Revolution will lift the Supporters’ Shield on Sunday as Bruce Arena aims to become winningest coach in MLS history
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (22-4-7; 73 pts.) are set to close their record-setting 2021 regular season with a home match against Inter Miami CF (11-17-5; 38 pts.) on Sunday, November 7 at Gillette Stadium. The MLS Decision Day match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET and airs locally on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, and CoziTV. The match is available on the radio via 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 and 1260 AM Nossa Radio in Portuguese. At the conclusion of Sunday’s match, New England will be joined on the field by members of the club’s official supporters’ groups, the Midnight Riders and The Rebellion, to hoist the Supporters’ Shield in front of The Fort.
With last Wednesday’s 1-0 win over Colorado, New England set a new league record for points in a single season, 73, while sealing the highest points-per-game total in MLS history. A win on Decision Day would see the Revolution set a new league mark with 23 regulation wins, as well as set a new club mark for home victories. Unbeaten over their last 10 contests, New England is one result away from matching the club’s longest streak without a loss (11 games – 2005 and 2019). Points on Sunday would also see the Revs tie the league record for fewest defeats in a season (4).
A victory this weekend would also mark an individual milestone for Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena, who enters Sunday tied with the late Sigi Schmid for the most regular season wins in MLS history (240). Arena has registered points in 61 of his 75 matches since joining New England in 2019, posting a 38-14-23 mark in the regular season. Arena will lift his league-high fourth Supporters’ Shield on Sunday.
The Revolution enter the season’s final match with a close race for the club’s Golden Boot award. Adam Buksa paces the team with 16 goals on the year, tied for fourth most in MLS, but Gustavo Bou’s 15 tallies and nine assists could see him overtake his strike partner in the regular season finale. Bou is one assist shy of becoming the third Revolution player to tally double-digit goals and assists in the same season. Meanwhile, MLS MVP frontrunner Carles Gil will look to close out the season as the league leader in assists (18) and chances created (126), needing one more helper to tie the Revolution single-season record (19 – Steve Ralston, 2002).
In defense, Andrew Farrell is on the verge of setting new single-season career highs for starts and minutes played. Backstopping the Revolution is Goalkeeper of the Year candidate Matt Turner, who has not lost in 14 starts at Gillette Stadium this season (11-0-3). Turner’s 17 wins are a new club record for a goalkeeper.
Sunday’s match marks Miami’s first trip to Foxborough and the second-ever meeting between New England and the 2020 MLS expansion side. The Revolution tallied a season-high five goals in the first encounter, a 5-0 shutout at DRV PNK Stadium on July 21, behind two-goal performances from Arnór Traustason and Adam Buksa. Miami, 4-9-3 on the road this season, has lost four consecutive away matches.
Date: Sunday, November 7, 2021
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: TV38, myRITV, CoziTV
Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst), Naoko Funayama (sideline)
English Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2
Portuguese Radio: WBIX 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA”
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: CLICK HERE immediately after Sunday’s match to join the postgame press conference featuring Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena and select Revolution players.
MATCH PREVIEW SOUND: Interview footage with Bruce Arena, forward Teal Bunbury, and midfielder Tommy McNamara previewing Sunday’s match is available for download HERE. Additional soundbytes and photo/video assets are available HERE and on the MLS Imagen platform (register here).
STORYLINES: Click HERE to view the Revolution’s Game Notes for Sunday’s match against Miami. Here are a few top storylines to watch for on Sunday:
- The Revolution lifting the Supporters’ Shield alongside their supporters for the first time in the club’s 26-year history.
- New England building on its MLS records of 73 points and 2.21 points per game this season. The Revs are also guaranteed to at least tie, if not surpass, the best winning percentage in league history.
- Bruce Arena (240) winning one more game to surpass Sigi Schmid (240) for the most regular season victories in MLS history.
- The Revs earning points to tie the league record for fewest losses in a season (4).
- New England (7-0-3 since Aug. 28) extending its unbeaten streak to 11 games, which would tie a club record.
- The Revolution adding to their club-record marks in goals (65) and assists (70), both of which pace the league.
- GK Matt Turner adding to his Revolution-record 17 wins and finishing the season unbeaten (11-0-3) at Gillette Stadium.
- New England’s trio of Designated Players – F Gustavo Bou, F Adam Buksa, and M Carles Gil – adding to their combined 35 goals and 31 assists.
- Buksa (T-4th – 16) and Bou (T-6th – 15) continuing to challenge for the MLS Golden Boot and the team’s scoring lead.
- Bou (15G, 9A) recording one more assist to become the third Revolution player to reach double digits in goals and assists (last – Carles Gil, 2019).
- Gil (18) notching one assist to tie the Revolution’s single-season assists record (19- Steve Ralston, 2002). The Spanish midfielder is two helpers shy of becoming the fourth player in league history to post a 20-assist campaign.
- D Andrew Farrell setting new single-season career highs for starts and minutes played in his ninth MLS season, all with the Revolution.
- M Tommy McNamara appearing in his 175th MLS regular season game.
