Revolution II Preview: 6/30 @ FC Cincinnati 2
Reve II looking to rebound following an "unacceptable" loss at home.
Richie Williams and New England Revolution II hit the road as they look to turn the page following an “unacceptable” loss at home last Sunday. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s match!
Date: Sunday, June 30th
Opponent: FC Cincinnati 2
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Venue: NKU Soccer Stadium, Highland Heights, Kentucky
Broadcast: mlsnextpro.com
Weather: Sunday looks to be a warm one in the Bluegrass State as temperatures will sit in the low 80s come kickoff and remain in the high 70s throughout the match.
New England Revolution II:
Richie WIlliams summed it up pretty well following last Sunday’s loss, it was a tale of two halves.
The night got off to a rough start when severe weather in the area pushed the game’s start time back by over an hour. Things only got worse when the opening whistle blew.
It started with Aron John finding the net just four minutes in. Goals from Julian Bravo in the 14th minute, Jahlane Forbes in the 24th and 38th minute, and Dylan Sing in the 30th minute to put Crown Legacy up 5-0 at halftime.
Despite a horrific start to the game, this young Revolution II side didn’t deter them. Revs II’s persistence paid off in the 64th minute when Alex Monis got on the end of a cross from Patrick Leal and headed the ball in to cut the deficit to four.
Things got better when Tiago Suarez netted his first goal for the club after heading home Joshua Bolma’s corner kick to shrink the deficit to three.
Alex Monis’ night went from good to great in the 86th minute when he slotted home his second goal of the evening, cutting the deficit to two.
Despite a chaotic closing ten minutes, the clock wasn’t on Revolution II’s side as Crown Legacy’s dominant first half led to them securing a 5-3 win on the road.
Following Sunday’s “unacceptable” loss, New England Revolution II sits in 12th place in the Eastern Conference with 16 points on a 4-8-2 record with two shootout victories. It won’t be easy for Revolution II as they have yet to pick up a win away from home in 2024 as they possess a 0-6-1 record on the road.
FC Cincinnati 2:
2024 has been a tremendous season for Tyrone Marshall and FCC 2 as they come into Sunday’s match in second place in the East with 28 points on a 9-4-1 with zero shootout wins.
Marshall and FCC 2 have given home fans little to be upset as they hold a 4-2-1 record inside NKU Soccer Stadium.
Cincinnati’s success in 2024 has come from forward Stefan Chirila and defender Amir Daley, as the duo both have four goals on the season. Midfielders Kenji Mboma Dem, Gerardo Valenzuela, and forward Ben Stitz are also offensive threats, as the trio have scored three goals each. Stitz also leads FCC 2 in assists with five.
After starting the 2024 season with a draw and two losses, it’s been mostly smooth sailing for FCC 2 as they’ve secured wins in nine of 11 since. Marshall and his squad find themselves amidst a three-game winning streak that’s seen Cincinnati outscore their opponents seven to two.
It’s safe to say Richie Williams and Revolution II will have to bring their A-game if they want to get any result on the road against a solid FC Cincinnati 2 side.
Previous Meetings:
Sunday will mark the sixth all-time meeting between New England and Cincinnati with both sides holding a 2-2-1 record against one another.
Their first-ever meeting came back on April 17th, 2022, when a brace from Jack Panayotou and another goal from Ryan Lima propelled Revs II to a 3-2 win.
Marcos Dias’ 53rd-minute goal was the deciding factor in May 22nd, 2022’s meeting as Revs II secured a 1-0 victory.
April 30th, 2023 was a chaotic one that saw constant lead changes. Thanks to braces from Marcos Dias and Damian Rivera plus another goal from Jordan Adeabyo-Smith, Revs II found themselves holding a 5-4 lead. That was until an unfortunate own goal in the 90th minute forced a shootout, in which Revs II secured a 5-4 victory.
It’s been all FCC 2 since as they secured back-to-back 2-1 victories on June 18th, 2023, and their first meeting of the 2024 season on April 10th.