Revolution II Playoff Preview: 10/1 vs. Philadelphia Union II
Revs II take the field for their first-ever playoff game!
For the first time in their four-year history, New England Revolution II kickoff their first playoff run on Sunday! Catch up on everything you need to know ahead of Revolution II’s inaugural playoff match.
Opponent: Philadelphia Union II
Date: Sunday, October 1st
Time: 8:00 PM ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass
Projected Weather: Expect fall-like conditions Sunday night inside Gillette as the temperature will sit at 58° at kickoff. Temps will slightly drop to the mid and low 50s throughout the match with light wind.
New England Revolution II:
After four USL League One/MLS NEXT Pro seasons, New England Revolution II embarks on their first playoff run after ending the 2023 season in second place with 56 points on a 14-6-8 record with six clean sheets.
The team has had some time off coming into the playoffs. They closed out the regular season on September 17th, as their 12-game unbeaten streak snapped following a 1-0 loss on the road to Eastern Conference stalwarts Crown Legacy FC.
Revolution II’s success came from newcomer Jordan Adebayo-Smith, who ended the season with 12 goals and five assists. It marked the first time in club history a player has netted double-digit goals in a single season.
With Tomás VaclÃk settled in with the first team, I’d expect Jacob Jackson to return to Revs II for Sunday’s match. The 23-year-old keeper returned in May following surgery to repair his left ACL. Jackson made 12 appearances for Revs II in 2023, where he collected 55 saves and three clean sheets.
Philadelphia Union II:
Philadelphia stayed in the playoff picture after securing a 3-1 win on the road over New York Red Bulls II on Decision Day.
Union II’s success has come from the feet of Stefan Stojanovic and Jeremy Rafanello. Stojanovic led Philadelphia in goals with ten over 28 appearances. He also tallied two assists. Rafanello is a player who can finish and create chances, as he ended the season with nine goals and eight six assists.
Philadelphia has relied on 17-year-old Andrew Rick in goal. Rick ended the season with 18 appearances, where he allowed 32 goals and made 63 saves while only notching two clean sheets.
Previous Meetings:
Looking at the all-time meetings between New England and Philadelphia, it’s clear why Revolution II chose to face Union II.
Sunday will mark the seventh all-time meeting between both clubs. Revolution II holds the advantage with a 4-2-0 record.
Their first meeting came back on May 27th, 2022, when Marcos Dias’ lone goal led to Revs II securing a 1-0 win. Philadelphia clapped back in the next two meetings in 2023 as they secured a 5-1 victory on August 21st and a 3-1 win on September 18th.
2023 saw a turn in Revolution II's direction as they ended the season series with a 3-0-0 record against Union II. Their first meeting came on April 10th when Jordan Adebayo-Smith, Esmir Bajraktarević, Brandonn Bueno, Malcolm Fry, and Damian Rivera found the back of the net in a 5-1 victory. Esmir Bajraktarević’s hat trick on May 21st led to a 4-3 comeback victory! It also marked the first hat trick in club history.
Their most recent meeting came on August 27th, when a brace from Marcos Dias and another goal from Joshua Bolma led Revs II to secure a 3-0 shutout victory.
Esmir goes off. So much to love
They have a great squad should go far in the playoffs. Hoping they go all the way.