Revs II Recap: Revolution II 1 (4) - Chattanooga 1 (5)
Revs II Recap: Revolution II 1 (4) - Chattanooga 1 (5)
Revs II fall in the shootout as their winless run extends to 13 matches.
Richie Williams and New England Revolution II took to the field at Gillette Stadium for the final time in 2024 on Saturday as they welcomed MLS NEXT Pro newcomers Chattanooga FC, looking for their first win in regulation since June 14.
Williams made four changes from last Sunday’s loss to Orlando City B. JD Gunn got his first start in goal since August 31 as he sat behind the back line of Malcolm Fry, Tiago Suarez, Victor Souza, and Damario McIntosh. 16-year-old Cristiano Oliveia started his third consecutive match as he paired alongside Eric Klein and Olger Escobar in the midfield. Liam Butts, Marcos Dias, and Alex Monis combined to form the attack up top.
Escobar nearly got Revs II on the board in the 10th minute. After breaking free from his defender, Escobar drove across the top of the box and rocketed a shot toward the right side of the net that deflected off a Chattanooga defender and out for a corner kick.
But the tide turned in the 18th minute.
After receiving Milo Garvanian’s pass on the right flank, Min-Jae Kwak drove toward the Revs II box and unleashed a shot from distanced that curled to the left side of the net and in as Chattanooga took an early 1-0 lead.
After a flurry of chances throughout the first half, things finally paid off for Revolution II in the closing seconds of first-half stoppage time. After getting on top of a ball slotted forward by Monis, Butts drove right at the goalkeeper and slotted a ball under the keeper and in to level the game right before halftime. The stoppage time goal marked Butts’ third goal of the 2024 season and his first since returning to the lineup on September 9.
Chattanooga’s Alex McGrath became the first player to enter the referee’s book as he received a yellow card in the 50th minute following a foul on Dias. Klein entered the book in the 59th minute after committing a foul on Taylor Gray.
Revolution II’s first changes of the day came in the 74th minute when Sage Kinner and Gevork Diarbian came on to replace Souza and Butts. Another pair of changes came in the 79th minute when Maciel and Andrej Bjelajac replaced Monis and Oliveira.
For a third time in their last four matches, Revolution II headed to a penalty shootout as things concluded with a 1-1 draw.
Sage Kinner stepped to the spot looking to keep Revs II hopes alive. Kinner attempted to send a right-footed shot to the bottom-left corner, but the Chattanooga goalkeeper made the save to give Chattanooga the 5-4 shootout victory.
It was a disappointing end to a hard-fought match by Revs II, who see their winless streak stretch to a 13th game.
They’ll look to snap that streak and pick up their first road win of 2024 on September 29, when they face New York Red Bulls II at 5:00 pm ET.