POSTGAME NOTES: Revolution Set MLS Record for Most Points in a Season with 1-0 Victory vs. Colorado Rapids

New England’s 73 points are now the most all-time as the Revs’ 22^nd win matches an MLS record

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (22-4-7; 73 pts.) defeated the Colorado Rapids (15-7-10; 55 pts.), 1-0, on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium. With the result, the Revolution set a new MLS record for points in a season (73), surpassing LAFC’s mark of 72 set in 2019. In addition, the club’s 22^nd win of the season ties the MLS record for non-shootout victories, while the team’s 2.21 points per game are now guaranteed to set a new league mark.

Midfielder Tajon Buchanan delivered the game-winning goal in the 74^th minute, converting on assists from Adam Buksa and Emmanuel Boateng. Revolution captain Carles Gil logged seven chances created to give him 126 on the year – the most in any MLS campaign since 2011 (per Opta). Meanwhile, New England’s defense registered its eighth clean sheet as goalkeeper Matt Turner made four saves en route to his 17^th win of the season, a new Revolution record.

Wednesday’s result extends the Revs’ unbeaten streak to 10 consecutive games, one shy of equaling the team’s all-time high. New England completes the months of September and October without a loss, going 7-0-3 during that span. With homefield advantage secured throughout the Audi 2021 MLS Cup Playoffs and one home game remaining on the regular-season docket, the Revolution tied a team record with their 12^th home win tonight, improving to 12-1-3 in Foxborough this year.

Tonight’s win also sees Sporting Director and Head Coach Bruce Arena tie Sigi Schmid for the most regular season victories in MLS history (240). Arena, who owns an MLS-record four Supporters’ Shield titles, coached his 75^th league match with the Revolution tonight. Arena’s record with New England improves to 38-14-23.

Buchanan’s tally, his eighth of the season, gives New England three scorers with eight goals or more for the fourth time in club history. The Canadian international owns three-game winning goals this season. Buksa’s fourth assist of the season, all game winners, gives the Polish striker eight goals and three assists over his last 10 appearances. Boateng collected his fourth assist of the season in a 25-minute shift off the bench.

Next Sunday, November 7, the Revolution will look to become the first MLS team to win 23 games in regulation as they conclude the historic campaign at home against Inter Miami CF. Immediately following the match, the Revolution will be presented the 2021 Supporters’ Shield in an on-field ceremony at Gillette Stadium. The MLS Decision Day match kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET on WSBK-TV38, myRITV, CoziTV, 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2, and 1260 AM Nossa Radio.

POSTGAME NOTES

New England Revolution 1, Colorado Rapids 0

October 27, 2021 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)

Team Notes:

• The New England Revolution defeated the Colorado Rapids, 1-0, on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium, improving their record to 22-4-7 (73 points).
• The Revs’ 73 points set a new record for points in an MLS season, surpassing the previous record of 72 set by Los Angeles FC in 2019.
• New England’s 22 victories match the MLS record for wins in a season (not including shootouts). The official MLS record for wins in a season is 24, set in 1998 by the LA Galaxy and Bruce Arena’s D.C. United during the league’s shootout era (1996-99).
• With tonight’s victory, New England will also set a new MLS record for points per game. The club’s current pace of 2.21 points per game is guaranteed to overtake the LA Galaxy’s 2.13 points per game in 1998.
• The Revs’ lead in the Eastern Conference now stands at 21 points, which would be the largest margin of victory atop an MLS conference. The Revs’ 15-point lead in the Supporters’ Shield standings would also be the largest margin in league history.
• With a win or tie next Sunday, the Revolution will match the MLS record for fewest losses in an MLS season (4).
• The Revs matched their club record for home wins in a season (12 – 2017). New England’s 2021 home record improves to 12-1-3 (39 points), best in MLS.
• New England’s unbeaten streak now stands at 10 games (7-0-3) since the club’s last loss on Aug. 28. A result next Sunday would see New England tie the club’s longest stretch without a loss (11 games – 2005 and 2019).
• The Revs’ 65 goals and 31 first-half tallies both lead the league. New England’s 65 goals and 70 assists are both club records, while the team’s +28 goal differential would also be a new team record.
• The Revolution have three players with eight-or-more goals scored for the fourth time in team history: Adam Buksa (16), Gustavo Bou (15), and Tajon Buchanan (8).
• Bruce Arena’s Starting XI features nine changes from New England’s 2-2 draw at Orlando City SC on Sunday night. Goalkeeper Matt Turner and defender Andrew Farrell are the only two Revolution starters who also featured in the lineup on Sunday.

