MLS Regular Season | Match #18
New England Revolution vs. Nashville SC
Wednesday, August 4 | 7 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium | Foxborough, Mass.
Watch: TV38, myRITV, CoziTV
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub (English), WBIX 1260 Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
Revolution Pregame Live (6 p.m. ET)
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CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
1st in Eastern Conference (11-3-3, 36 pts.)
Last Result | 3-2 win at New York Red Bulls
It required some late drama but the Revolution claimed a fourth straight win this past Saturday night at Red Bull Arena, getting an 84th-minute equalizer from Brandon Bye and a 91st-minute winner from Adam Buksa in a 3-2 victory over the Red Bulls. Gustavo Bou also scored his ninth goal in his last 10 appearances to stay red hot for a Revolution side now four points clear at the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings.
On Wednesday night the Revs will look to make it five straight wins – something they’ve already accomplished once this season – when they host Nashville SC in a rematch of a May 8 encounter at Nissan Stadium. Nashville are the only team to have shut out the Revs this season, claiming a 2-0 win in that previous meeting.
Nashville SC
3rd in Eastern Conference (6-1-9, 27 pts.)
Last Result | 1-1 draw at Toronto FC
Nashville have been the toughest team to beat in MLS this season, suffering just a single loss through their first 16 games while every other team in the league has lost at least three times. There are a couple of caveats, however, as a whopping 11 of those 16 games have been on their home field at Nissan Stadium, and they’ve also drawn a league-high nine times. They’ve yet to win away from home in five tries (0-1-4).
A stingy defense has been key to Nashville’s success, as their 15 goals against are second-fewest in MLS. They’re one of just two teams in MLS – along with Seattle – to boast a goals against average under 1.00, and they’ve conceded just two goals in their last four games as part of an eight-game unbeaten run (4-0-4).
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution forward Adam Buksa
Fellow forward Gustavo Bou has garnered much of the attention with nine goals in his last 10 games, but Adam Buksa has been similarly lethal with seven goals in his last 12 appearances, including the late winner this past weekend against RBNY. The 25-year-old striker is also the only Revolution player with a previous goal against Nashville, scoring from outside the box in last year’s 1-1 draw at Nissan Stadium.
Buksa does so much more than score goals, however, and the 6-foot-3 forward’s holdup and linkup ability could prove vital as the rest of New England’s attacking weapons play off him.
Nashville midfielder Hany Mukhtar
While Nashville’s defense has kept them in basically every game this season, German midfielder Hany Mukhtar has been the match winner in the attacking third of the field. The 26-year-old leads Nashville with seven goals and has also pitched in four assists, including four goals and three assists in his last five appearances.
Mukhtar didn’t feature when these sides met earlier this year at Nissan Stadium so he’ll present a different challenge for the Revolution defense, including on set plays, where his 17 chances created rank tied for seventh league-wide according to Opta.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
New England’s trio of Gold Cup participants – Tajon Buchanan, Matt Turner, and Henry Kessler – have returned to Foxborough and appear poised to play roles on Wednesday night. Both Buchanan and Turner told media on Tuesday that they’re physically ready to go should head coach Bruce Arena call on them, while Kessler should be fresh after making just a brief appearance in the Gold Cup Final.
“Certainly there’s no reason to believe they’re not going to help our team,” Arena said when asked about the benefit of getting that trio back. “We’re happy to have them back. We’ve built some good depth, so it’ll be nice to be able to continue to rotate players and hopefully be more efficient than we’ve been.”
Center back Jon Bell is set to miss a second straight game as he is once again listed as out along with midfielder Luis Caicedo.
Nashville
Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Walker Zimmerman will miss Wednesday night’s visit to Gillette Stadium after suffering a hamstring injury in the group stage of the Concacaf Gold Cup. Zimmerman was replaced on the U.S. National Team roster by Henry Kessler ahead of the knockout rounds.
Otherwise it’s a healthy Nashville side, which lists only Zimmerman on their injury report.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena
“I think we’re in a good position. However, 17 games is nothing in our league. I think you need to go to about 25 games before you have a good feel for where all the teams in the league are. We have a lot of difficult and challenging games ahead, and that’ll help my assessment. But right now, to date, obviously we’ve done well.”
New England Revolution midfielder Tajon Buchanan
“A great team. They only have one loss this season. A team that’s tough to play against. In their time in the league, I don’t think we’ve ever beaten them, so we know it’s going to be a tough game. We’re going to have to stay focused throughout the whole game and try to get three points at home.”
