FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution (5-1-1, 16 pts.) were victorious in a 4-0 match on Saturday night versus CF Montréal (1-0-5, 3pts.).
The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts to a crowd of 18,021.
The XI. pic.twitter.com/svorExpVhg
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 8, 2023
The team started their lineup in a 4-4-2 formation with Đorđe Petrović starting in net with a backline of (left back) DeJuan Jones, (center backs) Dave Romney and Henry Kessler, along with (right back) Brandon Bye. The midfield consisted of Carles Gil (left midfield), Matt Polster and Latif Blessing (central midfield) and Dylan Borrero (right midfield). The forward roles were manned by (left) Gustavo Bou and (right) Bobby Wood.
Saturday’s match featured the return of midfielders Latif Blessing and Matt Polster. Latif missed last two matches due to an injury, while Matt missed last match due to illness.
▪️ Three changes from the 1-1 draw with NYCFC
▪️ Blessing back in XI after missing two games
▪️ Polster back in XI after missing one game
▪️ Borrero starts after last week's sub appearance
▪️ Buck available on bench after starting first six games#NERevs https://t.co/jHlvbk23g2— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) April 8, 2023
The match began with the Revolution starting with the midfield kickoff with the ball passed straight back to midfielder Matt Polster who sent the ball all the way up into the Montréal attacking third.
CF Montréal had the first attacking moment of the match. Just 1 minute into the game, #29 Mathieu Choinière sent a right footed ball toward the back post which was settled down by #5 Ilias Iliadis. His pass was swiftly made to #30 Romell Quioto whose shot was blocked by defender Dave Romney.
4 minutes later, New England had their first vital chance of the game. Carles Gil’s short corner to Dylan Borrero was sent into the CF Montréal penalty area and found Dave Romney. His header then glanced off of Montréal defender #3 Kamal Miller and struck the left post. The ball was then cleared by #2 Victor Wanyama out for yet another New England corner kick.
As the match progressed, New England continued their attack on Montréal’s defense. Entering the 11th minute, Dylan Borrero’s cross field pass found Gustavo Bou who combined with Latif Blessing atop the New England penalty area. The ball then found Bou once more and his shot was saved by a diving #40 Jonathan Sirois.
In the 21st minute, New England broke the deadlock.
Dylan Borrero hit it top bins ?
The Colombian's second goal of the season put the New England Revolution up 1-0 vs. CF Montréal
(via @MLS) pic.twitter.com/p1VqOAKX6I
— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 9, 2023
Following a short corner by forward Gustavo Bou, his pass found midfielder Carles Gil who quickly laid the ball back to Bou on the overlap. His first-time pass found midfielder Dylan Borrero atop the CF Montréal 18-yard-box. Dylan took one touch with his right foot before unleashing a right-footed curler which went straight into the upper 90 of the CF Montréal goal past #40 Sirois.
The goal is Borrero’s 2nd of the year. With the assist is credited to both forward Gustavo Bou and midfielder Carles Gil, the assist moves Carles past Lee Nguyen in New England Revolution all-time assists with 51. The assist for Gil also marks his 16th game-winning assist, which matches Chris Tierney for 2nd all-time list.
In the 26th minute, CF Montréal defender #3 Kamal Miller entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a harsh foul on Dylan Borrero.
As the match progressed further, New England continued to dominate.
In the 44th minute, Latif Blessing intercepted a miscommunication between CF Montréal midfielder #2 Victor Wanyama and #22 Aaron Herrera. His right footed pass found Bobby Wood in the penalty area and his right footed quick shot struck the hand of CF Montréal defender #25 Gabriele Corbo. Center Referee Tori Penso immediately called for a penalty kick and administered a yellow card to Corbo. Penso then went to VAR to confirm the decision and the decision stood.
Carles Gil keeps @NERevolution ahead before the second half. pic.twitter.com/VmxTorW9kL
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 9, 2023
On the cusp of halftime, captain Carles Gil’s left footed panenka penalty went past CF Montréal goalkeeper 40 Jonathan Sirois. who dove to his left.
With little to no action following the penalty kick goal, the first half ended with New England leading the match with a scoreline of 2-0.
First 45' down!#NERevs | @SantanderBankUS pic.twitter.com/xu7hLI9i3o
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 9, 2023
Entering the second half, New England Revolution head coach Bruce Arena made his first change of the match substituting defender Henry Kessler out for defender Andrew Farrell. The substitution was announced as a precautionary substitution as Henry had hamstring tightness exiting the half.
