FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution (0-1-4, 1 pts.) were defeated 4-0 by Club América (8-4-1, 28 pts. in Liga MX) in a match on Tuesday.
The match kicked off at 9:00 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, MA to a crowd of 14,557.
XI taking the field for tonight's quarterfinal match! pic.twitter.com/RNpsBzCN87
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 3, 2024
The team started their lineup in a 5-3-2 formation with Earl Edwards Jr. starting in net with a backline of (leftwing back) DeJuan Jones, (center backs) Dave Romney, Henry Kessler, and Jonathan Mensah, along with (rightwing back) Ryan Spaulding. The midfield spots were manned by Matt Polster (left midfield), Nacho Gil (right midfield), and Carles Gil (central attacking midfield). The forward roles were manned by Giacomo Vrioni and Tomás Chancalay as the striker parternship.
Goalkeeper Henrich Ravas was benched due to poor form and being away from the team. He returned after 11 days of International Duty, where he did not play for Slovakia.
XI for the evening. pic.twitter.com/mH4q1lt21t
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 3, 2024
The match kicked off with New England starting from the center circle. Giacomo Vrioni played the ball backward to Matt Polster, who launched it into Club América’s defensive third.
The first moment of the match came in the 16th minute where Club América gained the early advantage.
¡Henry Martín la manda al fondo de la red y pone el 1-0 para América! ? pic.twitter.com/s58CbBnGvG
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 3, 2024
Following a poor giveaway on the right flank by DeJuan Jones, the ball was intercepted and was played across the Revolution’s 18-yard-box until the ball was slotted into the area to find #21 Henry Martin for the left-footed finish into the bottom right corner.
In the 20th minute, Revolution midfielder Matt Polster was issued a yellow card.
Just 4 minutes later, in the 24th minute, following a 40-pass sequence, Club América added to their advantage.
¡Golazo de Alejandro Zendejas! ? pic.twitter.com/5xm3hrKUCp
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 3, 2024
Following the 40-pass sequence, Club América Midfielder #21 Henry Martin slotted a through-ball for forward #17 Alejandro Zendejas, who managed to cut the ball backwards on Dave Romney and take a left-footed curler into the top left corner.
Club América had yet another opportunity in the 35th minute when #20’s long distance effort went just wide of the left post.
Just two minutes later, a close-range effort by #8 was blocked and scooped by Earl Edwards Jr.
March 17, 2024; Club America forward Henry Martin (21) and Club America midfielder Javairo Dilrosun (24) celebrate a goal. The New England Revolution lost 4-0 to Club America in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (c) Burt Granofsky
Controversy arose in the 37th minute when an effort by #17 Alejandro Zendejas was blocked by the hand of Dave Romney but play continued.
New England’s first effort in the half came in the 41st minute when Giacomo Vrioni’s header went wide of the right post.
Entering the 44th minute, Revolution forward Giacomo Vrioni and Club América defender #18 Cristian Calderon were both issued yellow cards.
After the 45+3 minutes, the match entered halftime with Club América ahead 2-0.
Halftime in @GilletteStadium. pic.twitter.com/utoM8gBr08
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 3, 2024
Entering the second half, Club América head coach André Jardine made his first change of the match by replacing defender #3 Israel Reyes with defender #5 Kevin Alvarez.
The second half kicked off with Club América electing to build out of the back to start the match.
Entering the 59th minute, Revolution head coach Caleb Porter made his first two changes of the match by replacing Nacho Gil and Henry Kessler with Esmir Bajraktarević and Mark-Anthony Kaye.
March 17, 2024; Club America midfielder Javairo Dilrosun (24) holds off New England Revolution defender Henry Kessler (4). The New England Revolution lost 4-0 to Club America in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (c) Burt Granofsky
Just one minute later, Revolution defender Jonathan Mensah was issued a yellow card.
In the 63rd minute, Club América once more added to their lead.
¡América amplía su ventaja a 3-0 con un gol de Cristian Calderón en Foxborough! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/nI4alH6OYj
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 3, 2024
Following a short-corner kick, the ball entered the Revolution area after a back-post cross where Earl Edwards Jr. failed to deal with the ball and coughed up a rebound for #18 Cristian Calderon, who found the back of the net from less than a yard away.
Entering the 71st minute, Revolution head coach Caleb Porter made his third change of the match by replacing Ryan Spaulding with Nick Lima.
March 17, 2024; Club America midfielder Diego Valdes (10) drives through a yellow fog. The New England Revolution lost 4-0 to Club America in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (c) Burt Granofsky
Entering the 75th minute, Revolution head coach Caleb Porter made his final two changes of the match by replacing Carles Gil and Giacomo Vrioni with Bobby Wood and Ian Harkes. With Gil’s substitution, Matt Polster took the captain’s arm band.
In the same stoppage, Club América head coach André Jardine made his second and third change of the match by replacing midfielder #8 Alvaro Fidalgo and midfielder #17 Alejandro Zendejas with midfielder #10 Diego Contreras and midfielder #26 Salvador Reyes.
Just 8 minutes later, Club América head coach André Jardine made his fourth and fifth change of the match by replacing forward #21 Henry Martin and midfielder #6 Jonathan dos Santos with midfielder #7 Brian Rodriguez and midfielder #16 Santiago Naveda.
March 17, 2024; Club America goalkeeper Luis Malagon (1) distributes the ball. The New England Revolution lost 4-0 to Club America in a CONCACAF Champions Cup game at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (c) Burt Granofsky
New England’s first chance in the second half came in the 84th minute when Tomás Chancalay’s effort was met with a diving stop by #1 Luis Malagon.
The ensuing two corner kicks were New England’s only other major attempts in this half.
In the 85th minute, New England had yet another opportunity where a Bobby Wood header was met with a diving stop by #1 Luis Malagon.
As the match entered the 87th minute, a two-minute delay was initiated due to illegal usage of smoke bombs by Club América fans.
Shortly after the 90th minute, Club América added to their lead once more.
¡Brian Rodríguez pone el 4-0 de visitante para América! ? pic.twitter.com/DF7nbIsmIJ
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) April 3, 2024
Midfielder #10 Diego Contreras slotted a through ball for Brian Rodriguez, who capped the ball off with a low-driven finish past Earl Edwards Jr.
After the 90+6 minutes, Club América held on for the dominant 4-0 victory.
Final.
We'll see you all back Home again on Saturday as we take on Charlotte FC. pic.twitter.com/SP2wvIYdoG
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 3, 2024
With the result, the New England Revolution need to win their next match versus Club América by 5 goals.
For Concacaf Champions Cup play, the New England Revolution (0-1-4, 1 pts.) will face Club América in leg 2 of their Concacaf Champions Cup Clash in Foxboro, MA on Tuesday, April 9th. The match kicks off in Estadio Azteca at 10:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.
For MLS play, the New England Revolution (0-1-4, 0pts.) remain home in Foxboro, MA as they are set to face MLS Eastern Conference side Charlotte FC (2-2-2, 8 pts.) on Saturday, April 7th. The match kicks off in Gillette Stadium 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)
