REVS RETURN TO FOXBOROUGH ON SATURDAY

New England Revolution Update: April 22, 2013

Revs return home to take on Philadelphia Union in first home game since the end of March

 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The Revolution (1-3-2, 5 pts.) makes its first appearance at Gillette Stadium in four weeks when the team hosts the Philadelphia Union (3-2-2, 11 pts.) on Saturday, April 27.

Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET. Comcast SportsNet will televise the game live, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the game on the radio on its HD2 channel.

Saturday’s game will have special meaning for many in attendance and watching at home. It will be the Revs’ first home game since the tragic events at the Boston Marathon last week. Additionally, it’s the team’s Autism Awareness game in partnership with Autism Speaks. Finally, Saturday’s match will be the club’s first at home since defender Kevin Alston announced he has been diagnosed with a rare, but treatable, form of leukemia.

REVS BACK IN ACTION ON SATURDAY AT GILLETTE

The New England Revolution played to a 0-0 draw against Sporting Kansas City, Saturday afternoon, in their home opener at Gillette Stadium.

Heavy wind through the 90 minutes of play was a factor in limited scoring chances for both teams.  Matt Reis, Revolution’s goalkeeper, made four saves against the Sporting KC, adding to his shutout record in his last two appearances.

Despite the conditions, and score, head coach Jay Heaps was happy with how his team approached the game.

“It certainly wasn’t going to go down as the prettiest soccer game ever played, but it was a good fight from our guys. I was really excited with the way we approached the match,” said Heaps.

The draw ended the Revolution’s six-year streak of victorious home openers, which ran from 2007-20012.

The Revs will kick off at 4 p.m. this Saturday at Gillette Stadium against FC Dallas.

HANNA PATTIE

BOSTON SPORTS DESK CORRESPONDENT

TWELLMAN, REVS TEAM UP FOR FUNDRAISER

Revolution teams up with Taylor Twellman for bartending fundraiser

Revs’ Benny Feilhaber, Matt Reis, A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney to serve drinks for charity at GEM on Sept. 6

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – In two weeks, New England Revolution stars Benny Feilhaber, Matt Reis, A.J. Soares and Chris Tierney will be joined by Revs legend and current ESPN soccer analyst Taylor Twellman at a special off-field event to benefit a cause close to Twellman’s and the Revs’ heart.

On Thursday, Sept. 6, Feilhaber, Reis, Soares, Tierney and Twellman step off the field and get behind the bar at GEM (42 Province St., Boston, Mass., 02108) where they will mix and serve drinks as celebrity bartenders while raising money for charity.

All tips received by the players and Twellman will being donated to Twellman’s own charity, Think Taylor (www.thinktaylor.org), which supports education, fundraising and awareness of concussions and sports-related brain injuries. He launched the non-profit shortly after being forced to leave the game of soccer in 2010 following a head injury suffered during a game in 2008.

The star-laden event will begin at 6 p.m., with the players’ bartending skills on display between 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. The Rev Girls will also be in attendance.

There is no cover charge for the event, and fans are encouraged to come out and support Think Taylor and the Revs.

REVOLUTION CHANGE GAME TIME

Next Saturday’s Revs match at Toronto pushed back one hour

Revs and Reds will kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET next Saturday

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution’s match against Toronto FC next Saturday, June 23, at BMO Field has been pushed back one hour and will now kick off at 5:30 p.m. ET to accommodate fans who want to watch the quarterfinals of the UEFA European Championships earlier in the day.

Additionally, the teams’ MLS Reserve League match, which will be played immediately following the first-team game, will now kick off at 8:15 p.m.

Comcast SportsNet will televise the match, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the call on the radio.

REVS LOOKING FOR A WIN

Sorry to everyone who enjoys reading my column for the tardiness of this preview. I  had a family member pass this week, and that took precedence over everything.

   So, saying tonight’s match with Kansas City is do or die is a poor choice of words, but sadly we are in that ballpark. A loss in Conference, and subsequent 6 point swing, could be pivotal later on this season when the playoff crunch comes along.

