Recap | Revs claim 4-1 win over CF Montréal to complete unbeaten September (5-0-1)

9_29_21 KaptoumGoalCelebration

MONTREAL, Quebec – The New England Revolution (20-4-5; 65 pts.) defeated CF Montreal (10-10-7, 37 pts.), 4-1, on Wednesday night at Saputo Stadium. Defender DeJuan Jones and forward Adam Buksa netted goals in the 10th and 17th minutes, respectively, leading New England to a swift 2-0 lead. After the Revolution extended their lead via an own goal in the 30th minute, Montreal’s Joaquin Torres scored for the hosts two minutes later. Forward Gustavo Bou sealed the win with a right-footed shot in the 86th minute.

With tonight’s victory, New England registers its first 20-win season in club history. The Revolution, winners of eight of their last nine road matches, improve their away record to 9-3-3 this season. New England’s nine road wins, most in MLS as of the conclusion of tonight’s match, are tied for sixth most in a season in MLS history. New England completes the month of September an unbeaten 5-0-1, outscoring opponents 13-6 over the last six contests. Over the last 16 games heading into the October international break, the Revolution went 13-1-2 while picking up 41 of a possible 48 points since early July.

Bruce Arena’s all-time record in league play improves to 238-135-110, now just two wins shy of matching Sigi Schmid for the most regular season victories in MLS history. This marks Arena’s third career 20-win campaign and his first since 1998, when he guided D.C. United to a 24-8 record. It is Arena’s first 20-win season since MLS began allowing ties.

Bou and Buksa each netted their 13th goals of the season in tonight’s win, tied for the team lead and for fourth place in the MLS Golden Boot race. Buksa, who recorded his 50th MLS appearance, scored on a header with assists from Bou and Bye. The Polish striker owns five goals and one assist over his last six matches. Bou, who has collected assists in three consecutive appearances, owns a career-high seven assists this season. The Argentinian has scored five goals in six career games played against Montreal. Jones’ unassisted tally marked the defender’s third goal of the season, as he also added a team-high four chances created on the night.

The Revolution’s four-goal performance tonight gives New England 57 goals scored on the season, surpassing the previous club record of 55 goals set in 2003 and matched in 2005. New England has netted the opening goal in the last three contests – all within the first 15 minutes of play – and are a league-best 16-0-2 when scoring first. Midfielder Carles Gil registered two chances created to match his own club record of 108, set in 2019.

Goalkeeper Matt Turner backstopped the defense with a five-save outing, adding to his personal-best 15 wins this season. Turner, who was selected by the United States Men’s National Team for international duty for October’s FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, improves to 6-2-1 against Montreal. Henry Kessler guided the backline with a team-best six interceptions in his 40th MLS start.

New England will enjoy 17 days of rest during the international window before returning to action on Saturday, October 16 to host Chicago Fire FC at Gillette Stadium. The match kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, CoziTV, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and 1260 AM Nossa Radio.

POSTGAME NOTES
New England Revolution 4, CF Montreal 1
September 29, 2021 – Stade Saputo (Montreal, Quebec)

Team Notes: 

  • The New England Revolution defeated CF Montreal on Wednesday night at Stade Saputo, 4-1, improving their record to 20-4-5 (65 pts.) and maintaining a 19-point lead atop the Eastern Conference and a 16-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings.
  • The victory clinched the first 20-win campaign in club history and just the 14th in MLS history. It also marks the third time Bruce Arena has coached a 20-game winner (D.C. United, 1997 & 1998), though his first two such seasons came before MLS allowed ties. 
  • New England's 57 goals this season are a new club record, surpassing the previous mark of 55 (2003 and 2005). 
  • The Revolution’s 65 points and 2.24 points per game through 29 matches have the team on pace to challenge the MLS records for points (72 – LAFC, 2019), points per game (2.13 – LA Galaxy, 1998). 
  • The club’s winning percentage of .766 is also on pace to set a new MLS mark. 
  • New England has now won five straight games against Montreal, improving to 14-10-3 in the all-time series. 
  • The Revs’ 57 goals and 31 first-half tallies both lead the league, while the team’s plus-23 goal differential is currently the best mark in MLS this season and on track to be a new club record. 
  • New England has won eight of its last nine away games, improving to 9-3-3 (.700) away from home. That is tied for sixth most away wins in a single MLS season and on pace to be the third-best road winning percentage in league annals. 
  • With five games remaining, the Revolution remain on course to set a new club mark for fewest losses in a season (7 – 2005). 
  • Bruce Arena deployed the same Starting XI from last Saturday’s match against Orlando City SC, utilizing the same lineup in consecutive matches for the first time this season.

