New England has won four straight games without
allowing a goal, but just one of those matches was in Major League Soccer. The
Revolution hope to build on their SuperLiga success in league play Saturday at
PPL Park against the expansion Philadelphia Union.
New England won all three of its SuperLiga group games, 1-0, to advance to the
semifinals. But in MLS, the Revolution (4-9-2) are even with the Union (4-8-2)
in the Eastern Conference with just 14 points halfway through the season.
The Revs last played an MLS game on July 10 against the Los Angeles Galaxy and
posted their most impressive win of the season, 2-0, over the league's overall
leader.
New England had won just one of its previous 11 MLS matches before the victory
over L.A., and were shutout seven times during that stretch. New England's win
over the Galaxy was just its third shutout of the season, but it sparked a run
in SuperLiga play.
Central defender Darrius Barnes returned from a right foot injury against L.A.
and has played a major role in the team's turnaround. Barnes was paired in the
middle with Emmanuel Osei, and veteran goalie Matt Reis posted his first clean
sheet of the season against L.A.
Following the L.A. win, New England topped Mexico's Pumas and Morelia, and the
Chicago Fire, in SuperLiga group play with those three anchoring the team.
"The main thing - just organization and keeping our shape. If we get everybody
in the right shape and everybody in the right spots," Barnes said on the Revs'
website, "we're going to be successful.
"We have something good going on right now. We're playing well, we've put a
little winning streak together, and hopefully we can continue to build on
that."
New England will have to find a way to win on the road to continue its streak,
as it has lost six of its seven road matches in MLS.
Philadelphia has built its success at home, earning 10 of its 14 points at PPL
Park or Lincoln Financial Field. The Union won their last game against Toronto
FC on July 17, and traded for midfielder Justin Mapp from Chicago this week.
Mapp, a 25-year-old with nine years of MLS experience, will add another cog to
the young Union, who have just one loss in their last four matches. Sebastien
Le Toux, who has a team-high seven goals, could benefit from Mapp's addition.
Le Toux started for the MLS All-Stars on Wednesday in a 5-2 loss to Manchester
United. Mapp is a former MLS Best XI and has 36 career assists. Mapp admitted
he was a little surprised by the trade, but is ready for a new challenge.
"It's a little bittersweet," Mapp said. "I'm excited to be here though, and
very optimistic, so I'm looking forward to it."
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