Revolution II Preview: 3/9 vs Philadelphia Union II
Catch up on everything you need to know before Revs II begins the 2025 MLS NEXT Pro season against Philly!
After 154 days, New England Revolution II returns to action when they take the field in Foxboro. Sunday gives Revs II the chance to start 2025 on a strong note following a disappointing 2024 campaign.
Catch up on everything you need to know as the club begins the new season!
Opponent: Philadelphia Union II
Date: Sunday, March 9th
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Venue: Gillette Stadium - Foxboro, Massachusetts
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass - Apple TV
Weather: Sunday looks to be a chilly and windy one. The feel-like temperature will sit in the mid-30s throughout the afternoon while winds from the west reach a max gust of 35 miles per hour.
New England Revolution II:
2024 was an incredibly rough season for the club, as they ended the year with a disappointing 4-18-6 record with four shootout victories. On top of the horrid record, last season saw the club finish the year with near-historically bad numbers in wins, points per game, goals for, goals against, and red cards. Something Richie Williams and the club will look to leave in the past.
Revolution II comes into 2025 following a busy offseason that saw them lose two original members of the coaching staff as goalkeeper coach Yuta Nomura and associate head coach Marcelo Santos leave to pursue other opportunities. Despite the losses, the club recouped by adding Brad Knighton and Michael Milazzo to the coaching staff.
The offseason saw Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi, Jacob Akanyirige, Andrej Bjelajac, Luka Borovic, Brandonn Bueno, Giovanni Calderon, Patrick Leal, Maciel, and Colby Quinones depart the club following 2024. Revs II also declined the option of Revs II regular Joshua Bolma while loaning Tiago Suarez to Birmingham for the 2025 season.
Defenders Gabe Dahlin and Keegan Hughes may make their Revolution II debuts on Sunday. Dahlin joined Revs II on February 28 after completing a collegiate career at Bucknell and Monmouth. Hughes joined the club on January 3 following spells at the collegiate, MLS NEXT Pro, USL Championship, and MLS levels.
Unfortunately, one name will be absent for Sunday’s opener and the 2025 season. Jayden Da, former Columbus Crew 2 forward, was the biggest addition to the Revs II squad this offseason. Yet his debut will have to wait until 2026 as Da suffered a torn ACL and meniscus that will keep him out of action for the year.
Revolution II comes into the new season amidst a lengthy winless run. After their last win of the 2024 season on June 14, the club finished the season with a 15-game winless run that saw them go 0-11-4.
Opening day has been a mixed bag for Revolution II throughout the club’s first five seasons. Their inaugural one in 2020 saw them play to a scoreless draw at home against Union Omaha. 2021 saw them secure their first opening day victory when they beat Fort Lauderdale CF (now Inter Miami II) 1-0 on the road. 2021 saw them split points in regular time and secure an additional point in the shootout following a 2-2 draw and 4-3 shootout victory on the road over New York City FC II. 2023’s opener saw Revolution II secure all three points following a 3-2 win on the road over Atlanta United 2. Last season’s opener marked the first time Revs II started the year with a loss as Philadelphia Union II secured a 2-1 win inside Subaru Park.
Philadelphia Union II:
Union II enters the new year after a successful 2024 season after finishing the year in fourth place in the Eastern Conference with 52 points on a 15-9-4 record with three shootout victories.
Following wins over NYCFC II, Crown Legacy FC, and Crew 2, Union II made it to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup, where they faced North Texas SC. Despite finding the net twice in the opening 18 minutes, North Texas clawed their way back in, and a goal from Pedrinho in stoppage time sealed Union II’s fate as North Texas SC secured the 3-2 victory plus the 2024 MLS NEXT Pro title.
Despite the successes of the 2024 season, the offseason spelled change for Philadelphia. One of the biggest came on the sideline. After spending five seasons with the club, Marlon LeBlanc announced his departure.
With LeBlanc gone, Union II ushered in a new era when the club appointed Ryan Richter as the new head coach after serving in various coaching roles within the Union organization since 2018.
It seems newly appointed first-team coach Bradley Carnell has been pleased with the Union youth. The offseason saw Philadelphia promote Union II’s Neil Pierre, Frankie Westerfield, Eddy Davis III, and Sal Olivas to their MLS roster.
With some names gone, Union II’s offseason saw them bring in several new faces. The biggest being U.S. youth international and Union Academy product Kellan LeBlanc.
With a new squad in place, Union II prepares to enter its ninth season of operation. Since their Bethlehem Steel FC days, the club has been successful on opening day with a 5-2-1 record.
Previous Meetings:
Sunday will mark the 11th all-time meeting between New England and Philadelphia.
Both sides are an even 5-5-0 against the other. However, recent history favors Union II. Philadelphia outscored Revolution II 7-3 over their three meetings in 2024 and saw Union II sweep the season series.