FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution (7-3-1, 23 pts.) were victorious in a dominating 2-0 victory over Toronto FC (2-6-3, 12 pts.) in a match on Saturday night.
The match kicked off at 7:30 p.m. ET at BMO Stadium in Toronto, Canada to a crowd of 27,438.
Looking fresh in ?⚪️ pic.twitter.com/5kR7hbmZS8
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 6, 2023
The team started their lineup in a 4-3-3 formation with Đorđe Petrović starting in net with a backline of (left back) DeJuan Jones, (center backs) Dave Romney, and Andrew Farrell, along with (right back) Brandon Bye. The defensive midfield consisted of Noel Buck (left midfield), Matt Polster (right midfield). Captain Carles Gil played ahead of them in the central role. (center attacking midfield) The attacking roles were manned by Emmanuel Boateng (left attacking wing), Esmir Bajraktarević (right winger), and Bobby Wood as the lone striker.
On the injury front, forward Giacomo Vrioni makes the bench following missing last weekend’s match with a leg injury that he had sustained in training.
Midfielder Latif Blessing returns after bringing his family from Ghana to the United States.
Forward Gustavo Bou is out with an apparent leg injury.
▪️ Wood returns to the XI in place of Rennicks
▪️ Bajraktarevic starts in place of the injured Borrero
▪️ Boateng starts three straight for first time with #NERevs
▪️ Altidore, Blessing, Vrioni all back in the squad and on the bench
▪️ Bou out after sub appearance last week https://t.co/XHO3qds4lB— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) May 6, 2023
The match kicked off with New England starting from the center circle. Foward Bobby Wood took the kickoff and passed it straight back to defender Dave Romney. He sent the ball forward to Esmir Bajraktarevic, but he was swiftly intercepted in an aerial duel.
In the 11th minute, Toronto FC defender #19 Kobe Franklin entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a foul on Carles Gil.
The first moment of the match came in the 14th minute when midfielder Carles Gil found Emmanuel Boateng in space. He then found DeJuan Jones on the left flank who played it back into the area to find Boateng. His effort from 12-yards out was saved by Toronto FC goalkeeper #1 Sean Johnson.
3 minutes later, Toronto FC’s #24 Lorenzo Insigne almost scored from half field. Following a poor pass by midfielder Noel Buck, Insigne took a one timed right-footed shot from 45+ yards out and went just wide of the Revolution goal. Goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović was out of position when the shot was taken, and the Revolution dodged an early chance there.
One minute later, the Revolution broke the 0-0 deadlock.
WOOD you believe it?!
Watch LIVE on #MLSSeasonPass on@AppleTV: https://t.co/ylcQSf9a75pic.twitter.com/ci5Y0gjqsZ
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 7, 2023
After a back pass from Toronto FC defender #19 Kobe Franklin, Revolution forward Bobby Wood managed to dispossess #17 Sigurd Rosted. Wood then took the ball on a breakaway from the half field line and managed to slide it 5-hole past #1 Sean Johnson. This is Wood’s 3rd goal of the season.
In the 20th minute, Toronto FC had a fantastic chance when #22 Richie Laryea drove into the box and his shot went just wide of the right post.
4 minutes later, #23 Brandon Servania took a right-footed shot from 25 yard out that went just over the Revolution crossbar.
In the 40th minute, Toronto FC midfielder #52 Alonso Camarero entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a foul on DeJuan Jones.
Entering the 41st minute, Toronto FC goalkeeper #1 Sean Johnson was called into action for a double save on a cross by Brandon Bye, and then a shot from midfielder Noel Buck.
After the 45 minutes, the Revolution entered halftime with the 1-0 advantage over Toronto FC
1 ? at the HALF‼️#NERevs | @SantanderBankUS pic.twitter.com/J5POXdmVwd
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 7, 2023
Toronto FC started from the midfield kickoff to start the second half.
In the 50th minute, Toronto FC midfielder #22 Richie Laryea entered the referee’s booklet with a yellow card for a harsh foul.
Just one minute later, Revolution goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović was called into action to stop a right footed close range shot by #22 Richie Laryea that went out for a Toronto FC corner kick.
Continuing their attacking threat, Toronto FC had their moment of the match when #22 Lorenzo Insigne found #10 Federico Bernadeschi. He played a lofted ball into the box that deflected off of #9 C.J. Sapong that hit the top of the Revolution crossbar for a Revolution goalkick.
In the 60th minute, Head Coach Bruce Arena made his first and second substitutions of the match by replacing forwards Bobby Wood and Esmir Bajraktarevic for forward Jozy Altidore and midfielder Latif Blessing
This is Jozy Altidore’s first appearance back at BMO Field since joining the New England Revolution
Less than a minute later, the Revolution added to their goal advantage.
Oh he did THAT! #️⃣2️⃣4️⃣ pic.twitter.com/9StDDniNGS
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 7, 2023
As midfielder Carles Gil broke through the Toronto FC midfield and defense, he found wingback DeJuan Jones in open space. He then took 2 touches before playing it wide once more to find winger Emmanuel Boateng. He played a low-driven left-footed cross to find Carles Gil just atop of the 6-yard box. His one-time effort was saved by Johnson, but the rebound was sent home by an unmarked DeJuan Jones.
The 72nd minute is where Toronto had their last major chance of the match when #1 Sean Johnson for #24 Lorenzo Insigne. He took 2 touches and launched a longshot that was saved by Đorđe Petrović.
In the 84th minute, Head Coach Bruce Arena made his third and final substitution by replacing winger Emmanuel Boateng out for forward Justin Rennicks.
After the 90 minutes, the Revolution held on for the 2-0 victory.
Big dub. Clean sheet on the road ?#NERevs | @SantanderBankUS pic.twitter.com/nc8I6ZcoLq
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 7, 2023
The victory slates the New England Revolution in first place in the Eastern Conference and first place across the entirety of Major League Soccer with a record of 7 wins, 7 draws, and 1 loss.
The New England Revolution (7-3-1, 23 pts.) return to Foxborough to face the Pittsburgh Riverhounds (2-5-2 11 pts. in USL Championship) in a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup Match on Tuesday, May 9th. 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
Toronto FC
