Revolution II, Union Omaha Play to 0-0 Draw in Inaugural Match
July 25, 2020 - United Soccer League One (USL1)
New England Revolution II News Release
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - New England Revolution II (0-0-1; 1 pts.) opened its inaugural campaign on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium against fellow first-year club Union Omaha (0-0-1, 1 pts.) with the two sides playing to a 0-0 draw in their first competitive match.
Revolution II goalkeeper Joe Rice made five saves in the victory to preserve his first-career shutout. The second-year professional made four of his five stops in the second half.
Defender Collin Verfurth, who recently signed a contract with the Revolution first team, headlined a stalwart defensive effort by Revolution II with a game-high eight clearances while leading both sides with 60 passes attempted.
Revolution II had a pair of scoring chances in the second half. Midfielder Mayele Malango hit the post in the 77th minute. Defender Ryo Shimazaki had a chance of his own five minutes later, recording the team's only shot on target in the 82nd minute with a shot from 25 yards out that Omaha keeper Rashid Nuhu punched over the bar.
New England will have next week off before returning to action at home on August 7 against Orlando City B slated for a 7 p.m. kickoff. The match will stream on ESPN+ in the United States and YouTube internationally.
New England Revolution 0, Union Omaha 0
July 25, 2020 - Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Two Revolution First-Team Players Make Their USL League One Debuts
First team midfielder Nicolas Firmino and defender Collin Verfurth both started the contest for Revolution II, becoming the first two Revolution first-team players to feature at the USL League One level.
Verfurth finished with a game-high eight clearances and 46 completed passes.
Firmino had a team-high two key passes and completed 25 of his 28 passes in the opposing half.
Pair of Revolution Academy Stars Make Their Revolution II Debut
- Both Kaoru Fujiwara and Trevor Burns came on as second-half substitutes for Revolution II, marking the first time active Revolution Academy players have featured professionally.
- Burns, the 2020 United HealthCare Academy Player of the Year, completed 89% of his passes, a team-high mark, in his brief appearance.
Rice Records First-Career Shutout
- Joe Rice stopped five shots to preserve the first shutout of his career and the first clean sheet in club history.
- The second-year pro is the lone member of the Revolution II squad with prior experience at the USL League One level, playing in three matches last season for Richmond Kickers.
Super-Sub Shimazaki Nearly Breaks Deadlock
- Ryo Shimazaki nearly got New England on the board late with a shot that required a heroic save from Omaha keeper Rashid Nuhu to keep out of the net.
- Shimazaki was one of three 2020 MLS SuperDraft picks to debut for Revolution II on Saturday, joining fellow defenders Jon Bell and Simon Lekressner.
GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Adam Kilpatrick
Assistant Referees: Tom Felice (AR1), Ian Mangione (AR2)
Fourth Official: Hao Zhong
Weather: 88 degrees and clear
Attendance: N/A
Scoring Summary:
NONE
Misconduct Summary:
NE - Jon Bell (Yellow Card- Unsporting Behavior) 40'
OMA - Sebastian Contreras (Yellow Card- Unsporting Behavior) 54'
NE - Trevor Burns (Yellow Card- Unsporting Behavior) 90+3'
NE - Orlando Sinclair (Yellow Card- Unsporting Behavior) 90+4'
NE - Collin Verfurth (Yellow Card- Unsporting Behavior) 90+5'
New England Revolution II: Joe Rice; Simon Lekressner (Ryo Shimazaki HT), Collin Verfurth ©, Jon Bell, Ryan Spaulding; Tiago Mendonca (Trevor Burns 70'), Maciel, Nicolas Firmino (Kaoru Fujiwara 90'); Orlando Sinclair, Mayele Malango, Connor Presley.
Substitutes Not Used: Keegan Meyer; Oskar Bloch, Michael Tsicoulias, Ronilson Mendes.
Union Omaha: Rashid Nuhiu; Abdul Illal Osumanu, Daltyn Knutson, Damia Viader; Lucas Hauswirth, Sebastian Contreras © (Austin Panchot 86'), Devin Boyce, Tyler David; Evan Conway (Ferrety Sousa 85'), Juan Mare (Elvir Ibisevic 75'), Ethan Vanacore-Decker (Elma Nfor 75').
Substitutes Not Used: Sam Howard, Jake Crull, Nathan Aune.
New England Revolution II Team Statistics Union Omaha
11 (1) Shots (on Target) 11 (5)
5 Saves 1
6 Corner Kicks 7
3 Offsides 2
14 Fouls 10
407 (76.4%) Passes Attempted (% Completed) 314 (72.6 %)
56.6% Possession 43.4%
POSTGAME QUOTES: New England Revolution II 0 vs. Union Omaha 0
Revolution II Head Coach Clint Peay
On the team's opening match performance
Peay: "I thought it was obviously good to get out and play someone new in a real competitive match that meant something. It was difficult match, [Omaha] was a strong opponent in terms of fighting for every play and making it difficult to break them down. I'm proud of the guys, I thought they battled well and showed some good character in terms of dealing with what was thrown their way with how the other team played which was pretty direct. A lot of set pieces they had to face so I thought they did well there."
