July 27, 2024 – Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution began the Leagues Cup 2024 campaign with a 1-0 victory over LIGA MX side Mazatlán FC at Gillette Stadium in the first of two Group Stage matches. Revolution Homegrown midfielder Jack Panayotou tallied his first goal for the first team in the 69th minute to provide the difference in the match.
In the teams’ first meeting, New England and Mazatlán played to a scoreless first half, with the most promising shot coming from MLS veteran Tommy McNamara, who just missed placing his header inside the far post in the 45th minute. McNamara made his Leagues Cup debut in tonight’s match, in his second straight start for New England.
New England broke the deadlock in the 69th minute when the 20-year-old Panayotou tallied his first goal. Matt Polster, wearing the captain’s armband once again, recorded his second Leagues Cup assist with the low cross, which took a deflection from Mazatlán’s goalkeeper and found Panayotou, who tapped it in for the game winner. The Cambridge, Mass. native, named the 2022 UnitedHealthcare Revolution Academy Player of the Year, has now made six appearances this season, including four starts in the last five games.
Defender Henry Kessler and Homegrown player Peyton Miller also made their first Leagues Cup appearances tonight. Miller, a 16-year-old Unionville, Conn. native who was named to the MLS Team of the Matchday last weekend, suited up for his second consecutive start at left back. Kessler and Miller both helped contribute to the clean sheet, along with goalkeeper Aljaz Ivačič, who made two clutch saves and registered his fourth shutout in 15 starts for New England.
Tonight’s match marked the sixth different LIGA MX opponent the Revolution have faced since the start of 2022, with a 4-3-2 record over the last three seasons. The team’s all-time home record against LIGA MX clubs improves to 10-2-3, while the New England moves to 10-4-3 against Mexican clubs overall.
The Revolution, now leading East Group 5 with three points, will have a week to rest and prepare for the second Group Stage match of Leagues Cup 2024 on Tuesday, August 6 against Nashville SC. The 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff at Gillette Stadium will be free to watch on the Apple TV app in English and Spanish. Listen to the Revolution’s local radio call on 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA in Portuguese.
MATCH NOTES
New England improved its all-time record against LIGA MX…
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