Revolution vs. Union 2013 Game Two: Preview and Game Notes

Losing 4-1 can often be a humbling, if not harrowing, experience for a soccer team. In this game, that's a blowout, and a bad one. Often, when a team in any sport gets smacked around that badly, they take out their embarrassment, anger, and frustration on the next opponent. The New England Revolution, for example, just lost 4-1 to New York. Will they vent their pent-up emotions and take the game to their next opponent, the Philadelphia Union?

Fat chance of that happening.

The Revs have never beaten the Union in the latter club's entire existence (they entered the league in 2010), posting a 0-5-3 record and getting outscored 14-6 (5-1 at home, by the way). This year doesn't look much different. Philly already won the first match at PPL Park 1-0, and behind the exploits of league-leading scorer Jack McInerney, they look poised to keep their streak alive tonight.

All is not lost, but Revs fans can be forgiven for lacking confidence going into this match. Two goals in six games is bad enough, but watching the "stout defense" that the Revs have been trumpeting all year crumble and disappear to the tune of four goals last week has to have some people in abject despair. There's no doubt that the Revs will win more games and will score more goals, but the chances of it happening tonight are, well, they're lower than most people would probably like them to be.

On the other hand, Saer Sene is not on the injury report. Could he get the start tonight? It's unfair to place so much hope and expectation on a man just coming back from an ACL tear, but it's indisputable that the offense looks better with him in the pitch.

REVOLUTION INJURY REPORT

OUT: Kevin Alston (Disabled List, Illness); A.J. Soares (R Hamstring Strain)
QUESTIONABLE: Chad Barrett (L Hamstring Strain); Juan Toja (L Knee Irritation)

UNION INJURY REPORT

UNCATEGORIZED: Danny Cruz (R Ankle Contusion)

SUSPENSIONS

None.

TEAM NOTES

• Philadelphia holds a 5-0-3 lead in the all-time series between the two clubs, dating back to the first meeting in 2010
• The Revs are 0-2-1 all-time at Gillette Stadium against the Union...Philadelphia won the first two meetings between the clubs
• Saturday's match is the second of three meetings this season...Philadelphia won the first meeting 1-0 on March 16...the third game will be played at Gillette Stadium on August 25
• The Union has won the regular-season series between the two clubs in each of its first three seasons: 2010, 2011 and 2012
• Six of the eight meetings have been decided by goals in the 70th minute or later...the first meeting on July 31, 2010, at PPL Park, the Revs used Marko Perovic's 71st minute goal to equalize and secure a 1-1 draw...Union goals in the 82nd and 92nd minutes equalized, and then sealed a win, respectively, on August 28, 2010, at Gillette Stadium...Philadelphia stormed back with 80th and 91st minute goals to force a 4-4 draw on Sept. 7, 2011...a 90th-minute goal for the Union sealed a 2-1 victory on July 29, 2012, at PPL Park...a 73rd-minute goal on Oct. 6, 2012, was Philly's decider in a 1-0 win...and a 76th minute goal on March 16, 2013 was all Philly needed in a 1-0 win
• The Revolution was the first team to earn a draw at PPL Park...Philadelphia was 2-1-0 at its new facility heading into the July 31, 2010 meeting with New England

PLAYER NOTES

• Chad Barrett, despite not playing a game against Philly for New England, is the team's leading scorer with two goals against the Union...his first goal came as a member of Toronto FC in 2010, while he added a second in 2012 as a member of the LA Galaxy
• Saer Sene has one goal in one career appearance against Philadelphia...Sene's blast on July 29, 2012 earned him MLS goal of the week honors
• A.J. Soares is the only other current Revolution player who has scored goal against Philadelphia...he scored in the 4-4 draw at PPL Park on Sept. 7, 2011
• Chris Tierney has two career assists against Philadelphia, recording both on Sept. 7, 2011
• Only one other active player has factored in scoring against Philadelphia: Kelyn Rowe earned the assist on Saer Sene's goal at PPL Park on July 29, 2012
• Matt Reis is 0-2-3 in five starts against Philadelphia and has recorded 23 saves against Philly in five meetings...Reis recorded his only career shutout against the Union when the teams met on Sept. 1, 2012
• Bobby Shuttleworth has made two starts against Philly, going 0-2-0 with a 1.50 goals-against average

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: CSN New England, 7:30 PM EST
RADIO: 98.5 The Sports Hub HD2 Channel, 7:30 PM EST