footed shot into the bottom right corner to complete the brace in the 54 th minute. Chicago battled back, equalizing the contest with goals in the 66 th and 87 th minutes.

Revolution II found a late game-winner as Academy midfielder Cristiano Oliveira was fouled in the box, giving New England a penalty kick opportunity in the fifth minute of second-half stoppage time. Dias stepped up to take it, netting a right-footed shot into the bottom left corner to secure New England's third victory of 2024.

Saturday's match also featured the professional debut of Revolution II's newest signing, defender Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi. The University of Michigan product entered the match in the 65 th minute. Goalkeeper JD Gunn made one save while Diarbian led New England with four shots, one on target, in the win.

Revolution II continue the MLS NEXT Pro season on Wednesday, May 8, traveling to take on Crown Legacy FC at Sportsplex at Matthews. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff streams live on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV with Jon Gross calling the action.

New England Revolution II 3, Chicago Fire FC II 2

May 4, 2024 - Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.) With their third win of the season, Revolution II have won 15 of the last 16 home games. Revolution II improved to 2-1-2 against Chicago Fire FC II dating back to the 2022 season. Alex Monis netted a brace against his former team, bringing him to three tallies on the 2024 season and tying him with Marcos Dias and Homegrown midfielder Jack Panayotou for the team lead in goals scored. Dias tallied his 18 th career goal in New England with a second-half stoppage time penalty kick, surpassing Damian Rivera for the program's scoring record. Gevork Diarbian logged 69 minutes in his fourth consecutive start, recording one assist alongside his four shots, one on target. Olger Escobar made his first appearance since returning from the U-20 Guatemala Men's National Team, entering in the 76 th minute for Monis. Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi entered the match in the 65 th minute to mark his professional debut. The University of Michigan product signed with New England's second team yesterday.

GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Stephen Foster

Assistant Referees: Eric Schreiber, Jennifer Dumaine

Fourth Official: Justen Lopez

Weather: 59 and cloudy

Scoring Summary:

NE - Alex Monis 2 (Gevork Diarbian 3) 40'

NE - Alex Monis 3 (Unassisted) 54'

CHI - Diego Konincks (David Tchetchao Karo) 66'

CHI - Peter Soudan (Harold Osorio) 87'

NE - Marcos Dias (PK) 90'+5

Misconduct Summary:

NE - Maciel (Yellow Card) 46'

CHI - Romain Blake (Yellow Card) 90'+4

New England Revolution II : JD Gunn; Hesron Barry (Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi 65'), Tiago Suarez, Eric Klein, Damario McIntosh; Maciel, Patrick Leal (Colby Quiñones 69'); Gevork Diarbian (Joshua Bolma 69', Alex Parvu 90'+1), Luka Borovic (Cristiano Oliveira 65'), Alex Monis (Olger Escobar 76'); Marcos Dias.

Substitutes Not Used: Andrej Bjelajac, Malcolm Fry, Max Weinstein.

Chicago Fire FC II: Patrick Los; Lamonth Rochester, Diego Konincks, Christopher Cupps, Jean Diouf (Romain Blake 45'); Sergio Oregel, David Poreba, Juan Miguel Zapata-Calle (Harold Osorio 65'); Christian Koffi, Jason Shokalook (Peter Soudan 11'), David Tchechao Karo (Michael Nesci 84').

Substitutes Not Used: Michael Ramirez, Bryan Dowd, Charlie Norkett.

New England Revolution II

Team Statistics

Chicago Fire II

16 (8)

Shots (on Target)

15 (3)

4

Blocked Shots

2

1

Saves

4

4

Corner Kicks

8

1

Offsides

1

13

Fouls

17

380 (73.7%)

Passes Attempted (% Completed)

385 (79.7%)

POSTGAME QUOTES: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION II 3, CHICAGO FIRE II 2

Revolution II Head Coach Richie Williams

On the overall performance:

Williams: "It was good. None of the games are easy. Chicago's a good team. They hadn't lost this year, so they're very competitive. But I thought we did really well for most of the game. At times it had to be a little bit more direct, a little bit more in behind, and I thought we created chances and obviously scored some goals. And then even as the game went on and they came back into the game and we gave up the lead at 2-2, I thought the guys kept battling and kept pushing, and obviously to come away with creating an opportunity and getting the penalty at the end to get the third goal to win the game. That's soccer. That's what you try to tell young players in terms of the development and getting better, is some games are just going to be hard-fought games that you've got to keep battling, and you never know what's going to happen in the game. Things change, but when there's adversity during the game, can you fight through it and keep battling and get a result? I thought they did a great job with it."

