FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – As the New England Revolution head down to square off against the Philadelphia Union on Saturday night, they’ll have a little extra energy coming from the stands.
More than 600 Revolution supporters will be making the trip to Talen Energy Stadium to cheer on the Revs, and the timing of their traveling support to a massive Eastern Conference showdown could not be better.
“It’s a crucial time,” said Revs goalkeeper Matt Turner. “We need all the support we can get. We know it’s going to be huge having 600 fans behind us. My family will be there, too, so it’s just another game that we need to dig deep. Having people there cheering us on is really going to help us do that, so we’re really looking forward to playing in front of them.”
With two-thirds of the MLS regular season behind them, it’s now crunch time for the Revs as they look to snap a seven-game winless run. With only 10 games remaining the Revs currently sit at 29 points, right below the playoff line at seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
The Union are one of the Revs’ primary competitors for playoff spots, as they presently sit only four points above the Revs at fifth in the East. With the potential for a six-point swing in the standings, it makes this a critical matchup.
The echoing chants of Revolution supporters always spur on New England whether they are home or away. However, with the urgency of this playoff push, knowing that Revs fans have the club’s back through both good and bad times will give them a necessary boost on Saturday.
“Their support helps,” said rookie Brandon Bye. “We hear you guys up there. It’s nice to know that you guys are there and supporting us. If we’re battling back from a deficit or we’re up a lead, it means a lot.”
As a Revolution Season Member one of the many additional advantages to augment the 17-game schedule at Gillette Stadium is an opportunity to travel to an away match, with the club providing round-trip transportation from Foxborough as well as game tickets. Previously, Season Members have been given a chance to go to games at Red Bull Arena and Yankee Stadium, but Saturday’s match will be the first official organized club trip to Talen Energy Stadium.
While Philadelphia may be a little farther away than past trips, the players appreciate the loyal dedication of their supporters.
“It’s a little farther away from home, and they’ll be there to help us make it feel a little bit like home so that means a lot, “ said Turner. “It just goes to show how much all this means to them, and we want to go out there and make them proud every time we step on the field. We’re going to try our hardest and we’re going to try to make them proud at the end so I know we want the three points, and they’re going to help us get it.”
The Revs will kick off in Philly on Saturday at 7 p.m., with coverage on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub and 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA.
