Revolution Extend Home Unbeaten Streak to 10 Games with 2-1 Win over Columbus

Goal Celebration vs. Columbus Crew SC

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (4-4-4; 16 pts.) defeated Columbus Crew SC (6-6-1; 19 pts.), 2-1, at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon. After New England conceded the opening goal, midfielder Diego Fagundez responded with a first-half brace, which lifted New England to its second consecutive win and extending the club's unbeaten streak at home to 10 games (8-0-2).


Fagundez, who tied a club record for field players with his 65th consecutive appearance, tallied twice in a 10-minute span in the first half. The brace was the second of his career and moved him into a tie with Shalrie Joseph and Pat Noonan for fifth most goals scored in team history (37). Midfielder Lee Nguyen also moved up a slot in the club's record book, surpassing teammate Chris Tierney for sole possession of second place on the all-time assists chart after contributing a helper on Fagundez's first goal.


Goalkeeper Cody Cropper preserved the 2-1 scoreline with a number of critical saves, totaling four on the day to set a personal single-game high. Sunday's match also featured the return of midfielder Gershon Koffie, who entered the game as a halftime substitute. Koffie made 22 appearances for New England in 2016 and rejoined the club on a season-long loan from Swedish side Hammarby IF last week. Revolution defender Je-Vaughn Watson made his 150th career MLS appearance after replacing Chris Tierney as a substitute in the 83rd minute. In second-half stoppage time, defender Andrew Farrell was issued the third red card of his MLS career, which will force him to miss New England's upcoming match at the New York Red Bulls on May 28.


New England returns to action next Saturday, May 28 when the club and approximately 900 Revolution Season Members will travel to Harrison, N.J. for a meeting with the New York Red Bulls. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET and will be broadcast locally on CSN New England, where Brad Feldman, Paul Mariner, and Naoko Funayama will be on the call. Fans can also listen on the radio in English on 98.5 The Sports Hub and in Portuguese on 1570 WMVX Nossa Radio. 


New England Revolution 2, Columbus Crew SC 1
May 21, 2017 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Revolution Go Unbeaten in Tenth Consecutive Home Match, Defeat Columbus Crew SC 2-1

  • The Revolution defeated Crew SC, 2-1, on Sunday night, bringing New England's record to 4-4-4 (16 pts.) through the first 12 matches of the season.
  • New England extended its home unbeaten streak to 10 matches with tonight's victory. The Revs are now 4-0-2 in matches at Gillette Stadium this season and improve to 8-0-2 in home matches dating back to Sept. 3, 2016.
  • New England entered the match averaging 2.60 goals per home game, second best in MLS to the Houston Dynamo (2.71) and first among Eastern Conference teams. The Revs now have an average of 2.50 goals per home game, which is tied for the second best mark in MLS with the Chicago Fire and Atlanta United. 


Second Career Brace from Fagundez Powers Revs Past Crew SC

  • Midfielder Diego Fagundez completed his double in the 34th minute of today's match, making him the second Revolution player to score two goals in a single match this season. Forward Juan Agudelo achieved the feat on two separate occasions, March 25 vs. Minnesota United FC and April 30 at Seattle Sounders FC.
  • The brace is the second of Fagundez's career. The Leominster, Mass. native also scored a pair of goals vs. Seattle Sounders FC on May 11, 2014.
  • Prior to today, Fagundez's last time scoring in consecutive contests occurred at the close of the 2016 MLS regular season on Oct. 16 at Chicago and Oct. 23 vs. Montreal.
  • The pair of goals moves Fagundez into a tie for the fifth most goals scored in team history with 37. He is even with Pat Noonan and Shalrie Joseph in the Revs' record books, and needs four more tallies to match Joe-Max Moore (41).
  • Fagundez's second goal proved to be the game winner, giving him 14 game-winning goals in his MLS career. He now holds sole possession of third place in Revs history, trailing teammate Lee Nguyen (16) by two. 


Fagundez Ties Dorman's Mark for Consecutive Appearances by Field Player

  • With his start today, midfielder Diego Fagundez tied Andy Dorman for the most consecutive appearances registered by a Revolution field player with 65. Fagundez has seen the field for the Revs in every match dating back to June 13, 2015.
  • Goalkeeper Matt Reis has the record for most consecutive appearances among all players in club history, making 89 straight appearances in net for the Revs.