With Andrew Farrell entering the match, it was his 306th career appearance in a New England Revolution jersey. This appearance moves Farrell to T-4th with Cobi Jones for most appearances entirely for a single club in Major League Soccer History.
The second half began with CF Montréal starting with the midfield kickoff with the ball being sent back to the defender #3 Kamal Miller and out to the right side of the New England defensive third.
In the 49th minute, the New England Revolution added more to their lead.
Starting off strong in the second. ?
Bobby Wood knocked in the third goal of the game for @NERevolution. pic.twitter.com/Mrls8M4EJZ
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 9, 2023
Midfielder Matt Polster connected with defender Dave Romney, who launched the ball up the field for a 50-50 ball between CF Montréal defender #16 Joel Waterman and Bobby Wood. The Montréal defenders off balanced effort on the ball allowed Wood to trap the ball and take on CF Montréal defender #3 Kamal Miller. His three touches and right footed shot into the bottom left corner snuck the ball past goalkeeper 40 Jonathan Sirois.
Foxboro, Massachusetts: New England Revolution forward Bobby Wood (17) scores a goal in an MLS game between the New England Revolution and CF Montréal at Gillette Stadium on April 8, 2023. (c) Burt Granofsky
2 minutes later in the 51st minute, CF Montréal looked to add one back as #22 Aaron Herrera’s longshot was saved by a diving Đorđe Petrović.
In the 54th minute, CF Montréal midfielder #2 Victor Wanyama entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a tactical foul on defender DeJuan Jones.
3 minutes later, Bobby Wood unleashed a right footed knuckleball shot which went just over the CF Montréal crossbar.
In the 61st minute, Head Coach Bruce Arena made his second and third substitutions of the match as forward Bobby Wood was replaced by forward Giacomo Vrioni, and midfielder Latif Blessing was replaced by midfielder Noel Buck.
Foxboro, Massachusetts: New England Revolution midfielder Noel Buck (29) turns the ball up field in a MLS game between the New England Revolution and CF Montréal at Gillette Stadium on April 8, 2023. (c) Burt Granofsky
Entering the 64th minute, CF Montréal called on their goalkeeper as defender DeJuan Jones’ combination play with midfielder Carles Gil was saved from close range by 40 Jonathan Sirois.
In the 68th minute, CF Montréal defender #16 Joel Waterman entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a tactical foul by holding onto the jersey of forward Giacomo Vrioni.
In the 73rd minute, Bruce Arena made his fourth substitution of the match as he replaced Captain midfielder Carles Gil with forward Jozy Altidore.
In the 80th minute, Bruce Arena made his fifth and final substitution of the match as he replaced midfielder Dylan Borrero with 18-year-old midfielder Jack Panayotou.
Foxboro, Massachusetts: New England Revolution midfielder Jack Panayotou (22) tries to slow down CF Montreal midfielder Victor Wanyama (2) in a MLS game between the New England Revolution and CF Montreal at Gillette Stadium on April 8, 2023. (c) Burt Granofsky
Just 6 minutes later, the Revolution added to their lead once more.
Okay, @NERevolution. ?
Giacomo Vrioni secures the lead for New England late in the second half. pic.twitter.com/fCgBgKwzG4
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 9, 2023
Entering the 86th minute, goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović launched his goal kick toward forward Giacomo Vrioni. The forward chested the ball down close to the midfield line and drove toward three CF Montréal defenders. Giacomo took eight touches before cutting the ball across CF Montréal defender #16 Joel Waterman and taking the left-footed off balanced shot which snuck past CF Montréal goalkeeper 40 Jonathan Sirois.
This photo is COLDDDDDD
?: @JADolan11 #NERevs pic.twitter.com/S8Cqi2lHil
— The Blazing Musket (@BlazingMusket) April 9, 2023
The goal was Vrioni’s first of the season. The assist on the goal was directly credited to goalkeeper Dorđe Petrović. Per OptaJack, Dorđe Petrović is the first Revolution goalkeeper to provide a primary assist on an MLS goal since Matt Reis assisted forward Rajko Lekic on a goal against Sporting Kansas City in July 2011.
? MATCHDAY 7 FINAL SCORES ?@NERevolution went off at home. pic.twitter.com/BcpVjUSJBy
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 9, 2023
Following the goal, the match had little to no action following that and ended with the New England Revolution leaving with all 3 points, with the 4-0 victory over CF Montréal.
The New England Revolution (5-1-1, 16 pts.) head out to face the Columbus Crew (4-1-2, 13 pts.) at Lower.com Field on Saturday, April 15. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
(Editor’s Note: For more of Burt Granofsky’s photos, click on the link)
New England Revolution
CF Montreal
