FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution, currently second place in the Eastern Conference, will travel to face the Houston Dynamo, who is one point behind the Revs in the East. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Robertson Stadium. Comcast SportsNet will televise the game, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will also carry the game on the radio.
SERIES INFORMATION AGAINST HOUSTON
New England vs. Houston Series Information
- New England and Houston have met 10 times in the overall MLS regular-season series, with the Revs holding a 6-1-3 record against the Dynamo … the Revolution is 6-2-5 against the Dynamo in all competitions, including the MLS Cup playoffs and SuperLiga.
- New England is undefeated against the Dynamo in matches played in Houston, boasting a 4-0-1 record at Robertson Stadium since Houston entered the league in 2006.
- The Revs are 2-1-2 against the Dynamo in regular-season action at Gillette Stadium …New England’s first - and only - loss to Houston came in Foxborough on May 3, 2009, a 2-0 defeat at Gillette Stadium.
- Sunday’s meeting will be the first of two matches in the teams’ 2011 regular-season series … the teams will also meet on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at Gillette Stadium.
- New England and Houston have met in three tournament finals in the last six years (MLS Cup 2006, MLS Cup 2007, SuperLiga 2008) … Houston won the 2006 MLS title match in penalty kicks after extra time finished 1-1 in Frisco, Texas, and then one year later took the 2007 championship with a come-from-behind, 2-1 victory in Washington, D.C. … the Revs won SuperLiga 2008 in penalty kicks after the teams were knotted at 2-2 after extra time at Gillette Stadium.
- Houston’s 2-0 win over New England on May 3, 2009, was the first time the Revs were ever shut out by the Dynamo, and it was also the Revs’ only loss to Houston.
- The Revolution has been out-shot by the Dynamo, 134-91, in the regular-season series, yet has out-scored Houston, 15-8.
Player Notes vs. Houston
- Kheli Dube has scored three goals and added one assist to lead all active Revs against Houston … all his points have come on the road … he has scored in each of the team’s last three trips to Robertson Stadium, including the game-winning goal in 2010.
- Shalrie Joseph has scored three goals in eight regular-season contests and is the only Revolution player besides Kheli Dube to have scored multiple goals against Houston … he also scored the game-tying goal against Houston in extra time of the SuperLiga 2008 final, sending the match to penalty kicks … Joseph will be unavailable for Sunday’s match while serving a one-game suspension.
- Ilija Stolica recorded the first goal of his MLS career against Houston in the teams’ first meeting in 2010 ... his strike was also the game-winning goal in the 1-0 win on Aug. 14 ... he also picked up an assist in the second meeting last year in October.
- Sainey Nyassi has also recorded one goal and one assist against Houston.
- Kevin Alston recorded the first assist of his young career in 2009 at Houston, picking up the second assist on Kheli Dube’s game-winning goal.
- Matt Reis is 5-1-3 in his regular-season career against the Dynamo with a 0.78 goals against average and five shutouts.
- Bobby Shuttleworth has one win in one appearance against Houston, making a career-high six saves in the October meeting in 2010.
- Former Rev Steve Ralston is Houston’s assistant coach, and still holds a share of the New England career scoring lead against the Dynamo with three goals and one assist in seven regular-season appearances.
TEAM NOTES
WELCOME HOUSTON
Sunday’s match will be the teams’ first meeting as fellow members of the Eastern Conference … in all of the teams’ previous meetings since Houston joined MLS in 2006, the Dynamo competed as a member of the Western Conference, winning two conference titles (2006, 2007).
STOP A STREAK BY CONTINUING ANOTHER?
The Revs will look to halt their losing streak at one game by extending their away undefeated streak at Houston to six games … the Revs have never lost an away game to the Dynamo, going 4-0-1 in Houston since the team entered the league in 2006 … additionally, New England has won each of its last four visits to Robertson Stadium by a combined score of 6-1.
LET’S MEET LEKIC
The Revolution’s newest signing, Danish forward Rajko Lekic, will join the team at training for the first time as a member of the club on Tuesday, April 12 … Lekic, who signed on Friday, April 8, arrived in Boston on Sunday … the Dane is best known for the time with his most recent club, Silkeborg, with whom he made 121 appearances and scored 76 goals in two separate stints … Lekic will train with the team, but is unable to play in a competitive match with the Revs until his International Transfer Certificate is received.
TEST TIME ON SUNDAY
The Revs will be tested on Sunday as two of the team’s starting central midfielders will be suspended after receiving red cards on Saturday night against Real Salt Lake … Shalrie Joseph and Pat Phelan have both started all five of the teams’ matches in the center of the park, but will not travel to Houston with the team while they serve their one-game sentences.
SOARES SET TO RETURN
While two players will be unavailable on Sunday, A.J. Soares will be available after missing Saturday’s game against RSL … he sat out the game while serving his own one-game suspension that he picked up after being shown a red card at Vancouver on Wednesday night.
COCHRANE’S HOMECOMING OF SORTS
Ryan Cochrane is set to make his return to his previous home when the Revs travel to Houston on Sunday … Cochrane played for the Dynamo for all or parts of four seasons (2006, 2007, 2009, 2010) before the Revolution selected him in Stage Two of the 2010 Re-Entry Process from Houston … Cochrane made 70 appearances with the Dynamo, and won MLS Cup 2006 and MLS Cup 2007 with the team.
JOSEPH’S APPEARANCE STREAK TO BE SNAPPED
Coming out of Saturday’s game against Real Salt Lake, Shalrie Joseph was the club’s leader in consecutive appearances with 25 dating back to May 22, 2010 at Toronto … however, his streak will be snapped this weekend as he is forced to miss Sunday’s game at Houston with a red-card suspension … Sainey Nyassi, with seven consecutive appearances, has a chance to become the team’s active appearances leader if he gets into Sunday’s match at Houston.