Kamara, Nguyen Add to Assist Totals

  • Forward Kei Kamara recorded the primary assist on Fagundez's 24th minute tally. Kamara's three assists in 10 games played is a new Revolution-high for Kamara, who posted two assists in 21 games played in his debut campaign for the Revs.
  • Midfielder Lee Nguyen recorded the secondary assist on Fagundez's initial goal. The assist is Nguyen's fifth of the 2017 season and brings his career total to 39. With his next assist, Nguyen will join Steve Ralston (42 goals, 73 assists) as the second player in club history to score at least 40 goals and record at least 40 assists.


Farrell Climbs Club's All-Time Starts Chart

  • In starting today's match at right back, defender Andrew Farrell made his 140th start as a Revolution player, tying Ted Chronopoulos for ninth all-time in club history.
  • Farrell's afternoon came to an end in second-half stoppage time when he was issued a red card. He will serve his one-game suspension during the Revolution's next match on May 28 at the New York Red Bulls.


Watson Makes 150th Career Appearance

  • Defender Je-Vaughn Watson made his 150th career MLS appearance when he came on as a substitute for Chris Tierney in the 82ndminute of today's match.
  • Before joining New England, Watson made 41 appearances with Houston from 2011-12 and 78 appearances with FC Dallas from 2013-15.


Revolution Make One Change to Starting XI

  • Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps made one change to the club’s starting lineup from its most recent match on May 13 vs. Real Salt Lake, with forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen replacing midfielder Scott Caldwell, who was recovering from an illness.
  • Midfielder Gershon Koffie made his first appearance since rejoining the Revolution on loan from Hammarby IF on May 8. Koffie came on as a halftime substitute replacing forward Femi Hollinger-Janzen.
  • Defender Donnie Smith was unavailable for selection in tonight's match as he is currently on loan with the Charlotte Independence. Goalkeeper Matt Turner was also unavailable for selection as he completes a short-term loan with the Richmond Kickers.


GAME HIGHLIGHTS

  • 10th minute (SHOT) – Midfielder Diego Fagundez nearly beats Crew SC goalkeeper Zack Steffen with a curled, right-footed shot from distance, but Steffen makes a fingertip save to keep the match scoreless (WATCH).


  • 20th minute (GOAL) – Columbus opens scoring with a volleyed strike from forward Ola Kamara (WATCH).


  • 24th minute (GOAL) – Diego Fagundez scores for the second consecutive match, tapping in an uncontested right-footed shot opened up by a cross-field feed from forward Kei Kamara(WATCH).


  • 34th minute (GOAL) – Fagundez finds the back of the net again and a secures a brace, this time making a solo run from just in front of midfield into the penalty area and slotting in a right-footed shot (WATCH).


  • 56th minute (CHANCE) – Kamara seeks an insurance goal for the Revolution in the 56th minute, but his right-footed shot from the right side of the 18-yard box is deflected, and Lee Nguyen can't connect on the rebound (WATCH).


  • 78th minute (SAVE) – Crew SC forward Adam Jahn makes a late bid for an equalizer, but Revolution goalkeeper Cody Cropper stands tall and parries away the powerful strike (WATCH).


GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Alan Kelly


Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell (AR1), Matthew S. Nelson (AR2)


Fourth Official: Marcos DeOliveira


Weather: 70 Degrees and Sunny


Attendance: 18,651


Scoring Summary:

CLB – Ola Kamara 7 (Wil Trapp 1) 20'


NE – Diego Fagundez 2 (Kei Kamara 3, Lee Nguyen 5) 24'


NE – Diego Fagundez 3 (Unassisted) 34'


Misconduct Summary:

CLB – Wil Trapp (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 55'


CLB – Adam Jahn (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 90'+1'


NE – Andrew Farrell (Red Card – Serious Foul) 90'+3'


New England Revolution: Cody Cropper; Chris Tierney (Je-Vaughn Watson 83'), Benjamin Angoua, Antonio Delamea, Andrew Farrell; Xavier Kouassi; Diego Fagundez, Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Gershon Koffie HT); Kelyn Rowe; Kei Kamara, Lee Nguyen © (Scott Caldwell 88')


Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, Josh Smith, Daigo Kobayashi, Teal Bunbury


Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Waylon Francis, Nicolai Naess, Jonathan Mensah, Héctor Jiménez (Jukka Raitala 62'); Mohammed Abu, Wil Trapp ©; Justin Meram, Federico Higuaín, Kekuta Manneh (Niko Hansen 62'); Ola Kamara


Substitutes Not Used: Brad Stuver, Josh Williams, Alex Crognale, Adam Jahn