THE BASICS
New England Revolution at LD Alajuelense
Concacaf Champions Cup Round of 16 | Leg 2
Revolution lead on aggregate, 4-0
Thursday, March 14 | 8 p.m. ET
Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto | Alajuela, Costa Rica
Predicted Weather: Afternoon thunderstorms | High 88 | Low 71
HOW TO TUNE IN
WATCH
National TV: FS2 (English), TUDN (Spanish)
LISTEN
Radio: 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
LEG 1 RECAP
Tomás Chancalay bagged a brace - now joint top scorer in the tournament with four goals - while Nick Lima and Esmir Bajraktarević were also on the board in the Revolution's 4-0 win over LD Alajuelense in the first leg of this series last Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium. Goalkeeper Henrich Ravas kept his third straight clean sheet in the competition as the Revs have now outscored opponents 8-0.
Not only do the Revs now carry a four-goal aggregate lead into Thursday night's second leg in Costa Rica, they also have the advantage of not conceding an away goal, meaning that should the Revs score just one goal at Estadio Alejandro Morera Soto, they'd force Alajuelense to score six.
2024 CONCACAF CHAMPIONS CUP
The Concacaf Champions Cup 59th edition (previously known as the Concacaf Champions League) is the premier club soccer competition in North America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Contested by 27 of the top clubs in Concacaf, the tournament's final will be held on June 2, with the winner collecting a spot in the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, prize money, and regional bragging rights as the best club team in Concacaf.
A total of eight MLS teams remain in the 2024 edition of the competition: New England Revolution, FC Cincinnati, Houston Dynamo FC, Nashville SC, Orlando City SC, Philadelphia Union, Columbus Crew, and Inter Miami CF.
Columbus (as MLS Cup winners) and Miami (as Leagues Cup winners) entered the competition in the Round of 16, while six other MLS clubs advanced through Round One. Vancouver Whitecaps FC and St. Louis CITY SC, meanwhile, were both eliminated in Round One.
The Revs booked their place in the Round of 16 with a 4-0 aggregate win over Panamanian side CA Independiente, claiming a 1-0 road victory in the first leg before a comprehensive 3-0 triumph in the second leg at Gillette Stadium. Tomás Chancalay scored in both matches, while Nacho Gil and Mark-Anthony Kaye also tallied in Leg 2.
2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Dates by Round
Round of 16: March 5-7 (Leg 1) and 12-14 (Leg 2)
Quarterfinals: April 2-4 (Leg 1) and 9-11 (Leg 2)
Semifinals: April 23-25 (Leg 1) and April 30 - May 2 (Leg 2)
Final: June 2 (Single Leg)
HISTORY VS. LD ALAJUELENSE
While their most recent meeting was 18 years ago, the New England Revolution and LD Alajuelense are familiar foes in the context of Concacaf Champions Cup. This is the Revolution's fifth appearance in the competition and their third time running up against Alajuelense, having previously done battle in both 2003 and 2006.
Alajuelense have emerged victorious in both previous series, claiming a 5-3 aggregate win in 2003 and a scrappy 1-0 triumph over two legs in 2006. None of those four matches were played in Foxborough, however, as three were contested at Alajuelense's home at Estadio Alejandro Morena Soto, while the other was played at the National Sports Centre in Bermuda.
Two-time winners of Concacaf Champions Cup in 1986 and 2004, Alajuelense qualified for this year's tournament as champions of the 2023 Central American Cup, advancing directly to the Round of 16. Los Leones finished second in the league table in the 2023 Apertura, and they currently sit third in the Primera División de Costa Rica with a record of six wins, three draws, and three losses.
RELATED NEWS
READ: Preview | QF spot on the line as Revs carry 4-0 aggregate lead into second leg at LDA
READ: Revolution's Leagues Cup 2024 Group Stage Schedule and Bracket Announced
WATCH: Revolution All In | Behind the scenes as Carles Gil re-signs with the Revs
WATCH: "I have everything here" | Carles Gil found a home in NE and happiness with the Revs
READ: Revolution captain Carles Gil re-signed to long-term contract extension
WATCH:
READ: Recap | Chancalay strikes twice as Revs roll to 4-0 win in first leg vs. LD Alajuelense
WATCH: Highlights | Carles Gil scores another stunner in Revolution's 4-1 loss to Atlanta
READ: Recap | Carles Gil scores late consolation goal, but Revs fall 4-1 on the road at Atlanta
SHOW YOUR COLORS
Thursday night the Revs will wear their "Defiance" kit, which will serve as the team's community uniform once again for the 2024 MLS season.
The "Defiance" kit features a white jersey and red shorts, with red socks and red trim along the shoulder and sleeves. The shirt's design is punctuated by a bold red "strikethrough" across the chest that embodies New England's famous spirit of positive defiance. Revolution is the ultimate act of defiance, and the club's new kit honors that resilient spirit that sparked the American Revolution, laid the foundation for our country, and has resonated throughout the New England region for centuries.
You can purchase the "Defiance" kit HERE.