Individual Notes:   

  • Bruce Arena improved his career record to 238-135-110, two shy of Sigi Schmid’s all-time MLS record of 240 regular season victories. Arena’s record with New England also climbed to 36-14-21 (.655). 
  • Adam Buksa scored a goal for a third straight appearance with New England, his 13th of the season and fourth game winner of the campaign. Buksa, who made his 50th appearance for the Revolution, also had team highs in duels won (10), shots (3), and shots on target (2).
  • Gustavo Bou added his third assist in as many games, marking the first time he has recorded an assist in consecutive matches in his MLS career, as he provided the service on Buksa’s tally. His seven assists are tied for second on the team. 
  • Bou also added his 13th goal of the season, tied with Buksa for the team lead. In six career games against Montreal, Bou has five goals and two assists.
  • Brandon Bye added his third assist of the season, and eighth of his MLS tenure, on New England’s second goal to set a new career high.
  • DeJuan Jones netted his third goal of the season, the opening goal of the night, building on a career high. In addition, Jones matched a career high with a team-best four chances created, doing so for second time in his last four games.
  • Carles Gil recorded two chances created, matching his career high and club record mark of 108 in a season and just 16 key passes shy of the MLS record 124. Gil also registered three shots.
  • Wilfrid Kaptoum recorded his second assist of the season, and first since July 17, on New England’s final goal of the night. 
  • Henry Kessler marked his 40th career start with a team-high six clearances.
  • Matt Polster completed 51 of his 55 passes and recorded a team-high three interceptions. 
  • Tommy McNamara chipped in a team-high 10 recoveries and completed 51 of his 53 passes to go along with one shot on target.
  • Scott Caldwell made his 12th appearance of the season as New England remained perfect (12-0-0) when the veteran midfielder makes an appearance this season. 
  • Luis Caicedo made his second appearance of the season, and first coming off the bench, since returning from injury that kept him out since 2019.

GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Ismail Elfath.
Assistant Referees: Eric Weisbrod (AR1), Jason White (AR2).
Fourth Official: David Barrie. 
Video Assistant Referee: Carol Anne Chenard.
Weather: 52 degrees and cloudy 

Scoring Summary:
NE- DeJuan Jones 3 (Unassisted) 10’
NE- Adam Buksa 13 (Gustavo Bou 7, Brandon Bye 3) 17’
NE- Rudy Camacho (Own Goal) 30’
MTL- Joaquin Torres 4 (Unassisted) 32’
NE- Gustavo Bou 13 (Wilfrid Kaptoum 2) 86’

Misconduct Summary:
MTL- Samuel Piette (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 27’
NE- Gustavo Bou (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 58’
MTL- Kamal Miller (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 90’
NE- Luis Caicedo (Yellow Card- Bad Foul) 90+2’

New England Revolution: Matt Turner; Brandon Bye, Andrew Farrell, Henry Kessler, DeJuan Jones; Matt Polster (Scott Caldwell 88’), Tommy McNamara (Wilfrid Kaptoum 80’), Carles Gil ©, Tajon Buchanan (Luis Caicedo 80’); Gustavo Bou, Adam Buksa

Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, A.J. DeLaGarza, Jon Bell, Christian Mafla, Teal Bunbury, Edward Kizza

CF Montreal: James Pantemis; Kamal Miller, Rudy Camacho, Joel Waterman, Zorhan Bassong (Zachary Brault-Guillard 55’); Victor Wanyama, Samuel Piette (Bjorn Johnsen 68’), Djordje Mihailovic, Joaquin Torres, Mathieu Choiniere (Ballou Tabla 75’), Romell Quioto

Substitutes Not Used: Sebastian Breza, Matko Miljevic, Mustafa Kizza, Sunusi Ibrahim, Emanuel Maciel, Rida Zouhir

Full statistics available HERE.