FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The New England Revolution (9-3-3; 30 pts.) defeated Inter Miami CF (2-8-2; 8 pts.), 5-0, in the first-ever meeting between the two sides on Wednesday night at DRV PNK Stadium. New England moves to the top of the Supporters’ Shield standings as the club posted its biggest margin of victory since 2014. Adam Buksa and Arnór Traustason each registered their first MLS braces, Carles Gil added his MLS-leading 11th assist, and Teal Bunbury logged his second goal of the season. The Revs defense allowed only one shot on target en route to its second consecutive clean sheet and fifth of the season.
New England’s offense, which leads the league in goals scored, exploded for four goals in a half for the first time since 2017 – matching a club record. The Revolution’s five-goal outburst was the team’s first since a 5-2 win over Minnesota United on March 25, 2017. The win was the Revs’ second in a row away from home and lifts the club’s away record to 4-2-3 on the year. New England’s 15 away wins across all competitions are the most in MLS since Bruce Arena took the helm in June 2019.
Traustason, who opened the scoring with a header on Carles Gil’s free-kick assist in the 15th minute, recorded his first two MLS goals in his 10th start. Bunbury produced his second goal of the season, one of his game-high four shots on target, before the Icelandic international added his second with a right-footed strike on Jon Bell’s first MLS assist in the 36th minute. Traustason completed 35 of 36 pass attempts on the night.
Buksa picked up his brace with goals in the late stages of both halves, the second of which was assisted by Gustavo Bou. Buksa and Bou are now tied for the team lead with seven goals each – tied for third most in MLS. New England’s attacking trio of Bou, Buksa, and Gil have factored into 23 of the team’s 28 goals scored this season, which is already halfway to setting a new club record for goals in a regular season (55 in 2003 and 2005).
On the defensive end, Andrew Farrell paired with Jon Bell in central defense while A.J. DeLaGarza submitted a 90-minute performance at right back for his first start with New England. Farrell (254) is now tied with Matt Reis for the third-most appearances in a Revolution uniform. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Brad Knighton improved his season record to 2-1-0 as he made his 75th career start.
New England will go for three consecutive wins on Sunday, July 25 as the club returns home to host CF Montréal at Gillette Stadium. The match kicks off at 6:00 p.m. ET and will air locally on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and WBIX 1260 AM Nossa Radio.
POSTGAME NOTES
New England Revolution 5, Inter Miami CF 0
July 21, 2021 – DRV PNK Stadium (Fort Lauderdale, Florida)
Team Notes:
- The New England Revolution (9-3-3, 30 pts.) defeated Inter Miami CF, 5-0, in the clubs’ first-ever meeting on Wednesday night. The Revolution remain in first place in the Eastern Conference, where they have been since May 16.
- New England’s 28 goals scored are currently most in MLS by a margin over three, and the team’s +10 goal differential is tied for second best. The club’s 16 first-half goals are also most in MLS.
- The five-goal game was the Revs’ first since March 25, 2017 against Minnesota. The club’s last five-goal winning margin came on May 10, 2014 against Seattle.
- The Revs scored four goals in a half for the 11th time in club history. The last time the club scored four goals in the opening half was on May 13, 2017 vs. Real Salt Lake.
- New England improves to 4-2-3 on the road this season. The Revolution have won consecutive road games for the second time this season (May 29 and June 19). The club’s four away wins are currently the most in MLS.
- The Revs’ 15 away wins (regular season and playoffs) under Bruce Arena are the most in MLS since he took the helm in June 2019.
- New England’s defense logged its fifth clean sheet of the season, one behind the MLS lead.
- Despite making a season-high six changes to the starting lineup, the Revolution dominated the contest with 11 shots on target to Miami’s 1.
- Six different Revolution players have now scored multiple goals this season.
Player Notes:
- M Carles Gil logged his MLS-leading 11th assist through 15 games this season. No other MLS player had more than six assists entering the week.
- On the night, Gil completed 89.5 percent of his passes and recorded five chances created (pass leading to a shot). Gil now owns an MLS-high 78 chances created on the season.
- M Arnór Traustason scored the first two goals of his Revolution and MLS career, notching a first-half brace with strikes in the 15th minute and 36th minutes. The Iceland international, making his 10th MLS start, successfully completed 35 of his 36 pass attempts.
- F Adam Buksa recorded his first multi-goal game in MLS, scoring his sixth and seventh goals of the season to move into a tie with Gustavo Bou (7) for the team lead. Both players are tied for the third-most goals in MLS.
- Buksa – making his ninth start of the season – has played in every match since the start of the 2020 season – 43 straight games across the regular season and playoffs.
- F Teal Bunbury tallied his second goal of the year with an unassisted strike in the 27th minute. His 44 Revolution goals are fourth most in club history, while his career total of 33 goals on the road is tied for fourth most among active players.
- D Andrew Farrell (254) tied Matt Reis for the third-most MLS appearances in a Revolution uniform. He is seven games away from tying Shalrie Joseph and Diego Fagundez for the most games played in Revs history.
- GK Brad Knighton logged his 75th MLS start and 15th shutout in his third consecutive start in net. His record on the season improves to 2-1-0.
- Two Revolution II alumni appeared in the starting lineup together for the fifth time – Maciel and Jon Bell. Maciel logged his 10th career MLS start, while Bell recorded his first MLS assist in his sixth start of the season in central defense.
- D A.J. DeLaGarza made his second appearance and first start since joining New England as a free agent in the offseason. DeLaGarza, a 13-year MLS veteran, played 90 minutes at right back against his former club.
- F Gustavo Bou came off the bench for a 27-minute shift in relief of Carles Gil and recorded an assist on Buksa’s second goal, his third of the season.
GAME CAPSULE
Referee: Robert Sibiga
Assistant Referees: Jason White (AR1), Brooke Mayo (AR2)
4th: Kevin Broadley
Video Assistant Referee: Christina Unkel
Weather: 87 degrees and sunny
Attendance: 13,963
Scoring Summary:
NE- Arnór Traustason 1 (Carles Gil 11) 15’
NE- Teal Bunbury 2 (Unassisted) 27’
NE- Arnór Traustason 2 (Jon Bell 1) 36’
NE- Adam Buksa 6 (Unassisted) 45+4’
NE- Adam Buksa 7 (Gustavo Bou 3) 83’
Misconduct Summary:
MIA- Nicolas Figal (Yellow Card- Hard Foul) 15’
MIA- Jay Chapman (Yellow Card- Hard Foul) 62’
New England Revolution: Brad Knighton; Andrew Farrell, Christian Mafla (Matt Polster HT), A.J. DeLaGarza, Jon Bell; Maciel (Emmanuel Boateng 78’), Tommy McNamara (Scott Caldwell 75’), Arnór Traustason, Carles Gil © (Gustavo Bou 63’); Teal Bunbury (Wilfrid Kaptoum 63’), Adam Buksa
Substitutes Not Used: Earl Edwards Jr., Brandon Bye
Inter Miami: Nick Marsman; Christian Makoun (Kieran Gibbs HT), Nicolas Figal, Leandro Gonzalez Pirez ©, Ryan Shawcross; Lewis Morgan, Blaise Matuidi (Jay Chapman HT), Rodolfo Pizarro (Indiana Vassilev 68’), Victor Ulloa; Gonzalo Higuain (Federico Higuain 80’), Robbie Robinson (Julián Carranza 62’)
Substitutes Not Used: John McCarthy, Sami Guediri, Joshua Penn, Brek Shea
Full statistics available HERE.