Individual Notes:    

• Bruce Arena tied Sigi Schmid for the most regular season wins in MLS history (240). Arena’s record with New England through 75 league games with the club stands at 38-14-23 (.660).
• Carles Gil recorded a team-high seven chances created on the night to reach 126 for the season – now the most in a single season since Opta began tracking the statistic in 2011.
• Tajon Buchanan scored the lone goal of the match for New England, his career-high eighth tally of the year.
• Reigning MLS Player of the Week Adam Buksa provided the game-winning assist while adding a team-high six shots. All four of Buksa’s assists this season have been game winners. The Polish striker has now found the scoresheet in six of his last seven games.
• Emmanuel Boateng made his 11^th appearance of the season coming off the bench in the second half, providing a secondary assist on Buchanan’s strike and completing all 15 of his passes.
• Matt Turner earned his 17^th victory of the year, setting a new club record for wins by a goalkeeper in a single season. His record at Gillette Stadium also improves to 11-0-3 this year.
• Turner made four saves to preserve his fifth clean sheet of the season and first since Aug. 4 vs. Nashville.
• Henry Kessler eclipsed 4,000 minutes played in his MLS career, posting his 18^th consecutive 90-minute outing. Kessler marked the occasion by winning nine of his 11 duels and recording team highs in tackles (7) and interceptions (2).
• Brandon Bye recorded his 90^th MLS start on Wednesday, registering a team-high three clearances and adding one key pass.
• Andrew Farrell posted team highs in recoveries (9) and interceptions (2), reaching 32 appearances in a season for the fifth time in his career.
• Matt Polster won a team-high nine duels and added four tackles.
• Gustavo Bou had a team-best six shots and three on target in Wednesday’s win, adding two key passes as well as a defensive clearance.

GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Victor Rivas.

Assistant Referees: Kyle Atkins (AR1); Ian McKay (AR2).

Fourth Official: J.C. Griggs.

Video Assistant Referee: Jorge Gonzalez.

Attendance: 10,199

Weather: 47 degrees and cloudy.

Scoring Summary:

NE – Tajon Buchanan 8 (Adam Buksa 4, Emmanuel Boateng 4) 74’

Misconduct Summary:

COL – Lalas Abubakar (Yellow Card – Bad Foul) 15’

COL – Diego Rubio (Yellow Card – Bad Foul) 53’

COL – Lucas Esteves (Yellow Card – Dissent) 90’+2

New England Revolution: Matt Turner; DeJuan Jones, Henry Kessler, Andrew Farrell, Brandon Bye; Matt Polster, Tommy McNamara (Emmanuel Boateng 65’), Tajon Buchanan, Carles Gil © (Arnór Traustason 88’); Adam Buksa, Gustavo Bou (Maciel 88’).

Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton, A.J. DeLaGarza, Jon Bell, Scott Caldwell, Wilfrid Kaptoum, Teal Bunbury.

Colorado Rapids: William Yarbrough; Steven Beitashour (Braian Galván 78’), Drew Moor, Lalas Abubakar, Auston Trusty, Lucas Esteves; Cole Bassett (Dominique Badji 78’), Nicolás Mezquida (Mark-Anthony Kaye 58’), Collen Warner; Andre Shinyashiki (Jonathan Lewis 58’), Diego Rubio (Michael Barrios 69’)

Substitutes Not Used: Clint Irwin, Danny Wilson, Jeremy Kelly, Jack Price.

POSTGAME QUOTES: New England Revolution 1 vs. Colorado Rapids 0

CLICK HERE for matchday media assets including photos, highlights, and postgame interview footage.

Revolution Sporting Director & Head Coach Bruce Arena

On Emmanuel Boateng appearing to play more centrally tonight and how he helped change the game:

Arena: “No. He played as a left-side midfielder. I think it gave our team balance in the attack. I think we need a little bit more balance to kind of stretch them out and he gave us that. Obviously, a great goal by Tajon [Buchanan].”

On setting the new MLS points record and the excitement that it brought to the team:

Arena: “Kind of remarkable. I mean, I said that to the team, ‘Man, what a shitshow I inherited in May of 2019.’ To think how far they’ve come, is kind of remarkable. It really is. That shows the character of these people – not only the players, but the staff. You know, we come to work every day, it’s a pretty good work environment. And I guess, they accomplished more than any team in the history of the league. So, that’s a heck of a story. So, you guys all have something to write. You don’t have to write about the formations and all the other stuff. You can write about it. It could be a history essay.”