On Alex Monis scoring a pair of goals against his former team:

Williams: "[Monis] did great. It's his former team, so I'm sure he's very excited, and really nice for him to play well and get a couple goals. He's a good attacking player for us - he has been all season and preseason. He's been a good addition to our team and a good young player that, you know, just like any of these guys, we're hoping that we can continue to give them opportunities, put them in an environment to develop and to move forward hopefully in the future to our first team."

On Marcos Dias becoming Revolution II's all-time leading goal scorer:

Williams: "[Dias] has not always been a nine, he can play any of the attacking positions up top, but we're a little shorthanded at the nine position right now, and he's done a really good job to hold the ball up for us when need be. He's a good soccer player, being able to combine with players. He can score. He takes penalties very well. But he's just a really good pro. He's shown over the seasons that he's been here now to be able to score goals, our leading scorer now, Compliment to him that he's done a really good job for Revs II, and it was great that he was able to get the winner today."

On the debut of Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi:

Williams: "It's not easy just throwing [Al-Hasnawi] out there, especially when we're under pressure a little bit. They had some really good wide play, some speed, and some good skill out wide and they did really attack down the flanks, so it was probably difficult for him. But you've got to throw him in some time, and we were a little bit shorthanded today, so for his first game, I thought he did okay. He'll just steadily improve over time and get more comfortable."

Revolution II Forward Alex Monis

On the group's performance:

Monis: "I think it was a good show from the team, showing our character, going 2-0 up and then conceding. It was tough, but the guys fought until the end. So, really positive performance and glad to have got the three points."

On playing against his former team:

Monis: "I tried to not make it too personal. Just play my normal game and do things how I normally would do, but it definitely felt nice to get the two goals against them. I still have some friends on the team, but I'm just trying to do my part and today I was lucky enough to get the two goals."

On playing his part in the team's balanced goal scoring:

Monis: "It's definitely a special feeling. I think the past few games there's been different guys providing the goals and the assists. For me to get on the scoresheet today was a good feeling, and hopefully we can continue that going forward."

On the attacking group coming together:

Monis: "I think over the past few games you can see that we're really meshing, and that starts in training, but I think that going forward, you'll see a lot more of that."

On the team's performance over the past few weeks:

Monis: "Like I said, I think in training, it starts there. Our group's starting to mesh, and we're getting the results now which is great. So hopefully we can keep it going."

On Marcos Dias becoming Revolution II's all-time leading scorer:

Monis: "He [Marcos Dias] has done a great job for us this year. He's playing a bit out of position, but he honestly looks like that's his natural position, so it's great that he's scoring goals and helping us assist as well, so I'm really happy for him."

Revolution II Defender Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi

On signing with Revolution II this week and making his debut on Saturday:

Al-Hasnawi: "I feel like this whole journey has been ups and downs, not knowing what to do after college, wanting to pursue my childhood dream of becoming a professional player, and honestly, I was excited as soon as I got the news of going on trial [with New England]. I knew I was ready to come in here and prove myself, and I think the last week-and-a-half has been great. I love the level. The level has been fun, competitive, and I feel like I've earned myself the right to call myself a professional soccer player, so I'm happy for that, and looking forward to continuing it."

On how he has been welcomed by his teammates:

Al-Hasnawi: "It's been nice. I played with a couple of the guys in college, and now my roommates Alex [Monis] and Liam [Butts] welcomed me in right away. I feel like I'm part of the team right from the get-go, and looking forward to spending more time with them and getting to know everyone."

On debuting off the bench in Saturday's win:

Al-Hasnawi: "Honestly, I couldn't wait for it. They told me at halftime I'm coming in around the 60 th minute, so when they told me that I said, 'Okay, I have to lock in. Let me get this going.' Proud to make my debut. When I first got in, I think we conceded in the first minute, and then a couple minutes later, we conceded again, so I was like, 'Okay, not the start that I wanted.' But thankfully we were able to get the three points and get a victory."

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