New England Revolution vs. San Jose Earthquakes | MLS Match Preview

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
July 6, 2013 (WEEK 19, MLS Game #169)
7:30 p.m. ET (CSN-NE; CSN-CA)

The New England Revolution return home to take on the San Jose Earthquakes in an interconference clash Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution are coming off a two-game Western swing which ended in a 1-1 draw at Chivas USA last weekend. The Earthquakes are on the second game of an Eastern trip this week, which opened with a 3-2 loss at the Chicago Fire at midweek.

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REFEREE: Jose Carlos Rivero. AR1 (bench): Corey Parker; AR2 (opposite): Daniel Belleau; 4th: Daniel Radford
MLS Career: 14 games; FC/gm: 26.4; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 4; pens: 5

DISABLED LIST: NE: Kevin Alston … SJ: Ty Harden, Peter McGlynn
SUSPENDED: SJ: Victor Bernardez (through July 7)
WARNINGS:
SUSPENDED NEXT YELLOW CARD: SJ: Alan Gordon
SUSPENDED AFTER TWO YELLOW CARDS: NE: Juan Toja, Kelyn Rowe, Lee Nguyen … SJ: Rafael Baca, Steven Lenhart, Chris Wondolowski
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: SJ: Nana Attakora (CAN), Marvin Chavez (HON), Clarence Goodson (USA), Chris Wondolowski (USA)

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (36 meetings): Revolution 11 wins (2 shootout), 44 goals … Earthquakes 20 wins (0 shootout), 66 goals … Ties 5
AT NEW ENGLAND (18 meetings): Revolution 6 wins (0 shootout), 21 goals … Earthquakes 10 wins (0 shootout), 29 goals … Ties 2

LAST YEAR (MLS)
3/10: SJ 1, NE 0 (Wondolowski 15)

• The teams are meeting for the only time this season in league play.
• The Earthquakes have a three-game winning streak alive against New England, including a 1-0 win last March 10 at Buck Shaw Stadium in the only meeting between the teams a year ago.
• The Revolution have not defeated the Quakes since 2009, a 1-0 win at Buck Shaw Stadium which was their first in northern California since 2000.
• Coaches record: Jay Heaps vs. SJ: P1 W0 L1 D0 … Mark Watson vs. NE: first game

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution return home after completing a two-game Western swing with a late 1-1 draw at Chivas USA last Saturday at StubHub Center. The Revolution are in a tie for sixth place in the Eastern Conference with 21 points from 16 matches.

LAST MATCH

• Chivas took the lead in the 18th minute. Jorge Villafaña headed a half-clearance back to the box where Tristan Bowen pushed the ball to the side, allowing Laurent Courtois to smash a volley from outside the box that took a deflection on its way to the back of the net.
• But the Revolution hit for the leveler two minutes from full time. A cross from Diego Fagundez on the right found its way all the way to the back post, where Chad Barrett bundled it over the line.
• Revolution head coach Jay Heaps made three changes to the team that went down to a 4-3 loss to Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. Ryan Guy came into the back four for the suspended Andrew Farrell, Clyde Simms started in midfield for Scott Caldwell, and Jerry Bengtson came in up top in place of Juan Agudelo.
• NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION (4-1-4-1): Bobby Shuttleworth - Ryan Guy (Juan Toja 74), Stephen McCarthy, Jose Goncalves, Chris Tierney - Clyde Simms (Scott Caldwell 61) - Saer Sene, Kelyn Rowe, Lee Nguyen, Diego Fagundez - Jerry Bengtson (Chad Barrett 83).

TEAM NEWS

• The Revolution took a point from their two-game road swing, and have now gotten results in three of their last four games away from Gillette Stadium. After back-to-back home games vs. San Jose and Houston, the Revs hit the road for three consecutive games at Colorado, Columbus and D.C. United.
• “We were a little bit disappointed with how we played for the majority of the game,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. “ … It was probably the first game where we couldn't solve anything offensively. That said, our fight was really good. We never gave up. We never stopped knocking on the door. And, of course, we get through when Chad [Barrett] comes in, changes the game and scores the goal.”
• Barrett scored his second goal in the last four games, after he did not feature in nine consecutive league games, battling a hamstring injury for much of that spell.
• “When we brought him on, we made the decision because we knew he can finish. And in training he finishes well, in practices as well, so we knew that if he could stay more central,” Heaps said. “We went into a 3-5-2, or a 3-4-3 whatever you want to call it, in pushing forward, we knew that the ball would eventually come across, and Chad would do a good job, and he did.”
• Juan Agudelo was not available for the Chivas USA match after suffering a knee injury in the Vancouver contest that started the road trip. Jerry Bengtson made his first start since May 25 in Agudelo’s absence.
• “Of course it affects me just because he's a guy in my position,” Barrett said. “I can play pretty much all three positions up top. It's one less forward up there and he was on fire. He was doing really well for the team. You never want to see him get injured, you never want to see him go down. But when someone in your position goes down, it's up to you to step in and fill that role as if he's still there.”
• Clyde Simms made his first appearance since May 18 after missing five matches to injury; it was just his second league match after starting the first five games of the season.
• “I don’t know really if the minute was timed, if it was going to be 60 or 70, we weren’t exactly sure, but it was a hot night, he was working really hard and bringing Scott [Caldwell],” said Heaps. “I think at the time it was a little bit tactical because Scotty can do a nice job with passes forward. So he was going to do a nice job finding our wide play and switching it forward.”
• Ryan Guy made his first start since May 18, coming in at left back in place of the suspended Andrew Farrell. Guy had not featured in three consecutive league matches.

SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
The San Jose Earthquakes opened their Eastern swing with a defeat, the Chicago Fire getting a late goal for a 3-2 victory Wednesday at Toyota Park. The Quakes sit in eighth place in the Western Conference with 21 points from 19 matches.

LAST MATCH

• The Earthquakes opened the scoring in the 14th minute. Alan Gordon flicked a header from a Steven Beitashour cross just over Fire 'keeper Paolo Tornaghi, which knocked off the crossbar and straight back to Gordon for an easy putaway.
• But the Fire pulled level in the 36th minute. Freed down the left, Gonzalo Segares sent in a cross that Dilly Duka bounced off the ground with his shot and over San Jose goalkeeper Jon Busch.
• The home side then took the lead two minutes after the halftime break when Duka played a cross to Patrick Nyarko, who put home a sliding finish from the goalmouth.
• The Quakes got some good fortune in the 72nd minute, when Jalil Anibaba and Joel Lindpere deflected a San Jose corner kick past Tornaghi. But the game-winner came in the 84th minute when a backdoor pass from Mike Magee found Chris Rolfe ghosting in at right post for an easy tap-in.
• Quakes interim head coach Mark Watson made five changes to the team that came back for a 3-2 victory against the LA Galaxy at Stanford Stadium. Brad Ring came into the back four for the suspended Victor Bernardez, Mehdi Ballouchy and Walter Martinez started in midfield for Marvin Chavez and Shea Salinas, and Alan Gordon and Adam Jahn formed the strike pair in place of Chris Wondolowski and Steven Lenhart.
• SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES (4-4-2): Jon Busch - Steven Beitashour, Brad Ring, Jason Hernandez, Justin Morrow - Mehdi Ballouchy (Dan Gargan 84), Sam Cronin (Marcus Tracy 86), Rafael Baca, Walter Martinez (Sam Garza 70) - Alan Gordon, Adam Jahn.

TEAM NEWS

• For a second consecutive match, the Earthquakes allowed 10 attempts at goal against, both totals a season-high.
• “We have had a lot of different lineups so we’ve been working with the players that we have in the time that we have. We try to work on all the parts of defending-working as a unit, getting that understanding, making smart decisions on the ball. It’s not something that happens overnight and we will continue to work hard at it,” said Watson.
• Said defender Jason Hernandez: “I think a lot of games this year we haven’t been completely exposed and look like a flustered or weak defensive team. I think through the course of a match, I think there are a handful of mistakes that are made and you either get punished for them or not. I think last year we didn’t get punished for them, and this year we are getting punished for them every single there is a break down. Unfortunately we are doing a lot of the right things, but we can’t keep the ball out of the net.”
• The Quakes were also without Chris Wondolowski and Marvín Chavez, on CONCACAF Gold Cup duty with the USA and Honduras respectively, while Shea Salinas was suspended Tuesday in a decision by the MLS Disciplinary Committee.
• “Any time we set off on a road trip and are missing five starters from the match before, you are behind the 8-ball already. We are lucky we have a good team that has guys that can fill those holes,” said Hernandez. “But it’s a battle.  It’s going to take another strong effort mentally and physically in Boston and we’re going to have to keep grinding and push for a win because time is running short.”
• With Victor Bernardez suspended and Nana Attakora on international duty with Canada, Brad Ring returned to central defense for a second start this season. His first came June 1 vs. Real Salt Lake.
• “I thought Brad did well tonight. Brad’s a big part of this team. I know he doesn’t play a lot of minutes but he’s already ready when we need him. I thought he had a good performance tonight,” said Watson.
• Alan Gordon scored his third goal over the last two games, his only goals of the season, in giving the Quakes an early advantage.
• Mehdi Ballouchy made his first start of the season, after opening the campaign on the disabled list. He had previously made two substitute appearances totaling 26 minutes.
• Steven Beitashour was credited with his first assist of the season, setting up Gordon’s opening goal. Beitashour had recorded 13 assists total over the last two seasons.
• “I think [fullbacks] Justin [Morrow] and Steve do go forward well,” Watson said. “We talk a lot about who should go and when, and who should stay and when. We look at that all the time. One thing I don’t think you can do is just sit back and not send anyone forward. That’s not a way to win a game, either. It’s about finding the right balance, and we’ll continue to work on that.”