Supporters’ Shield leaders carry seven-match unbeaten streak into midweek contest
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The New England Revolution (20-4-6; 66 pts.) will travel to the nation’s capital for a meeting with D.C. United (12-12-5; 41 pts.) on Wednesday night at Audi Field. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on WSBK-TV38 and myRITV, as well as on the radio via 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 and 1260 AM Nossa Radio.
New England enters Wednesday’s match on a seven-game unbeaten streak, collecting 17 of a possible 21 points during the stretch. Already confirmed as the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Revolution hold a nine-point advantage over Seattle Sounders FC in the race for the Supporters’ Shield. New England enters a two-game road swing having registered three consecutive victories away from home, and seven wins in the last eight away games. With a win on Wednesday, the Revolution would join Atlanta United’s 2018 side as the only teams to claim 10 away wins in the post-shootout era (since 2000).
With 66 points through 30 games, the most in MLS history at this stage of a season, the Revolution remain on pace to break the MLS single-season points record. New England needs seven points from the final four matches of the regular season to surpass LAFC’s mark of 72 set in 2019. The Revs’ next win would also see them become the fifth MLS team to win 21 matches in regulation.
In their last outing, the Revolution battled Chicago Fire FC to a 2-2 draw behind goals from Gustavo Bou and Wilfrid Kaptoum. With the tally, Bou now leads all MLS players with 40 direct goal involvements (28 goals, 12 assists) since he entered the league. MLS MVP contender Carles Gil collected his league-best 17th assist of the season, two shy of tying the club record, as he also set a new club mark for chances created in a season (113).
New England enters the midweek tilt at sixth-place D.C. United with five consecutive wins in the series. Six straight wins would be a new record for the series between the two MLS original clubs. D.C. features a potent attack that ranks fourth in MLS with 49 goals scored – behind the Revs’ MLS-high 59 tallies. Forward Ola Kamara leads the MLS Golden Boot race with 17 goals on the year, while Julian Gressel’s 11 helpers are tied for third most in the league. First-year head coach Hernán Losada’s side holds a 10-3-1 home record, including a 4-0-1 mark in its last four matches at Audi Field.
Game 31 at D.C. United
Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Audi Field (Washington, D.C.)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
TV: WSBK-TV38, myRITV
Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst)
English Radio: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2
Portuguese Radio: WBIX 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA”
STORYLINES: Click HERE to view the Revolution’s Game Notes for Wednesday’s match against D.C. United. Here are a few top storylines to watch for on Wednesday:
- New England (66 pts.) earning seven points in the final four games to break the MLS single-season points record (72 – LAFC, 2019).
- The Revs maintaining their 2.20 points per game pace to set a new MLS record (2.13 – LA Galaxy, 2018).
- The Revolution (.767) finishing the season with the league’s best-ever winning percentage, beating the previous high of .750.
- New England becoming the fifth team in MLS history to win 21 games in regulation (adjusted for shootouts from 1996-99).
- The Revolution becoming the third team to win 10 road games in regulation (1998 LA Galaxy, 2018 Atlanta United). New England’s nine road victories are tied with Seattle for the MLS lead.
- The Revs’ attack continuing to lead MLS in goals (59), assists (61), and shots on target (161).
- The Revolution winning a sixth straight game against D.C. United for the first time in the series history.
- Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena winning two more games to tie Sigi Schmid (240) for the most MLS regular season victories. Arena holds a 12-4-8 record against D.C. United, including a 6-0-2 mark in the last eight meetings.
- Bruce Arena campaigning for his fourth MLS Supporters’ Shield title, which would break a deadlock with Schmid for the most all-time.
- GK Matt Turner winning a 16th game to tie the Revs’ single-season mark for a goalkeeper (Matt Reis – 2005; Bobby Shuttleworth – 2014). Turner is 6-1-2 all-time against D.C.
- Carles Gil adding two assists to his MLS-high total (17) to tie the club’s single-season record (19 – Steve Ralston, 2002).
- Gil (113) nearing Diego Valeri’s league record of 124 chances created in a single season (source: Opta – data since 2011).
- Gustavo Bou building on his team-high 14 goals in 2021 and 40 combined goals and assists for his career, most in MLS since he joined the Revolution.
- Adam Buksa recording three more shots to hit the century mark on the season, and five more shots to set a new Revolution single-season high (Wolde Harris – 101, 2000).
