Revolution vs. Fire 2013: Match Preview and Game Notes

Tonight's match against the Chicago Fire opens the 2013 campaign away from home for the New England Revolution. The Revs finished up their preseason with a 2-3-1 record, mixing in brilliant attacking performances with some rather paralyzing defensive displays.

It hasn't necessarily been a happy relationship for the Revs and the Fire. Chicago owns the regular season record with an overall 19-15-9 mark, but New England took the regular season series in 2012 with two wins and a loss. However, Chicago has been an inhospitable climate for the Revs, and their away record is 4-11-6.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

QUESTIONABLE: Kalifa Cisse (R Groin Tendonitis), Kelyn Rowe (L Knee Tendonitis)

OUT: Matt Horth (R Ankle Sprain), Saer Sene (L ACL Tear), Chris Tierney (L Ankle Sprain)

FIRE INJURY REPORT

OUT: Arne Friedrich (hamstring), Logan Pause (quadriceps), Victor Pineda (L Meniscus Repair)

SUSPENSIONS

None.

TEAM NOTES

• Saturday's match will be the 44th MLS regular-season meeting between the two teams and the 63rd meeting overall, including MLS Cup Playoffs, U.S. Open Cup and SuperLiga meetings
• Chicago leads the all-time regular-season series between the two teams, 19-15-9...in all meetings including outside competitions, Chicago holds a 29-23-10 edge in the series
• The Revs are 4-11-6 in road games against Chicago, including a 1-6-2 mark at Toyota Park
• The Revs won the 2012 three-game series, 2-1-0...the Revs won both games at Gillette Stadium: 2-0 on June 2 and 1-0 on Oct. 20...the Revs' 2-0 victory on June 2 snapped the team's 10-game, regular-season winless streak (0-7-3) against Chicago that dated back to October 6, 2007
• The Revs are a combined 4-10-4 in all competitions against the Fire since the start of the 2008 season...that record includes 12 regular-season games, four playoff matches and two SuperLiga games
• The Revs and Fire have met in seven of the last 11 postseasons (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)...in total, the teams have met in the playoffs in eight seasons, all since 2000

PLAYER NOTES

• Despite playing in Europe between 2008 and 2012, Andy Dorman is the Revs' active leading scorer against Chicago with two goals and two assists in 14 games against the Fire...all of his points came in 2006
• Ryan Guy has two goals in four appearances against the Fire...Guy recorded two stoppage-time goals at Chicago on Sept. 25, 2011
• Kelyn Rowe has recorded one goal and two assists against Chicago in three meetings
• Diego Fagundez recorded his first career assist on Ryan Guy's second goal against Chicago on Sept. 25, 2011
• Matt Reis is the Revolution's all-time wins leader against the Fire with 11, and has posted a 1.45 goals against average with six shutouts...Reis also has three career postseason shutouts in seven appearances against Chicago
• Bobby Shuttleworth is 1-0-0 against Chicago, posting a one-save shutout against the Fire on Oct. 20, 2012

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: NBC Sports Network, 7:30 PM EST

RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub, 7:30 PM EST