On the development of Tajon Buchanan:

Arena: “Well, he’s come a long way. I remember telling him at the end of 2019, I was on the field with him one day in training at the end of the year, and I said, ‘Tajon, there’s no reason to believe that you can’t be playing on our team on a regular basis next year.’ I could see the talent he had, it just wasn’t coming together and there’s still ways to come, but you could see the potential he had as a player. He’s 22 years old, which in our sport now is considered probably old. But, he’s made a great jump over the last year.”

On the boost of keeping a clean sheet tonight:

Arena: “That’s good and I thought Matt Turner made an incredible save in the first half and I think a real good one on [Michael] Barrios in the last 10-15 minutes of the game. So, good to see Matt back in good form and we needed a clean sheet as well. So, that’s really good to see.”

On if tonight’s match was a good test for the type of game the team might see in the playoffs:

Arena: “Well, yeah. I think these 3-2 games are getting a little old. You know, I think we needed to have a grind-out kind of game and that’s what tonight was.”

On where he ranks this year’s team in league history now that it has set the MLS points record:

Arena: “I’ve been asked this question so many times. First of all, we haven’t won anything. We won a Supporters’ Shield and all. And I guess, the way you’re judged in this league is what you do at the end, and there’s still a lot ahead. So, I don’t know how you judge this team. I’ve had some really good teams. I tell people all the time, the 1998 D.C. United team I had was the best team, I think, I’ve coached in this league and we lost in the final that year. So, I don’t know. I mean, different eras. The league is better now. The game is different. It’s played with a lot more speed today. The league is improved. I don’t know how to answer the question, to be honest. It’s like saying well, the ‘96 Yankees – not that I know what the Yankees did in ’96 – is better than the Yankees of five years ago. I have no idea how you compare those things. But, this is a good team. It’s a good team.”

On this starting group’s cohesion:

Arena: “Well, I think we’ve consistently played this lineup. They can get better. It’s such an awkward year, when you get into September, October, and November, with the international calendar. It’s so awkward. It throws everyone out of rhythm and then you have these breaks. The whole league is out of rhythm, I think. Then, we’ve got loaded up with all these games at the end. It’s difficult to really see if anyone’s pleased with anybody, because it’s just hard to have a coordinated team with all the little obstacles that get in the way. So, I don’t know how to answer that question. I’m still trying to figure out how we’re going to get our team better in November, with the layoff and the distance between our last regular season game and our first playoff game. So, it’s really challenging. So, I don’t know what to say with any of that.”

Revolution Defender DeJuan Jones

On setting the new MLS points record:

Jones: “It’s a great feeling. We worked so hard all year, just taking it one game at a time. Our goal this year was to compete for the top spot in the East. Then as the year went on, we were up there for the Supporters’ Shield. But again, we’re just taking it one game at a time. We look up now and we’re at 73 [points] with the chance to get 76, so it’s incredible. I want to keep it rolling.”

On whether the team talked about the record as the Revolution approached it:

Jones: “There was some chatter with about 10 games left. I think when we started getting a good lead in the East, but it was never our main focus. Again, we really just focused on one game at a time, home or away, just a winning mentality. We wanted to get three points every single game.”

On celebrating after the game:

Jones: “We all got in there and Bruce [Arena] gave a nice speech, and I saw all the coaches celebrating with us. It’s a great accomplishment — all-time points record in 26 years in MLS, so it’s great. But we know this isn’t our ultimate goal. We still have the playoffs.”

On playing against Colorado:

Jones: “It was a tough game. They do a really good job defensively, and they’re really organized, and they like to get you on the counter attack. So, we had a lot of possession, a lot of chances, but they’re dangerous on the counter. We always had to be aware, because they’re pretty dangerous.”

On tonight’s match potentially serving as a good test for what the team will see in the playoffs:

Jones: “For sure, and just to get that clean sheet again, it’s been a long time. So that’s good for our confidence and playing a Western Conference opponent as well. That was very nice.”

On Bruce Arena’s impact in New England:

Jones: “It’s been incredible. Bruce came in and really just brought that winning mentality. He got everyone on the same page. He brought in some great players and I think this year, kind of putting it all together. That first year he took us halfway through the season. And then we had another year, last year, but it was a COVID year. So our first full year with Bruce, I think it’s just showing what good coaching and good players who buy in can do. So, we’re proud of our season so far, but we know we have work left to do.”

