FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The last time the New England Revolution squared up against the LA Galaxy was 26 weeks ago on the league’s biggest stage, where they fell just short of capturing the club’s first ever MLS Cup.
While most everyone else is billing this Sunday’s tilt as the “rematch” of that fateful December day (7 pm ET, Fox Sports 1 in the US, MLS LIVE in Canada), which saw the Revs fall 2-1 in stoppage time, coach Jay Heaps said it won't be a topic of discussion amongst his players.
“We’re focused on the LA that is playing this season,” Heaps said. “We’re a different team. They’re a different team. We’re worried about protecting our field on Sunday night and trying to get a result.”
“I don’t think that at all,” said Kelyn Rowe on the notion of Sunday being an MLS Cup rematch. “I think it’s a different team on both sides. Both teams have different players, maybe the same core. For us, it’s just another game.”
Before the Galaxy even arrive at Gillette Stadium, the Revolution must sort out their starting lineup, which will be without the services of Lee Nguyen and Chris Tierney who were both sent off with red cards last Saturday against D.C. United.
In losing those two veteran starters, they lose their two best free kick takers as well, but Heaps will rely on his depth to fill those gaps in.
“We’ve been discussing that quite a bit and feel we’re going to put a team out there that’s going to be good on set pieces,” said the Revs coach.
Taking advantage of set pieces, an area where the Revolution have excelled this season, will be key against a banged up Galaxy defense.
“Obviously we have some suspensions and they have some injuries, so it won’t be the same,” defender Andrew Farrell explained. “But we want to win every game that we can at home.”
The Revs, who had a six game unbeaten run entering May, have left results on the table over their last four matches. They have won zero of those four and have drawn three of them.
Entering Sunday’s match with a mindset of exacting revenge from last December's MLS Cup will not gain them the points that they need for this year, so they simply attack the match as the next one up on the schedule.
“It’s just another game,” said Farrell. “Another good, good game at home. I’m sure there will be a great crowd and we’re excited to play the Galaxy. We haven’t won a game in a while, so I think it’s important for us to come out strong and make a statement against a good team.”
