MLS Regular Season | Match #6
New England Revolution at Inter Miami CF
Saturday, April 9 | 3 p.m. ET
DRV PNK Stadium | Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Watch: ESPN (English), ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
- English Talent: Tyler Terens (play-by-play), Brian Dunseth (analyst)
- Spanish Talent: Richard Mendez (play-by-play), Alex Pareja (analyst)
Listen: 98.5 The Sports Hub (English), 1260 AM Nossa Radio (Portuguese)
CURRENT FORM
New England Revolution
12th in Eastern Conference (1-3-1, 4 pts.)
Last Result | 1-0 loss vs. New York Red Bulls
It was a frustrating return from the international break for the Revs, who conceded a bizarre own goal in the 90th minute en route to a 1-0 loss to the New York Red Bulls last weekend at Gillette Stadium. The Revs then saw forward Adam Buksa sent off after receiving a pair of yellow cards one minute apart in stoppage time, compounding a maddening night in Foxborough.
Last year’s Supporters’ Shield winners have now lost four straight in all competitions and have scored just once in their last three games, leaving them eager to break the dam on Saturday at DRV PNK Stadium, where they recorded their biggest win of the 2021 season, 5-0 last July.
Inter Miami CF
14th in Eastern Conference (0-4-1, 1 pt.)
Last Result | 3-1 loss vs. Houston Dynamo
Now in their third MLS season, Inter Miami are off to a similarly difficult start to the 2022 campaign. Phil Neville’s squad have also lost four straight – all by multiple goals – and sit at the bottom of the MLS standings (0-4-1). Their only point came in the season opener, a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire at DRV PNK Stadium.
Miami have struggled at both ends of the field in the early going as their three goals scored are tied for the fewest in MLS, and their 13 goals against are third-most, just one behind the league-worst 14 conceded by FC Cincinnati and CF Montreal. Their last two games have both been 3-1 losses, to Cincinnati and the Houston Dynamo.
KEY PLAYERS
Revolution forward Justin Rennicks
With Adam Buksa suspended and Gustavo Bou battling injury it could be Justin Rennicks who once again leads the line on Saturday afternoon. The fourth-year forward made just his second career start last weekend against the Red Bulls and earned praise from supporters and coaches for his tireless work rate.
Rennicks remains in search of his first-ever point in an MLS regular season game, but the 23-year-old did score in a U.S. Open Cup meeting with Orlando City SC in 2019 and registered five goals and three assists in 27 appearances with Revolution II last season in USL League One.
Inter Miami forward Gonzalo Higuaín
Miami have managed just three goals through their first five games, but Gonzalo Higuaín has been involved in all three with two goals and one assist. The 34-year-old former Argentina international has scored both of his goals from the penalty spot, while he also set up a Leonardo Campana strike – Miami’s only goal from the run of play through five games.
Higuaín was also the catalyst for Miami’s attack in 2021, as his 12 goals and nine assists meant he factored into 58 percent of his side’s 36 goals.
STATUS REPORT
Revolution
Adam Buksa was sent off for the first time in his MLS career last weekend, meaning the Polish striker will be suspended for Saturday’s trip to Miami, where he scored a pair of goals in last year’s 5-0 win. Fellow DP forward Gustavo Bou, meanwhile, has missed the last two games with an upper leg injury and is once again listed as questionable on the Revs’ official availability report.
Matt Turner recently returned to light training as he works his way back from the foot injury that has kept him out for the early part of the season, and the Revs did receive a boost on the backline last weekend with return of both Andrew Farrell and Henry Kessler at center back.
Inter Miami
Information not available.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
New England Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena
“We'll be fine. You know, I think we gave away two games so far this year, the Salt Lake game, and the Red Bulls game. Games where at the very least we walk off the field with a point, so I think they’re good lessons to be learned. Obviously, we may be a little bit unlucky in the last game, but it's all part of it. It's a long season. These seasons go every which way, very rarely do you have identical seasons back-to-back, so we’re facing a little adversity to start the season, but that's not the worst. I’d rather have it happen now than later.”
New England Revolution midfielder Carles Gil
“It’s a difficult moment for them. I’m sure the first minutes will be hard for us because at home they will try to get the three points. We’ll need to be focused in the game in every duel, every play, to try to have the first chances, also the first goal. I think it’s very important for us to try to score the first goal.”