On goalkeeper Joe Rice's first-career shutout
Peay: "That's one of [Joe Rice's] strengths. He's vocal, he's energetic, that's what we like about him. He's proactive so he did a great job. He was good in the air I thought. Covering crosses whether it be corners or otherwise. He does a good job communicating to the backline as he should."
On Collin Verfurth's defensive play and earning the captain's armband
Peay: "He did a good job. Again a difficult team to play against, dealing with a lot of balls in behind the center backs, a lot of crossed balls. So I thought positionally he was pretty good. His recoveries on counter attacks was good. And for the most part his organization skills and communication was positive and something he can always get better at but I thought for the day it wasn't too bad."
On Academy players Trevor Burns and Kaoru Fujiwara making their debuts
Peay: "They've been pretty consistent in training and have shown to be able to compete at this level. So we felt like for sure these are two guys that have earned it and we wanted to reward them if we could. I thought Trevor came in and did very well and Kaoru didn't get as many minutes but potentially had a chance there late in a little counter attack where I thought maybe just a little bit better pass and we get through. Both guys have been good in training and I think will factor in some more in the future."
On a week off ahead to prepare for Orlando City B on Aug. 7
Peay: "We'll obviously focus on the game we just played, I'll look at where we can improve. We'll be able to look at Orlando B and see how they play. Ultimately, we'll need some time to recover with health, fitness, sharpness. Just kind of keep moving in the right direction and that's all that we can do."
Revolution II Defender Collin Verfurth
On making his Revolution II debut
Verfurth: "Starting with a new team, obviously you need to take more time to get comfortable with the guys on the pitch, especially with an inaugural season with Revolution II and having a lot of pro debuts, we had about eight or nine professional debuts today so their first time playing in a professional atmosphere but all those being said, I thought we played real well. Took a lot of positives from the game and I think we have a lot of stuff we can work on and move forward with."
On adjusting to Omaha's attack in the second half
Verfurth: " I think they definitely started pressing our center backs, me and [Jon Bell] a little more in the second half. That was just building that three-on-two like coach says, with me, Bell, and Maciel against the two strikers if they do press us. We worked on that all week creating number superiority so I thought we had to do that and just play a little quicker. Find Maciel quicker, find Ryo [Shimazaki] quicker, play fast moving side-to-side to keep them going. And then occasionally on a last resort play the ball forward to Orlando on a hold-up play or spray the wingers. I thought we adjusted well to that, we prepared for that. I thought they were going to be one of those teams where in the first half, beginning of the second half kind of go out there very energized and run at us. I thought we adjusted to that well."
On being named the captain
Verfurth: "We had a long, long preseason. Just being with these young guys, I'm only a second year pro so it's not like I'm too much more experienced, but we do have a lot of first-year pros, young guys just try and always become a professional every single day. We have all this energy with the guys, working hard, talking with all these guys daily so to be announced the captain for the day, I definitely take pride in that, especially with these young players. We have a lot of young talent, high ceilings with these players so just try to lead them in the right direction and I take pride in that."
Revolution II Midfielder Mayele Malango
On making his professional debut
Malango: "It was pretty exciting. I'm very happy. This is like, I'm very fortunate to be where I am with playing soccer. I'm pretty happy and I can't wait to play more games."
On hitting the post in the second half
Malango: "When I had the ball, I thought to turn toward the goalkeeper and just hit it, one time it in. I was really close [to goal] but I just thought the ball was going in. Next time I'll try to curl it in."
On Omaha's defensive look being tough to break down
Malango: "[Union Omaha] connected a lot on the back, connected together every single time we attacked. So I think that's one of the key things for them like their four defenders on the back line should all be connected. I think that was the thing that helped them to stay organized. But other than that, it was the way they just talk and help each other out was the thing that was tough about their backline."
United Soccer League One Stories from July 25, 2020
- North Texas SC Defeats Forward Madison FC 2-1 in 2020 Home Opener - North Texas SC
- Tormenta FC, Chattanooga Play to a Thrilling 2-2 Tie - South Georgia Tormenta FC
- Forward Madison Falls to Defeat in First League One Game of 2020 - Forward Madison FC
- Greenville Takes First Match in Bon Secours Cup Series - Greenville Triumph SC
- Bolduc, Terzaghi Score as Kickers Fall on the Road - Richmond Kickers
- Revolution II, Union Omaha Play to 0-0 Draw in Inaugural Match - New England Revolution II
- Season Opener vs Fort Lauderdale CF Saturday - FC Tucson
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