Revolution vs. FC Dallas 2013: Preview and Game Notes

The New England Revolution will take on FC Dallas tonight in a match against a team they've traditionally owned in spectacular fashion. Seriously, the all-time record against the Hoops is 23-12-3. I'm not sure it gets much more dominant than that. The numbers get better at home, with that mark standing at 12-5-1, and at Gillette, it's 8-1-1. This bodes well for the Revs.

On the other hand, New England is also 1-3-2 against Dallas in their last six meetings, so it's not as though the result is set in stone by divine providence. Then again, to put things another way, the Revs haven't lost to Dallas at home since they were still the Dallas Burn.

The other compelling storyline for this match (apart from Juan Toja playing against his old team, if you're into that sort of thing) is that this features a clash of one team tied for the league's best defensive record and another that's second in the league in offense. Dallas has seven goals in four games during this young season, while New England has managed to concede just one solitary goal in three matches.

The key to figuring out who cracks first is unknown at this point. It's difficult to tell if the Revs' defensive success is sustainable, or if it's a product of the teams and/or conditions they've played in already. Also, Dallas is coming off a 2012 where they weren't exactly an attacking powerhouse, so this could be a flukey start for them, too.

In the end, I like the Revs' chances here. They have a dominant home record against Dallas, the weather is nice, they've played good defense, Jerry Bengtson is back, and Dallas has conceded five goals in four games already, despite their offensive prowess. If the Revs can be even a fraction better on set pieces than they have been previously, I think they'll earn the win.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

QUESTIONABLE: Matt Reis (L Knee Irritation), Kelyn Rowe (R Hamstring Tightness/L Knee Irritation), Juan Toja (L Knee Irritation)

OUT: Saer Sene (L ACL Tear)

DALLAS INJURY REPORT

STATUS UNKNOWN: Walker Zimmerman (Groin Injury), Stephen Keel (L Quad Strain), Ugo Ihemelu (Concussion), Peter Luccin (Torn ACL), Victor Ulloa (R Ankle), Andrew Jacobson (R Ankle Sprain)

SUSPENSIONS

None.

TEAM NOTES

• The Revolution leads the all-time, regular-season series with FC Dallas (formerly Dallas Burn), 23-12-3
• The Revs are 12-5-1 against Dallas at home, including an 8-1-1 mark at Gillette Stadium
• The Revs are 7-0-1 against Dallas in their last eight home games against the Hoops, dating back to the 2004 season
• Saturday's match will be the fi rst - and only - time that the two teams meet in 2013
• Dallas won the teams' lone meeting in 2012, taking a 1-0 win at FC Dallas Stadium behind a Ugo Ihemelu goal in the fifth minute of stoppage time
• After going 15-3-0 against Dallas between 2001 and April 2009, the Revs are 1-3-2 against the Hoops in the last six meetings, dating back to Sept. 30, 2009...the Revs' lone win in that span came Sept. 10, 2011, in a 2-0 win at Gillette Stadium to snap a four-game winless run against Dallas
• New England split or won the season series every year from 2000 to 2011
• The teams have met outside the MLS regular season just once when the Revs defeated Dallas, 3-2, at Pizza Hut Park on Oct. 3, 2007, to win the 2007 U.S. Open Cup, their fi rst-ever cup championship

PLAYER NOTES

• Chad Barrett has scored two goals and three assists in 13 games against Dallas in his MLS career to lead all active Revs players...his goals came in 2006 with Chicago, and 2009 with Toronto
• Andy Dorman scored his fi rst career MLS goal against Dallas on Aug. 11, 2004, at the Cotton Bowl
• Sainey Nyassi has recorded one goal and one assist against Dallas...his goal came on April 4, 2009
• Chris Tierney has recorded one assist against FCD as a member of the Revs when he picked up an assist on Shalrie Joseph's headed goal at Dallas on Sept. 22, 2010
• Clyde Simms is also credited with an assist against Dallas - on a Ben Olsen goal at FCD on Sept. 1, 2007 - coming in his days with D.C. United
• Matt Reis is 10-6-4 in his career against Dallas, posting a 1.17 goals against average with seven shutouts ... he is the Revs' only active goalkeeper to play against Dallas

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: CSN New England, 4 PM EST

RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 4 PM EST