On lifting the Supporters’ Shield after next Sunday’s match:

Jones: “It’s an awesome accomplishment, just to be so consistent throughout the whole year. It’s not an easy task, especially with international call-ups, injuries. Just honestly, a lot of guys stepping up when they’re called upon, and it shows our depth as well as a team, so this is an incredible accomplishment. We’re excited for next Sunday’s game.”

Revolution Midfielder Matt Polster

On setting the MLS single-season points record:

Polster: “Yeah, I definitely don’t think it’s a goal you set prior to the season. It was a goal of ours to come out strong and start the season really well. We did that and to be in the position we’re in, a lot of the boys and staff should be really proud of the effort and work they put into this, and fans and the front office. So, it’s really incredible. I’m happy for everybody that’s been a part of it. Yeah, it’s nice.”

On the win tonight and if this the intensity was similar to a playoff game:  

Polster: “Yeah, I think the games now going forward are going to look a lot like that. It’s a playoff environment. Colorado’s playing for a position in the West. Going into [Inter Miami CF] is going to look similar I think and then playoffs will be what tonight was really about – to grind it out. We know we can do that. I think we’ve lacked it a little bit at times, but the mentality to defend at the end was really, really good.”

On his mentality after the team’s subs left him as the lone central defensive midfielder:

Polster: “We’re a team that always goes for it. I know Bruce [Arena] is going to make those subs where maybe we’ll go a little bit more attacking and push for three points, which we’ve done all the season. I noticed that I was the only probably true center-mid on the field. I was a little bit more cautious of getting forward and getting into the attack. So, it’s nothing different. Those are changes that he makes on a consistent basis and that we can all adapt to.”

On the team’s clean sheet tonight:

Polster: “Yeah, it’s really important to get that tonight and then focus on that as well against Miami [on November 7]. Showing that we can string a couple clean sheets together going into the playoffs, because it’s going to be really close in those games, it’s going to be a grind just like it was tonight. So, we need to be really focused defensively so our guys up top can win us the game.”

On the upcoming break before the playoffs and the team’s recent experience with long gaps between games:

Polster: “Yeah, I think it was a little bit of a taste for the Chicago game. I think we’ll have a little bit longer of a break for the first playoff game. We can’t look too much into it. It is what it is. We’ll need to just be focused throughout that time off and they’re going to set us up with some friendlies here and there. So, I don’t see it being an issue but when we go into the game, we need to be mentally ready. That it might not look clean to start with, but put that fire out there and see how we do.”

On tonight being preparation for the playoffs:

Polster: “Yeah, that’s an extremely tough team. Colorado has done really well all season. That’s what teams have come here and done. They’ve sat a little bit more and then tried to break on the counter. Tonight, they may have frustrated us a little bit but with the quality we have up top and within this team, we always have an opportunity to score goals. That’s where we’ve kind of been really, really strong. So, we know if we can stay in the game, we’re most likely going to figure a way out to win.”

On Emmanuel Boateng:

Polster: “Ema [Boateng] is a dynamic player. He likes to get forward, he likes lifting balls, and he likes to just get up the pitch. So, it changes the dynamic of the team a little bit. Especially with now him and Tajon [Buchanan] and then you have Carles [Gil], Gustavo [Bou] and Adam [Buksa]. It’s a lot of attacking pieces and it’s difficult for the other team to deal with such quality in the final third. It helped a lot tonight.”

On winning the Supporters’ Shield and looking forward to next Sunday’s post-game presentation:

Polster: “Yeah, the boys have worked really hard all season and it’s a moment that I think we’re going to enjoy quite a bit. After that, I think the mindset really needs to shift because it’s three games from an MLS Cup and that’s what’s the most important. Winning the Supporters’ Shield is nice, but winning an MLS Cup is better. So, I know the boys are already kind of in that mindset that we want to win an MLS Cup, because we’ve already secured everything that we needed to the season.”

On the accomplishments of tonight’s game:

Polster: “Yeah, it’s an incredible achievement. I don’t think anybody at the beginning of the year was thinking, ‘Okay, let’s beat the record for the most points.’ It was really important for us to come out really strong in the beginning of the year and kind of set the tone for the whole season. I think that’s what we’ve done and think that’s why we are where we are. We’ve been able to adapt in different ways. Guys have had injuries and we’ve gone through that; international breaks and we’ve gone through that. So, it’s an entire group of quality. Guys have stepped up in certain moments to help us win games on a consistent basis. The staff’s done really well managing players. It’s kind of all gelled together. So, you can’t really argue with where we are. The boys are going to get a couple of days off, which is great, and then focus on Miami and then playoffs.”