Looking to Rebound in New York

Revs Try to Buck Trend

April 19, 2008

By Sean Donahue

Who: Revolution at Red Bulls
Where: Giants Stadium (N.J.)
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (TV 38)

Coming off a tough 1-0 loss at home to the Colorado Rapids, the New England Revolution will look to get back in the win column Saturday when they travel to New York to face the Red Bulls.

Michael Parkhurst and the Revolution travel to New York Saturday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/ aduama.com)

The Revs have started off the season with a record of 2-2 including impressive victories against Houston and Kansas City, but both times the wins were followed with a loss. The Red Bulls, who have played two less games and are currently 1-1 started the season with a win over Columbus before falling 2-0 in Dallas last weekend after giving up a goal less than a minute into the match.

While the Revs lineup features many changes from the side the Red Bulls faced last year, the Red Bulls starting 11 will likely have only one player unfamiliar to New England. Nineteen-year-old Rookie Luke Sassano is expected to start on the right side of the midfield after an impressive preseason earned him starts in each of New York's first two matches.

Oscar Echeverry, a 31 year-old Colombian striker, who signed for the Red Bulls this season may also feature if last year's top scorer Juan Pablo Angel is still out due to injury. Neither of the newcomers has managed to find the back of the net or record an assist in the first two matches.

Due to injuries, the Revs will again be without Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and Chris Albright. Also contributing to a lack of experience on the bench is the recent trade of former captain Joe Franchino to the Los Angeles Galaxy. For the Red Bulls, in addition to the possibility of Angel missing the match, the team will be without Dane Richards, who impressed last season as a rookie.

Saturday will mark the first time the Revs have faced their rival since Juan Carlos Osorio took over as head coach. As head coach of the Chicago Fire last season, Osorio was suspended the first chance he had to face the Revolution and then fell 1-0 in the Eastern Conference Final as the Revs advanced to the MLS Cup final. Revs coach Steve Nicol, meanwhile, has posted a 13-4-6 record against New York since taking over as head coach of New England.

The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and can be seen live on TV38.

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