Recap | Revolution fall to defending champs Atlanta United FC, 2-0

Scott Caldwell vs. Atlanta United FC

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (1-5-1, 4 pts.) fell to Atlanta United FC (1-2-2, 5 pts.), 2-0, at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening. Atlanta's Ezequiel Barco scored both goals for the visitors on either side of halftime, tallying in the 29th and 49th minutes. 


Goalkeeper Cody Cropper made a third consecutive start in net for the Revolution and made five saves – tying his previous single-game career high – including point-blank stops on Héctor Villalba in the 59th minute and Josef Martinez in the 65th minute.


With defender Michael Mancienne serving a one-game suspension for a second yellow card on April 6 at Columbus, Andrew Farrell slotted inside to center back and led the team in tackles, clearances, blocks, and possessions gained. The match marked the 200th overall MLS appearance of Farrell’s seven-year career, which includes 193 regular season games and seven postseason matches.


New England returns to action on Saturday, April 20, when the club hosts the New York Red Bulls in the second leg of the three-game homestand. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston, 98.5 The Sports Hub, and in Portuguese on 1260 AM Nossa Radio.


New England Revolution 0, Atlanta United FC 2
April 13, 2019 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Revs Drop Match to Atlanta United FC, 2-0

The Revolution were topped by Atlanta United FC, 2-0, on Saturday, setting the club’s record at 1-5-1 (4 pts.) through seven games of the 2019 MLS season.


  • Prior to tonight, New England had not lost at home to Atlanta in two previous contests. The Revs’ all-time record against Atlanta moves to 0-3-2, with a 0-1-2 mark at Gillette Stadium.


Farrell Makes 200th Overall Career Appearance

·Defender Andrew Farrell made his 200th overall MLS appearance – combining regular season and postseason – in tonight's contest. For his career, he owns 193 regular season appearances as well as seven appearances in the MLS Cup Playoffs.


·Since joining the Revolution as the first-overall SuperDraft pick in 2013, Farrell leads all MLS field players in regular season games started (191) and minutes played (16,998), and second among all field players in games played (193).


·Farrell made his first start of the season at center back and led the team in tackles (5), clearances (3), blocks (2), and possessions gained (13). In 2016, he made 14 starts in central defense before moving back outside to right back.


Cropper Ties Single-Game High with Five Saves

·Goalkeeper Cody Cropper made his third consecutive start in net and submitted five saves – tying his previous single-game career high.


·In 2017, Cropper registered five saves in a single match on three occasions, including Sept. 27 vs. Orlando, Aug. 26 at D.C., and April 29 at Seattle.


·Cropper, who returned to the starting lineup on March 30 vs. Minnesota United FC for the first since time Sept. 2017, has recorded seven saves and a goals-against average of 1.25 over his three starts this season.


SuperDraft Picks Jones, Buchanan Continue Making Impact

·Midfielder DeJuan Jones registered his third consecutive start and logged 56 minutes in the contest. Jones, selected by New England with the 11th-overall pick in January's MLS SuperDraft, now owns four appearances, including three starts, and one assist on the season.


·Forward Tajon Buchanan, selected by the Revolution with the ninth pick in January's SuperDraft, made his second consecutive substitute appearance and third of the season. In 18 minutes of play, he recorded one shot on target.


Firmino Makes First Career Appearance in Matchday Roster

·Revolution Academy product Nicolas Firmino (Somerville, Mass.), who signed with the Revolution as a Homegrown Player in November 2018, made his first career appearance in the 18-man matchday roster.


  • The fifth Homegrown Player signing in club history, Firmino scored more than 35 goals in 90-plus appearances across four and a half seasons with the Revolution Academy. He has also tallied twice in Academy play with the Revolution Under-19 squad this season.


Revolution Starting XI Sees Three Changes

·The Revolution's starting lineup saw three changes from last weekend's match at Columbus Crew SC, as Luis Caicedo, Wilfried Zahibo, and Cristian Penilla replaced Michael Mancienne, Juan Agudelo, and Teal Bunbury.


·Mancienne, who was ejected from last weekend's match for a second yellow card, served his one-game suspension tonight.


GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Alex Chilowicz


Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins (AR1), Jeremy Kieso (AR2)


Fourth Official: Matt Franz


VAR: Geoff Gamble


Weather: 62° and Cloudy


Attendance: 15,016



Scoring Summary:


ATL – Ezequiel Barco 2 (Héctor Villalba 1) 29'


ATL – Ezequiel Barco 3 (Héctor Villalba 2) 49'


Misconduct Summary:

NE – Cristian Penilla (Yellow Card – Not Retreating) 53'


NE – Jalil Anibaba (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 53'


ATL – Jeff Larentowicz (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 71'


ATL – Miles Robinson (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 83'


NE – Scott Caldwell (Yellow Card – Unsporting Behavior) 89'


New England Revolution: Cody Cropper; Brandon Bye, Jalil Anibaba, Andrew Farrell, Luis Caicedo (Tajon Buchanan 72'); Scott Caldwell ©, Wilfried Zahibo (Teal Bunbury 56'), Carles Gil, DeJuan Jones (Diego Fagundez 56'); Juan Fernando Caicedo


Substitutes Not Used: Matt Turner, Nicolas Firmino, Juan Agudelo, Justin Rennicks


Atlanta United FC: Brad Guzan; Brek Shea, Leandro González Pirez, Miles Robinson, Michael Parkhurst ©; Eric Remedi (Ezequiel Barco 15' (Gonzalo Martinez 87')), Jeff Larentowicz; Héctor Villalba (Franco Escobar), Darlington Nagbe, Julian Gressel; Josef Martínez


Substitutes Not Used: Alec Kann, Florentin Pogba, Dion Pereira, Romario Williams