Revolution collect third consecutive win, defeat Vancouver Whitecaps FC
The New England Revolution (5-10-1; 16 pts.) defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC (8-4-5; 29 pts.), 3-2, on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, marking the team’s third consecutive win and second straight victory at home. Two Homegrown players tallied in the match, with midfielder Noel Buck tallying his fifth career goal to open the scoring, and Esmir Bajraktarević scoring the winner for his second goal in as many appearances. Giacomo Vrioni recorded the Revolution’s second goal of the match, his third of the season.
New England opened the scoring early with a perfectly placed goal from Buck in the seventh minute, the second-fastest tally of the season for the Revolution. The Arlington, Mass. native, who returned from international duty with England’s Elite League Squad this week, opened his 2024 account. After Vancouver equalized in the 13th minute, Vrioni netted a left-footed strike to restore New England’s lead. Vrioni converted on assists from Dylan Borrero and Carles Gil. Gil now has a helper in three consecutive games, four on the season, while Borrero has registered an assist in two of his last three games.
Bajraktarević added to the lead in the 39th minute with an unassisted goal that looped over Vancouver goalkeeper Yohei Takaoka’s head for the winning tally. The 19-year-old Homegrown player, who returned to the club earlier this week from international duty with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Team, has now scored in consecutive MLS appearances for the first time in his career. With Buck and Bajraktarević both finding the back of the net, it marked the first time New England had two Revolution Academy products score in the same MLS game since 2017, and the second time in team history that two teenagers scored in the same MLS match. Tonight’s victory also marked the first time the Revolution scored three goals in the first half since Sept. 29, 2021.
Vancouver closed the scoring shortly before the final whistle with a knuckling shot, as New England held on through the final moments of stoppage time to secure the 3-2 result. With the win, goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič improved his record with New England to 4-3-0 with his six-save performance. Left back DeJuan Jones featured in the starting lineup for the fourth consecutive match, while center back Xavier Arreaga logged his eighth consecutive start. Head Coach Caleb Porter improved his all-time record against Vancouver to 9-4-7, as the Revolution have now won five of seven all-time home meetings against Vancouver.
New England hits the road next weekend to take on FC Cincinnati on Saturday, June 22 at TQL Stadium. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff airs live on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish. Listen to the Revolution’s local radio calls on 98.5 The Sports Hub (WBZ-FM), with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies.
