FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – With second place in the Eastern Conference locked up, the New England Revolution host Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night in the teams’ regular-season finale. The match is scheduled to kick off at 7:30 p.m., and will be shown live on Comcast SportsNet. WUFC 1510 will have the call of the game on the radio. Comcast SportsNet will also air Revs Post Game Live immediately following the match, hosted by Dalen Cuff and analyst Khano Smith.
With an 8-1-1 record in their last 10 games, the Revolution (16-13-4, 52 pts.) enter Saturday’s match in sole possession of second place in the Eastern Conference. Regardless of Saturday’s result, the club is guaranteed a second-place finish in the East, and will open the 2014 MLS Cup Playoffs on the road in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 1 or 2.
New England defeated Toronto FC (11-8-14, 41 pts.) in both of the teams’ earlier meetings – both at BMO Field – this year. The Revs claimed a 2-1 come-from-behind win over TFC on May 3 with goals from Patrick Mullins – the first of his MLS career – and a late penalty kick from MLS MVP candidate Lee Nguyen. The two sides met again on August 30 with Nguyen and Kelyn Rowe scoring inside the opening 25 minutes and Teal Bunbury adding a goal after halftime in a 3-0 Revolution win that also featured the Revolution and MLS debut of Jermaine Jones.
Following their 1-1 draw with Montreal last weekend, Toronto FC have been eliminated from playoff contention and will miss out on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the eighth straight season.
TEAM NOTES
FAN APPRECIATION DAY ON SATURDAY
Saturday’s game marks the conclusion of the 2014 regular-season, and also the Revolution’s annual Fan Appreciation Night ... in addition to additional in-game give-aways, the Revs will conduct their annual “Shirts off their Backs” promotion at the end of the game where lucky Season Ticket Holders come down to the field to get the 18 dressed players’ shirts straight off their backs ... after the game, the entire team will be in Autograph Alley, which will be set up at the north end of the stadium, under the bridge and lighthouse.
AWARD WINNERS TO BE UNVEILED
The Revolution will present their annual team awards on Saturday prior to the match … this year, six awards winners will be named, including the team’s Santander Most Valuable Player (determined by fan vote), Defender of the Year (determined by media vote), Humanitarian of the Year (determined by the club) and Golden Boot (highest goal scorer) … additionally, two new awards will be given out: the UnitedHealthcare Youth Player of the Year (determined by the Revolution Academy staff) and the Players’ Player of the Year (determined by the players).
REGULAR-SEASON FINALE
The Revolution will play their final game of the 2014 regular-season on Saturday night when they host Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium … the Revs have already posted their second-best season in club history with 52 points (16-13-4 record), but the team could push that total to as many as 55 points with a win Saturday … the club point record is 59 points, which the team set in 2005 with a 17-7-8 record in the 32-game season … the team also enters the week sixth in the league’s overall standings, and could finish as high as fourth (of 19 teams) pending other results around the league this week.
FINAL WORD ON SEASON FINALES
Under head coach Jay Heaps, the Revs have won each of their last two regular-season finales, defeating Montreal, 1-0, on the road in 2012, and earning a 1-0 win at Columbus in 2013 … all-time, the Revs are 11-5-2 in regular-season finales, including a 6-3-0 mark in home matches … the Revolution are 12-5-1 in their final home match of the season, including wins in each of their last two home finales.
SET IN SECOND …
Regardless of New England’s result on Saturday, the team is assured of a second-place finish in the Eastern Conference … D.C. United have 58 points, six points ahead in first place … Columbus and Kansas City are on 49 points – three points back tied for third place … both teams could finish tied on points with New England, however, the Revs hold the first tie-breaker over both teams – overall wins – and would claim the second seed in that event … the Revs’ second-place finish is the team’s highest since 2007, when the club also finished second on the way to its third-straight appearance in MLS Cup … this is the seventh time the Revs have finish in the top two in the East since the inaugural 1996 season.
… BUT WAITING ON OUR OPPONENT
With D.C. and New England locked into first and second, respectively, in the East, both teams are still waiting to see who they will play in the MLS Cup Playoffs … the Revs will face the third seed – which could be Kansas City, Columbus or New York … D.C. will face the winner of the Knockout Round game between the fourth and fifth seeds … the lower seed will host Leg 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals on November 1 or 2, with D.C. and the Revs hosting Leg 2 the weekend of November 8 or 9.
EASTERN PLAYOFF TEAMS’ SCHEDULE THIS WEEKEND
With only two of the East’s five playoff spots finalized, three teams will be battling for the third, fourth and fifth seeds this weekend … Kansas City and New York face each other in the league’s final regular-season match on Sunday night, while Columbus hosts Philly earlier on Sunday afternoon … the Revs will face the third seed in the Eastern Conference Semifinals, while D.C. will face the winner of the Knockout Round, featuring the fourth and fifth seeds.
- D.C. United 58 17-9-7 at Montreal (Saturday, 4 p.m.)
- New England 52 16-13-4 vs. Toronto (Saturday, 7:30 p.m.)
- Kansas City 49 14-12-7 vs. New York (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.)