   Kansas City, Kansas will be the backdrop for the match against Last season’s regular season Conference leader Sporting KC.  KC who won 1-0 in their opener against DC United return a very strong cast and add new piece that they hope lead them over the hump of last years Eastern Conference Championship appearance. C.J. Sapong, Bobby Convey, Jimmy Nielsen, Teal Bunbury, and Kei Kamara, are all players to watch.

   Sapong and Kamara lead a High Octaine attack that scored a robust 50 goals last season, and already has one this year.  That would be Sapong’s game winner against DC. Kamara, when on is one of the better scorers in the league.  Bunbury also is involved in this scoring attack. This young man is very impressive of the pitch.

   Bobby Convey has come a LONG way since his days on DC United as a Teen. Maturity, and poise have seemed to latch onto Convey since returning from a 5 year stint with Reading FC in England (2004-2009). Acquired in a trade with SJ Convey brings those attributes to the Sporting midfield.

   Jimmy Nielsen their keeper, is pretty impressive. The “Dolph Lundgren Doppelganger” had 7 clean sheets in 2011, and 1 this season. New England however has found success against him, going 2-1-1 with 6 goals in those four matches.

   New England does get some stability back with the return of Chris Tierney. Tierney, who served a one game suspension last week for a red card ejection in the last game of 2011 against Toronto, returns to hopefully give New England a start to looking like the team they were supposed to be on paper this off-season.

   As for my prediction, I’m 0-1 after predicting a 2-1 Revs win and it being a 1-0 Quakes win. So, this week I’m going to say KC is going to have too much of an oppressive and suffocating attack, they beat New England. I’m going to say 2-1. Lets hope I’m wrong and New england wins.

  Game time is 8:30 on 98.5 the Sportshub and on the following Comcast Sportsnet ALTERNATE CHANNELS:

• Comcast Cable: 85
• Cox Communications: RI- 3 & 1003, CT-1128
• DISH TV: 440
• Full Channel: 180
• Shrewsbury: 309
• Time Warner Cable of NE: 1998 – NH, ME, Athol & Orange MA
• RCN: 600
• DirectTV: 695
• Verizon FioS: MLS Direct Kick 8 vc 1497
• Charter: 341

JAMES PERRY

REVS SIGN LECHNER

Revolution signs German defender Florian Lechner

 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution has signed German defender Florian “Flo” Lechner on afree transfer from Germany’s Karlsruher SC. Lechner will be formally added to the team’s roster upon receipt of his U.S. P-1 Visa and his International Transfer Certificate. Per league and club policies, further contract details will not be released

“We believe Flo will be a solid addition to our defensive corps and he adds versatility and depth to that group,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “We were pleased with how Flo adapted to MLS’ style of play and how he interacted with our players when we was with us in Tucson during preseason.”

Lechner, 31, comes to the Revolution from Bundesliga 2 (second-division) club Karlsruher SC, where he made 12 league appearances and two starts in the DFB Cup in the second half of 2011. Lechner previously played the bulk of his professional career with FC St. Pauli, where he made more than 100 appearances since 2004 while helping the club gain repeated promotion from the fourth division of German soccer all the way to the Bundesliga for the 2010-11 season.

Lechner began his professional career with VfB Stuttgart, where he was part of the club’s academy program before joining the club’s affiliated reserve team, VfB Stuttgart II, permanently in 2001. He made more than 60 appearances with Stuttgart II between the 1999-2000 and 2003-2004 seasons before moving to St. Pauli in the summer of 2004.

Lechner has the ability to play anywhere across the back, but is a natural right full back. 

The Revolution returns to action on Saturday, March 17, when the team travels to face Sporting Kansas City at 8:30 p.m. ET. The match will be televised by Comcast SportsNet, and 98.5 The Sports Hub will carry the game on the radio.

