NEW ENGLAND AGAINST INTERNATIONAL CLUBS SERIES INFORMATION
- In 55 international games in the club’s 15-year history, the Revolution record stands at 21-18-6.
- Since 2007, the Revs have competed in 17 games against international opponents, compiling a 12-4-1 during the last three years, including a seven-game winning streak from 2007-2008.
- The Revs have never competed against Cruzeiro before and have not played against any Brazilian team since 2002.
- Sunday’s match with SC Cruzeiro marks the Revolution’s sixth-ever match against a Brazilian club … to date, the Revs are 2-3-0 all time against Brazilian teams.
- New England’s last and only home match against a Brazilian team was a 1-0 loss to SE Palmeiras 13 years ago on June 23, 1997.
NEWS & NOTES
REVOLUTION TO CO-HOST WORLD CUP VIEWING PARTY ON SATURDAY AT HOUSE OF BLUES
The New England Revolution, in cooperation with World Cup Boston 2010 and The House of Blues, will co-host a FIFA-sanctioned World Cup viewing party at The House of Blues on Saturday, June 12 … The House of Blues is the groups’ official headquarters for the World Cup kick-off as more than 2,000 fans will come to witness history in the making as the USA takes on England in a critical opening round match ... the event will feature big screen game viewing; meet & greet opportunities with the New England Revolution players and Rev Girls; a silent auction and raffle with highly-coveted items such a framed jerseys and merchandise signed by celebrated players … doors will open at 10 a.m. for the Nigeria-Argentina match ... The House of Blues is located at 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, Mass. 02115 ... the event is free to the public, but space is limited to the first 2,000 in the door ... pre-registration is available at //www.revolutionsoccer.net/worldcup2010, but it does not guarantee a space ... all who pre-register will be receive a free raffle ticket.
REVOLUTION SQUARES OFF AGAINST BRAZILIAN POWER CRUZEIRO
New England readies for its second international friendly match of the season, this time against Cruzeiro Esporte Clube on Sunday, June 13, at 7 p.m. at Gillette Stadium … this game marks the Revs first match against Cruzeiro and the club’s first meeting with a Brazilian club since 2002 … though the Revolution has never played Cruzeiro, New England has played five other Brazilian teams, including four during a preseason training trip to Brazil in 2002 … New England is 2-3-0 all-time against Brazilian clubs … here is a breakdown of the Revolution’s five previous matches against Brazilian clubs:
- 6/23/97 SE Palmeiras L 0-1
- 2/6/02 Careca’s FC L 1-2
- 2/11/02 Oscar’s FC W 4-1
- 2/18/02 Ponte Preta W 1-0
- 2/25/02 Guarani FC L 1-3
NEW ENGLAND TAKES A LENGTHY BREAK FROM LEAGUE PLAY
Following the Revolution’s match at Seattle this past weekend, the club began a 21-day hiatus from league matches, the second-longest midseason break New England has had during MLS play … the Revs took the longest break in team history in 2008, when the club went 35 days between games in July and August … though they did not play any league matches, the Revs did play six other games during that record span – five SuperLiga games en route to winning the SuperLiga 2008 title, and one U.S. Open Cup match … the Revolution has one match scheduled during this year’s break, an international friendly against SC Cruzeiro on Sunday, June 13.
REVOLUTION HIATUS LONGEST IN MLS
The Revolution is now on a 21-day break from MLS matches, the longest among all teams in the league this season … the break in play is much deserved for the Revs, who after playing eight matches in May are tied for second-most MLS games played with 12 … Real Salt Lake has the shortest break of any MLS team – a 15-day break between MLS matches.
REVS CONTINUE WEST COAST STRUGGLES
With Saturday’s 3-0 loss to Seattle Sounders FC at Qwest Field in Seattle, Wash., the Revolution is now 0-4-0 in its last four trips to the West Coast dating back to last season … the Revs have been outscored 8-0 in those four games, which began with a 2-0 loss at Chivas USA on Sept. 13, 2009 … this season, the Revs have also dropped their season opener, 1-0, at the LA Galaxy on June 27, suffered a 2-0 defeat at San Jose on April 17 … New England’s next chance for redemption on the West Coast comes with a Sept. 10 match at Chivas USA, where the streak began late last season.