- Columbus 49 13-10-10 vs. Philadelphia (Sunday, 4 p.m.)
- New York 47 12-10-11 at Kansas City (Sunday, 8:30 p.m.)
POSTSEASON HISTORY VS. POSSIBLE OPPONENTS
The Revolution have faced all three of their possible opponents in the Eastern Conference Semifinals in previous postseasons …the Revs have won all three of their previous playoff series against New York (2003, 2005 and 2007), but went 0-2-0 against the Red Bulls this season … against Columbus, the Revs won both of their previous playoff series (2002 and 2004), but went 1-2-0 against the Crew this season … while the Revolution swept Kansas City – 3-0-0 – in regular-season play this year, the Revs lost to Sporting KC in the 2013 Eastern Conference Semifinals as SKC needed added time to secure the win after two games.
REVS RED HOTTEST OVER THE FINAL THIRD
Entering the July 30 match against Colorado, the Revolution were tied for sixth place in the Eastern Conference and mired in an eight-game losing streak, one loss away from matching the longest losing streak in club history (nine games) … however, the 3-0 win that night ignited an 13-game run in which the club has gone 9-2-2 since … in those 13 games, New England has claimed 29 of a possible 39 points after taking only 23 points from the 60 available in the season’s first 20 games … in the last 10 games, no team has been hotter than the Revolution, who have gone 8-1-1 and claimed 25 of 30 points … Columbus (7-2-1) has claimed 22 points in the last 10 games, while LA (6-1-3) has claimed 21.
WINS RECORD IN PLAY
With 16 wins entering Saturday’s game, the Revolution have the opportunity to match the team’s season wins record (17), which they set in 2005 …the team’s current 16 wins is the second-highest win total in club history, ahead of the 1996 and 1997 totals of 15, and the 2013 total of 14.
#MVLEE NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Lee Nguyen became the first Revolution player to be earn MLS player of the week honors this season, taking home the honor following his two-goal performance at Houston last Thursday night … one of the front runners for MLS MVP this season, Nguyen now has 17 goals and five assists in 31 games this season … the top scoring American in MLS this season, Nguyen also is:
- tied for fourth in goals in MLS
- the top goal-scoring midfielder in MLS
- the MLS leader with eight game-winning goals
- tied for sixth with three multiple-goal games
Nguyen’s individual statistical brilliance has also translated to team success as:
- the Revs are now 13-1-2 this season when he scores a goal or registers an assist
- in the last 13 games, the Revs are 9-2-2 with Nguyen scoring 11 goals and adding four assists in that time
- he has scored or assisted on 46 percent of the Revolution’s goals they’ve scored this season (22 of 48)
NGUYEN MAKING WAVES IN REVS’ RECORD BOOKS
Lee Nguyen is putting together one of the Revolution’s most memorable goal-scoring seasons in club history ... his 17 goals are tied for the third best season goal tally in club history … only Taylor Twellman (23 in 2002) and Raul Diaz Arce (18 in 1998) have scored more goals in one season … Nguyen entered this season with nine goals in his first two MLS seasons, a total that he could double with a goal on Saturday … he had never scored more than five goals in an MLS season before his 17-goal outburst this year.
A REAL GAME-WINNER …
Lee Nguyen has made a habit of helping the team win this season, scoring eight game-winning goals and adding one game-winning assist … he leads the league with eight game-winning goals, which is the fifth-highest mark in MLS history … his eight game-winning goals also has set a new club season record, besting Taylor Twellman’s mark of six, set in 2005 … Nguyen’s 10 career game-winning goals ranks him tied with Shalrie Joseph for fourth in the club record book, behind Twellman (28), Joe-Max Moore (13) and Steve Ralston (12).
…AND AIMING FOR MORE
San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski holds the MLS single-season record for game-winning goals with 11 in 2012 … however, if Lee Nguyen scores the game-winning goal against Toronto FC on Saturday, he will have nine on the season, a total that would tie him for the league’s second-highest single-season mark, currently held by Wondolowski (2010 in San Jose) and Carlos Ruiz (2002 in LA).
LEE TAKING HIS LUMPS
After suffering four fouls last week at Houston, Lee Nguyen’s season foul total sits at 75 on the season, the third-highest total in MLS ... only Chicago’s Quincy Amarikwa (96) and Portland’s Darlington Nagbe (88) have been fouled more than Nguyen, who is averaging almost 2.5 fouls suffered per game ... after suffering a team-high 64 times in 2013, Nguyen’s 75 fouls have equaled the club’s fouls suffered set by Alberto Naveda in 1997 (75 fouls suffered in 29 games) ... Nguyen has suffered three or more fouls in 13 games this season, but has gone untouched in only three matches this year.
JONES CONTINUES TO MAKE AN IMPACT
Just two minutes after coming off the bench in Houston last Thursday night, Jermaine Jones recorded his fourth assist of the season, helping set up Lee Nguyen’s equalizer in the 65th minute … Jones now has two goals and four assists in nine games with the Revs this year, who are 7-1-1 since he signed with the club on August 24 … New England is 6-0-0 when Jones scores a goal or adds an assist, as he has two game-winning goals, two game-winning assists and two game-tying assists this year.