 

REVOLUTION MAKE ROSTER MOVE

Revolution signs French-born Moroccan
striker Monsef Zerka

Revs add former Greek Superleague forward to bolster attack

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution announced today that the club has signed Moroccan
forward Monsef Zerka. The late-season addition from Orleans, France, will fill the team’s sixth international player spot out of a possible eight. Per club policy, terms of the contract were not released.

Zerka will be officially added to the Revolution’s roster pending P1 Visa approval.

“We are looking forward to  Monsef’s arrival,” Michael Burns, Revolution Vice President of Player Personnel
said. “He is an experienced player who will provide us with another attacking  option.”

The 29-year-old forward joins the Revolution from Iraklis FC, recently relegated to the Football League 2 of
Greece from the top-level Greek Superleague. Prior to Iraklis, Zerka spent a decade playing in France, first as a member of AS Nancy in France from 2001 to 2009, and later with FC Nantes from 2009 to early 2011.

During his time with AS Nancy, Zerka made a total of 173 appearances and netted 17 goals. The French side has
been competing in Ligue 1 since the 2005-06 season, after having been promoted from Ligue 2. Zerka appeared in 85 Ligue 1 matches, scoring 13 goals in the four years he spent with the club at the highest level of French football.

Upon joining FC Nantes of Ligue 2, Zerka made an immediate impact by scoring in both his debut and second
matches with the club. He featured in 35 games, and recorded two goals during his two seasons with the club.

Zerka was eligible to play for either the French or Moroccan national teams because of his dual citizenship and
chose to represent Morocco, with whom he has earned 12 caps and scored three goals. He participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics, making the starting XI in two of Morocco’s three group stage matches. Zerka was also called up to the national squad for the 2008 African Cup of Nations, and netted an international goal for the Atlas Lions in a convincing 5-1 win over Namibia.

The Revolution (4-11-10, 21 pts.) returns to action on Saturday, August 20, when the team hosts the New York
Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live on Comcast SportsNet and carried on the radio at 98.5 The Sports Hub.

REVOLUTION NOTES

New England Revolution Update: August 15, 2011

Revs return home to face Houston Dynamo Wednesday, New York Red Bulls on Saturday

 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (4-11-9, 21 pts.) return home for two Eastern Conference match-ups on Wednesday and Saturday at Gillette Stadium, their last two home games in the summer months.

The Revs will welcome the Houston Dynamo (7-7-10, 31 pts.) on Wednesday, Aug. 17, at 8 p.m., and then take on rival New York Red Bulls (6-6-13, 31 pts.) on Saturday, Aug. 20, at 7:30 p.m. Both matches will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet, and carried locally on the radio by 98.5 The Sports Hub.

Both matches this week wrap up season series. New England fell to the Dynamo in Houston on April 17 – a 1-0 loss at Robertson Stadium – and on June 10, the Revs were unable to erase a two-goal deficit at Red Bull Arena, falling 2-1, despite Zak Boggs’ second-half strike.

The Revs will conduct three more training sessions this week.

 

REVS UPDATE

 

New England Revolution Update: August 8, 2011

Revs to travel to Columbus, face Crew on Saturday

 

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After Saturday’s debut of newly-signed Designated Player Milton Caraglio and the MLS debut of Home Grown Player Diego Fagundez, the New England Revolution (4-10-9, 21 pts.) will head west to visit the Columbus Crew (9-7-7, 34 pts.) at Crew Stadium on Saturday, August 13, at 7:30 p.m. ET.

The match will be televised regionally on Comcast SportsNet, and carried locally on the radio by 98.5 The Sports Hub.

The Revs will return to full training on Tuesday and will train three days ahead of Friday’s trip to Columbus.

 

REVS COME UP SHORT !