SHUTTLEWORTH IN A TOUGH SPOT FOR FULL DEBUT
The Revs’ 23 year-old goalkeeper, Bobby Shuttleworth, made his first MLS start in front of a raucous crowd at Qwest Field in Seattle on Saturday … the 36,344 fans that packed Qwest Field set a Sounders record for an MLS-home game and gave the Sounders a definite spark for the opening whistle … though he surrendered three first-half goals that put the Revs in a deep hole, Shuttleworth shut the Sounders attack down in the second half and finished with five saves, including a couple key breakaway stops to keep the Revolution in the game.
YOUNG KEEPER CHANNELS HIS INNER BURPO
Through 10-plus games between the pipes before he was injured, Preston Burpo was first Major League Soccer with 48 saves … now, in a little more than a game and a half, replacement goalie Bobby Shuttleworth has made seven saves to keep New England as the overall league leader with 55 team saves, three ahead of the New York Red Bulls … Shuttleworth made two saves in Burpo’s stead May 29 against New York and added five more this past weekend in Seattle.
NIOUKY NOT IN THE CARDS FOR CHICAGO
In the 64th minute of Saturday’s match in Seattle, Joseph Niouky received his league-leading fifth yellow card of the season, meaning he will be suspended for the Revs’ next regular-season match against the Chicago Fire on June 27 … Niouky, who is tied with two other MLS players with five yellow cards this season, has already missed a game because of suspension this season, after he was shown a straight red card in the 72nd minute of a 1-1 draw with FC Dallas on May 1.
MANSALLY CRACKS LINEUP FOR FIRST TIME THIS SEASON
Kenny Mansally became the 18th Revolution player to start a game for New England this season … starting a game and playing the first half is a bit unusual for Mansally this season, because prior to Saturday night’s match at Seattle, he made seven appearances this year, all as a second-half substitute … in seven appearances prior to Saturday, Mansally’s average initial appearance came in the 75th minute and he had not appeared prior to the 65th minute in any game … Mansally was replaced in the second half by Edgaras Jankauskas after making his 31st career start.
OSEI RETURNS TO THE DEFENSIVE FOLD
Revolution defender Emmanuel Osei made his first appearance in almost two months on Saturday night, when he came on to start the second half at central defense in place of Pat Phelan … his appearance was the Ghanaian defender’s first since April 10 at home against Toronto FC … he missed the April 17 match at San Jose with a left foot contusion, and then the following seven matches with an infection in his right leg.
THE OLDER THEY GET, THE YOUNGER THEY SEEM
When the Revolution rolled out its 17th and 18th different starters of the season in Bobby Shuttleworth and Kenny Mansally on Saturday night, the Revs average age of their starters got even younger … Shuttleworth, 23, and Mansally, 21, became the ninth and 10th Revolution players in to start in 2010 who haven’t reached the quarter-century mark … the average age of 2010 Revolution starters dropped from 25.9 to 25.5 when Shuttleworth and Mansally took the field this past weekend.
NYASSI NOW STANDS ALONE
Of the 20 different players who have played for the Revolution this season, only midfielder Sainey Nyassi has played in and started every regular-season match … between a rash of injuries to begin the season and experiments in the lineup with a young roster, Nyassi remains the only Rev to start and play in every game … two other Revs players, Pat Phelan and Zack Schilawski have both played in all 12 games and have started 11 and nine games, respectively.
FORBIDDING FIRST HALF FOR NEW ENGLAND
The Revs surrendered three first-half goals in Seattle on Saturday night, the most goals they have given up in one half since a 3-1 loss at Kansas City on June 13, 2009, when a Revolution own goal helped the Wizards’ cause … the last time New England yielded three or more opponent goals in a half came at Rio Tinto Stadium on April 25, 2009, when the Revs conceded six second-half goals en route to a 6-0 loss to Real Salt Lake.
YOUTH UPDATE
The New England Revolution youth teams wrapped up their regular seasons with two wins and two draws on Saturday at FC Westchester (NY) and at home on Sunday against D.C. United at the Forekicks Soccer Complex in Marlboro, Mass. … on Saturday in New York, the Under-16s tallied in the waning moments of the match to salvage a 2-2 draw and the Under-18s came from behind to beat FC Westchester, 2-1 … the youth Revs returned to Massachusetts on Sunday to take on D.C. United, earning a draw and a win … the U16s found themselves behind, 2-0 in the 24th minute, but scored twice before half time to manage a 2-2 result … the U18s closed out the regular season with a very successful Sunday afternoon, defeating D.C. United, 4-0 with two goals scored in each half … the youth Revs will travel to Greensboro, N.C., on June 24 to participate for the first time in program history in the U.S. Soccer Development Academy playoffs.