RECORD SEASON FOR ALSTON
In his first four seasons in MLS, Kevin Alston never played fewer than 20 games in a season, but never had more than one assist … after setting up Lee Nguyen’s game-tying goal in Houston last week, Alston has three assists this season – in addition to one goal – in just 11 games … his three assists are the second most among Revs defenders, behind Chris Tierney who has four.
ROWE ONE OF THE STARS OF THE CLASS OF 2012
With 15 goals and 18 assists in the last three seasons, Kelyn Rowe has recorded more assists than any other player in his 2012 draft class ... in terms of goals, only Sporting Kansas City’s Dom Dwyer (24 goals), D.C. United’s Luis Silva (19) and Vancouver’s Darren Mattocks (16) have scored more among the 2012 rookies of 2012 ... in the same time period, only Lee Nguyen (26 goals) and Diego Fagundez (20 goals) and have scored more goals for New England ... having led or tied for the club lead in assists each of the last two seasons, Rowe can become the first player in Revolution history to sit atop the club’s assist chart three straight seasons if he finishes at least in a tie for team’s assist lead this year.
SPREADING THE SCORING OUT
Fourteen different players have scored a regular-season goal for the Revolution this season ... that number is tied for the most goal scorers among all MLS teams with Colorado and Philadelphia also having 14 different scorers ... after Lee Nguyen’s team-leading 17 goals, Diego Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe have five, Teal Bunbury and Patrick Mullins each have four, Charlie Davies has three while Jermaine Jones and A.J. Soares have two each ... six different players have scored once with the Revs also benefiting from own goals by Victor Bernardez (at San Jose on March 29) and Chad Marshall (vs. Seattle on May 11) ... Saturday’s opponent, Toronto FC, are one of four teams with 13 different goal scorers this season … the Revs are also near the top of MLS with 15 different players recording an assist for the club this season … only Philadelphia (with 17) have more while Colorado, Montreal and Portland also have 15 different players with at least one assist.
CONSTANT KOBAYASHI
Daigo Kobayashi is the only Revolution player to have appeared in all 33 of the club’s regular-season matches this year ... currently in his first season with the club after being acquired from Vancouver in late February, Kobayashi has four assists in 1,839 minutes ... while his 33 appearances are the most on the club, his 23 starts rank eighth and his 1,776 minutes are 10th ... the Revs are 13-8-2 when Kobayashi starts ... all four of his assists – including one on Patrick Mullins’ goal against Toronto FC on May 3 – came in games that he started ... the former Japanese international also played in two of the Revs’ three U.S. Open Cup games this year and leads the club with 35 appearances in all competitions.
COMING FROM BEHIND AGAIN
The Revolution have conceded the game’s first goal in six of the eight matches they’ve played since the start of September … however, they have come back to win four of those games while also getting a draw … for the season, New England is 5-12-2 when allowing the game’s first goal … only Seattle, with six, have more wins than the Revs in games they’ve trailed 1-0 … the Revs have gone into halftime of their last two matches trailing, but have gone 1-0-1 in those games … while they’ve done well surrendering the lead lately, the Revs started the season poorly, going 0-10-0 in the first 10 games in which they trailed at halftime.
TWO WILL DO IT...USUALLY
Thursday night’s 2-1 win at Houston marked the 16th game this season the Revs scored two or more goals … when scoring two or more goals, the Revs are 15-0-1 with the lone draw coming in a 2-2 draw at Montreal on October 11 … the Revs have not lost a game in which they scored two or more since September 14, 2013, when Chicago scored a pair of second-half goals to turn the Revs’ 2-1 halftime lead into a 3-2 loss ... the Revs are just 1-13-3 when scoring fewer than two goals this season, with the lone win coming on August 23 when the Revs beat Chivas USA,1-0 ... New England’s 3-2 win over Sporting Kansas City on September 26 was the second time the club has won when allowing two or more goals ... the Revs are 2-10-1 in the 13 games in which the they concede more than one goal.
CARD FREE
On Saturday against Toronto, the Revs will have their entire roster available for selection as no players will miss the game because of suspension – either for yellow-card accumulation or for a red car … Darrius Barnes, Daigo Kobayashi, Lee Nguyen and A.J. Soares all entered last week’s game against the Dynamo knowing that a booking would rule them out of the season finale because of yellow card accumulation … however, not only were none of that quartet booked, no Revs players were shown a card against the Dynamo … it was just the third time this season – and first since August 16 – that the Revs were card-free in a match … with 58 bookings this season, the Revs are currently tied for the fourth-most yellow cards in MLS … only Chivas USA (68), Chicago (62) and Sporting Kansas City (62) have been booked more than the Revs … Toronto FC, San Jose and Vancouver have each also been booked 58 times this season.
DONE ON THE ROAD
Thursday night’s win over Houston was New England’s 17th and final road game of the regular season … the Revs finished the season with a 6-9-2 record from Gillette Stadium … the team’s six wins tied the Revolution record for wins on the road in a single season, equaling a mark that was set in 1999 and then matched in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2013.