MLS Soccer: Chivas USA 3, New England Revolution 2
16-year-old Diego Fagundez scores one goal and sets up another in MLS debut, but Revs’ comeback falls short
 
By Jeff Lemieux
Staff Writer & Online Host
 
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Second-half substitute Diego Fagundez marked a memorable MLS debut with an 86th-minute goal, but the 16-year-old’s efforts weren’t enough to prevent the New England Revolution from suffering a 3-2 loss to Chivas USA on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
 
Fagundez – a Home Grown Player from Leominster, Mass. – entered in the 66th minute and put his stamp on the game just two minutes later by drawing a penalty kick which Shalrie Joseph converted, cutting the Chivas USA (7-8-8, 29 pts.) lead to 2-1 following goals from Alejandro Moreno and Nick LaBrocca. Moreno later added a second in the 80th minute – the eventual game-winning goal – before Fagundez again pulled the Revolution (4-10-9, 21 pts.) within one goal with his first MLS tally in the 86th minute.
 
Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy pushed Joseph’s 20-yard drive off the left post to preserve the victory in stoppage time.
 
Head coach Steve Nicol handed a debut start to Argentine forward Milton Caraglio – the Revolution’s first-ever Designated Player – after just two training sessions with his new teammates, marking one of four changes to the lineup which played to a 1-1 draw with Sporting Kansas City last weekend. Rookie defender A.J. Soares was unavailable while serving a one-game red-card suspension, while both Franco Coria (L MCL sprain) and Rajko Lekic (R great toe fracture) missed out through injury.
 
Ryan Cochrane returned to the starting lineup after recovering from a left foot injury and almost notched his first goal for the Revs in the sixth minute. Joseph’s chipped service found Cochrane as he surged through the box, but the central defender’s close-range header glanced wide of the right post.
 
Caraglio got involved in the 22nd minute, arriving at the back post to head Zack Schilawski’s right-wing service back across the face of goal. The ball arrived at the feet of Chris Tierney, who couldn’t connect on a hurried effort.
 
Despite New England’s positive start, it was Chivas USA which opened the scoring in the 31st minute. Simon Elliott began the move from deep in the midfield when he picked out LaBrocca on the right wing, while LaBrocca immediately delivered a curling cross into the box. Moreno snuck between Revolution defender Darrius Barnes and goalkeeper Matt Reis to poke a shot into the roof of the net and give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
 
Chivas USA doubled its advantage shortly after the halftime break as LaBrocca put his own name on the score sheet in the 59th minute. LaBrocca’s initial shot from inside the box was blocked by Barnes, but the rebound fell kindly to the Chivas USA midfielder, who deposited his second effort into the upper left corner.
 
Trailing by a pair of goals, the Revs made two changes in the following minutes as they switched out their forwards. Kenny Mansally replaced Caraglio in the 62nd minute, while Fagundez replaced Schilawski in the 66th minute.
 
Fagundez made an immediate impact, drawing a penalty just two minutes after taking the field for the first time in an MLS match. Following a weaving run into the left side of the box, Fagundez was chopped down by Chivas USA defender Heath Pearce and referee Mark Kadlecik pointed to the spot. Joseph stepped up and buried the penalty kick into the upper left corner to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the 69th minute.
 
Joseph almost pulled the Revolution level in the 79th minute when Stephen McCarthy headed Tierney’s free kick across the face of goal, but the captain’s close-range header was pushed wide by Kennedy.
 
The Revs were left to rue their missed opportunity, as the visitors restored their two-goal lead just one minute later. Moreno attempted a clever back heel as he received a low cross inside the box, but while he failed to direct his effort on target, he succeeded in settling the ball to his own feet. With Reis fooled by the initial attempt, Moreno coolly finished from a tight angle to put Chivas USA ahead 3-1.
 
Fagundez capped his dream debut with a goal in the 86th minute, fighting off the challenge of Chivas USA defender Zarek Valentin before latching onto Kevin Alston’s long pass and finishing calmly past Kennedy from the left side of the box.
 
Joseph so nearly earned a last-gasp equalizer for the Revs when his 20-yard drive was labeled for the upper left corner, but Kennedy pushed the effort off the post and Chivas USA escaped with all three points.
 
The Revs will return to the road next weekend when they’ll visit the Columbus Crew on Saturday, Aug. 13. Kickoff from Crew Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.