New England begins Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs campaign Tuesday night after record-breaking regular season
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (No. 1) will begin their Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoff run on Tuesday night as they play host to New York City FC (No. 4) in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The postseason match at Gillette Stadium kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on FS1, FOX Deportes, ROCK 92.9 FM, SiriusXM FC, 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 is the top seed in the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs as the 2021 Supporters’ Shield winner, as the club’s MLS-record 73 points and 2.15 points per game in the regular season secured homefield advantage throughout the postseason. The Revolution have been dominant at Gillette Stadium this season, winning a league-high 12 home games to match the club’s single-season record. New England has not lost a playoff match on home soil since 2002, a 13-game stretch (10-0-3).
The Revolution, league leaders in goals, assists, and goal differential this season, will look to get out on the front foot behind the attacking triumvirate of Adam Buksa, Gustavo Bou, and Carles Gil. Buksa (16 goals) and Bou (15) both ranked among the league’s top-10 goal scorers this season. Gil, the 2021 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and a finalist for Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player, led the league with 18 assists, including three against New York City. Tajon Buchanan, the Revs’ breakout star of the 2020 playoff run, has tallied six goals in his last 14 appearances entering Tuesday’s match. In net, 2021 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Matt Turner is 4-3-2 all-time against NYCFC with two clean sheets.
New England is led into the playoffs by 2021 Sigi Schmid MLS Coach of the Year and five-time MLS Cup champion Bruce Arena. Arena enters the playoffs as the league’s winningest coach in the postseason with a 35-13-6 career postseason record. The 17th-year MLS coach, who leads the league record books with four Supporters’ Shields and four Coach of the Year awards, is the most experience coach in MLS postseason annals with 54 playoff games coached. Arena has advanced to MLS Cup seven times in his previous 16 seasons in the league.
A win in Tuesday’s match would see New England advance to the club’s second straight Eastern Conference Final and its ninth in 26 seasons, which would be held at Gillette Stadium on Sunday, Dec. 5 against the Philadelphia Union (3:00 p.m. ET). Pay-as-We-Play playoff ticket packages and single-game tickets for the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs are on sale now. Visit RevolutionSoccer.net/Tickets, call 1-877-GET-REVS, or email tix@revolutionsoccer.net to secure tickets today.
Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs
Eastern Conference Semifinals: New England Revolution vs. New York City FC
Date: Tuesday, November 30, 2021
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. ET
Location: Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
BROADCAST INFORMATION
National TV: FS1, FOX Deportes
TV Talent: John Strong (play-by-play), Stu Holden (analyst)
Pregame: CBS Boston’s exclusive pregame coverage begins with “Revolution Kickoff” at 6:30 p.m. ET on TV38.
English Radio: ROCK 92.9 FM, SiriusXM FC
Radio Talent: Brad Feldman (play-by-play), Charlie Davies (analyst)
Portuguese Radio: WBIX 1260 AM “Nossa Radio USA”
STORYLINES: Click HERE to view the Revolution’s Game Notes for Tuesday’s match against NYCFC. Here are a few top storylines to watch for in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round:
Top-seeded New England beginning its third consecutive Audi MLS Cup Playoffs campaign under the league’s winningest playoff coach, Bruce Arena.
New England advancing to the conference finals for the second consecutive year and the ninth time in 26 seasons.
The Revolution extending their 13-game home unbeaten streak in the playoffs. Excluding the 2002 MLS Cup final in Foxborough, New England has not lost on home soil in the playoffs since 1997.
New England building on its record-setting 2021 campaign including the club’s first-ever Supporters’ Shield title and league records with 73 points and 2.15 points per game.
The Revolution playing against New York City FC in the postseason for the first time in club history. New England leads the all-time series, 9-6-4, including a 2-1-0 record this season.
New England building on its 13-10-4 all-time record in the Eastern Conference Semifinal Round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
2021 MLS Coach of the Year Bruce Arena adding to his MLS-high 35 playoff wins and 54 games coached.
2021 Allstate MLS Goalkeeper of the Year Matt Turner improving on his 3-2-0 playoff record and 4-3-2 career mark against NYCFC, including two shutouts.
New England’s three Designated Players – F Gustavo Bou, F Adam Buksa, and M Carles Gil – appearing together in the Revolution’s attack for the fifth time in postseason play.
Gil, the 2021 MLS Comeback Player of the Year and a finalist for the Landon Donovan MLS Most Valuable Player award, registering one assist to enter a four-way tie with Lee Nguyen, Jose Cancela, and Steve Ralston for the most postseason assists in club history (4).
Gil (449) and Bou (438) each eclipsing 500 minutes played in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Bou scoring once to match F Teal Bunbury (4) for the team lead in career postseason goals.
M Tommy McNamara, who ranked second on the club with 32 regular season appearances this season, playing against his former club. McNamara logged 86 appearances with New York City FC from 2015-18.
