Revolution would set new MLS points record with a win against Colorado
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (21-4-7; 70 pts.) will play their match at home since being crowned winners of the 2021 Supporters’ Shield this Wednesday night against the Colorado Rapids. The midweek match at Gillette Stadium kicks off at 7:00 p.m. ET on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2, SiriusXM FC 157, and 1260 AM Nossa Radio in Portuguese. CBS Boston’s exclusive pregame coverage begins with “Revolution Kickoff” at 6:30 p.m. on TV38.
New England will conclude its historic regular season needing just one win in its final two games – both at home – to set a new MLS record for points in a season. The Revolution are only the third team in league annals to reach the 70-point mark, two points shy of LAFC’s record pace of 72 points (2019). The league’s most dominant home team this season, the Revolution carry an 11-1-3 home mark into Wednesday’s match. One more victory in the final two games would tie the league’s record for modern-era wins (22) and tie the club’s single-season high for home wins (12). The Revolution own a nine-match unbeaten streak in Foxborough dating back to July 7 and have not lost in nine games overall since August 28 – two games shy of matching the club’s longest-ever streak without a loss.
Wednesday’s match marks the first encounter between Colorado and New England since the Revs logged a 2-1 win over the Rapids on July 4, 2019. The Rapids enter the match as one of four MLS teams to have already clinched a spot in the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs as they are entrenched in a battle for the top seed in the Western Conference. The Revolution have collected wins in five of the last six meetings with the fellow original MLS side, with a 12-6-5 home record in the series. Forward Teal Bunbury owns a team-high three goals scored against Colorado.
The Revolution fought back from a two-goal deficit to earn a 2-2 draw at Orlando on Sunday night behind Adam Buksa’s third brace of the season. Buksa earned MLS Player of the Week honors after nothing his 15th and 16th goals of the campaign in only 45 minutes of action. His 16 goals are only one behind the MLS leader (Ola Kamara – 17), while Buksa leads the league in non-penalty goals scored. While the league scoring title is in sight, Buksa remains in a tight race with Gustavo Bou (15) for the team lead. Both players enter the match during a torrid run of form. Bou has reached the scoresheet in six straight games with a goal or assist, while Buksa has tallied eight goals in his last nine games.
Midfielder Carles Gil added to another assist on Sunday to lift his league-best total to 18 helpers on the season. Gil’s next assist will tie the Revs’ single-season record (19 – Steve Ralston, 2002), while two more helpers would make him the fourth MLS player to record a 20-assist season.
Additionally, Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena remains within one win of tying Sigi Schmid for the most MLS regular season wins. Arena, now the owner of four Supporters’ Shield titles in addition to five MLS Cup championships, is 18-9-6 all-time against the Rapids, including a 16-1-1 mark when his teams score first.
Date: Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Kickoff: 7:00 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: TV38, myRITV
Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst), Naoko Funayama (sideline)
Pregame: CBS Boston’s exclusive pregame coverage begins with “Revolution Kickoff” at 6:30 p.m. on TV38.
English Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2, SiriusXM FC 157
Portuguese Radio: WBIX 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA”
POSTGAME PRESS CONFERENCE: CLICK HERE immediately after Wednesday’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, defender Brandon Bye, and defender A.J. DeLaGarza previewing Wednesday’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 Wednesday’s match against Colorado. Here are a few top storylines to watch for on Wednesday:
- The 2021 Supporters’ Shield winners earning a victory to set new MLS records for points and points per game in a season.
- The Revs defeating Colorado to tie the club’s record for home wins in a season (12 – 2017).
- The Revolution earning results in each of the next two matches to tie the club’s longest unbeaten streak (11 games – 2005 and 2019) and match the fewest defeats in any MLS season (4).
- The Revolution continuing to start and finish games strong, as the MLS leader in goals scored in the first half (31) and final 15 minutes (17) of matches.
- Bruce Arena (239) matching Sigi Schmid (240) for the most regular season victories in MLS history with his next win.
- New England’s trio of Designated Players – F Gustavo Bou, F Adam Buksa, and M Carles Gil – adding to their combined 35 goals and 30 assists.
- Buksa (T-2nd – 16) and Bou (T-5th – 15) continuing to challenge for the MLS Golden Boot as the league’s leading goal scorer.
- Buksa continuing to lead MLS in non-penalty goals and adding to his three multi-goal games this season, which are one off the league lead.
- Bou continuing to pace MLS in combined goals and assists (T-1st – 24) this season. He leads MLS in the category with 43 direct goal involvements since his Revs debut in July 17, 2019.
- 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 continuing to lead MLS in assists (18), chances created (119), chances created from open play (72), and chances created from set play (47).
- GK Matt Turner (16) setting a new club record with his next victory. Turner is 2-0-0 in his career against the Rapids.
