Revs II Preview: 10/6 vs Columbus Crew 2
Revolution II wrap up a disappointing 2024 season in the Granite State.
Revolution II will look to avoid making history on Sunday when they put a bow on their overall disappointing 2024 campaign as they return to the Granite State. Catch up on everything you need to know ahead of Sunday’s Decision Day matchup!
Date: Sunday, October 6th
Opponent: Columbus Crew 2
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Venue: Mark A. Ouellette Stadium, Hooksett, New Hampshire
Broadcast: MLS Season Pass - Apple TV
Weather: The weather looks perfect for Sunday. The temperature at kickoff will sit at 64° and hover in the mid-60s through the match with minuscule wind.
New England Revolution II:
After 28 weeks, Revolution II will wrap up its 2024 campaign at home. They enter Decision Day amidst a 14-game losing streak that dates back to their last win on June 14th. Since then, they’ve gone a horrid 0-10-4 and have been outscored 29 to 16.
A draw or loss to Columbus Crew 2 would see that streak extend to 15 games. Not only would that 15th winless game set the record for the longest single-season winless streak, it would also tie the longest all-time winless streak in league history, which is co-held by Huntsville and Vancouver, who went winless in 15 games from 2023 into 2024.
Regardless of the result, Sunday will mark the end of the club’s worst season in its five-year history. They’ll finish tied or set the club record for fewest wins in a season while having their second-lowest points total, lowest points per game total, highest goals conceded total, and second-lowest goals scored total.
On a bright note, Marcos Dias and Alex Monis will have one more chance to notch double-digit goals. Dias comes into Sunday with a team-leading nine on the season. Monis trails by one with eight. Revolution II has only had one player score 10 or more in a season. That came during the 2023 season when current Minnesota United forward Jordan Adebayo-Smith tallied 12.
Columbus Crew 2:
While Revolution II has been out of playoff contention for some time now, they have the opportunity to spoil things for Kelvin Jones and his Crew 2 side, which enters Decision Day one point below the playoff line at 10th.
Columbus Crew 2 has done particularly well on the road in 2024. They come into Sunday’s match with a 4-5-5 record away from home in 2024.
Like Revolution II, Crew 2 is also experiencing a winless streak. They’ve failed to pick up three points in their last six matches and have gone 0-4-2 with losses in their last four matches. Their most recent meeting saw them suffer a 1-0 loss to Chicago Fire II.
On top of their winless and losing streak, they’re also experiencing a scoring drought. Their last goal came in the 45th minute in their 2-1 loss to FC Cincinnati 2 on September 15th. That means Crew 2 has gone 225 minutes without netting a goal. For Revolution II’s sake, let's hope that streak continues to grow on Sunday.
Columbus’ success in 2024 has come from a multitude of players. Chase Adams holds a team-leading nine goals along with one assist. Brent Adu-Gyamfi holds seven goals and four assists. Jayden Da holds five goals and four assists. Gibran Rayo holds four goals and four assists. Long story short, anyone on this Columbus Crew 2 side can find the back of the net, which means Revolution II needs to come into the game ready to go and stay locked in for the full 90. Something they’ve struggled with through 2024.
Columbus enters Decision Day tied for fifth in goals per match (1.9), tied for 13th in goals conceded per match (1.7), second in average possession (55.7%), tied for seventh in big chances (69), first in accurate passes per match (459.0), 19th in accurate long balls per match (24.7), tied for sixth in penalties awarded (6), seventh in touches in opposition’s box (691), first in saves per match (4.6), and sixth for fewest fouls per match (11.4).
Previous Meetings:
Sunday will mark the eighth all-time meeting between New England and Columbus. Crew 2 holds the historical advantage firmly, as they’re 6-1-0 against Revolution II.
Their inaugural meeting marked current RC Strasbourg Djordje Petrović made his Revolution debut after joining the organization. It was a brutal first appearance for the Serbian keeper as goals from Marco Micaletto, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and two from Noah Fuson led to Crew 2 securing a 4-0 victory on May 8, 2022.
July 24, 2022, saw another four-goal outing by Crew 2. An own goal from Michael DeShields plus a goal from Coleman Gannon and a brace from Michael Vang led to Crew 2 securing a 4-1 victory. Marcos Dias’ 41st-minute goal prevented the shutout this time.
April 16th, 2023 saw Crew 2 secure yet another clean sheet. Goals from Marco Micaletto, Jacen Russell-Rowe, and Isaiah Parente led to Crew 2 securing a 3-0 victory.
May 25, 2023 saw another clean sheet, but this time, in Revolution II’s favor! Jordan Adebayo-Smith and Ben Awashie found the back of the net to propel Revs II to a 2-0 victory and their first win against Columbus!
Both sides met again on October 14, 2023, with a trip to the MLS NEXT Pro Cup Final on the line. Just as it looked as if things would end with a scoreless draw and head to extra time, Gibran Rayo crushed Revolution II’s hopes as he found the net in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time, as Crew 2 made it to their second-consecutive Final.
June 6 marked their first meeting of 2024, and it went Crew 2’s way. An unfortunate own goal from JD Gunn plus goals from Jayden Da and Chase Adams had Crew 2 rolling with a 3-0 lead. A brilliant strike from Patrick Leal, which won that week’s Goal of the Matchday award, avoided the shutout.
August 19, 2024, marked the latest meeting between both sides. Despite Cole Mrowka finding the net in the 11th minute, Marcos Dias leveled things in the 19th. An unfortunate own goal from Patrick Leal in the 75th minute was the deciding factor, as Crew 2 secured a 2-1 victory.