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New England Revolution vs. San Jose Earthquakes | MLS Match Preview

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs SAN JOSE EARTHQUAKES
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
March 28, 2015 (WEEK 4, MLS Game #27)
3 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE)

Two clubs who have started the season in opposite directions meet in an intersectional clash when the New England Revolution play host to the San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution have yet to score a goal this year, gaining their first point of the campaign last weekend a home scoreless draw with the Montréal Impact. The Quakes have won back-to-back matches off a long winless run, inaugurating their new Avaya Stadium home in fine fashion last Sunday with a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire.

• The Revolution were shut out for a third consecutive match to start the season, but took their first point following a scoreless draw with the Montréal Impact on Saturday. The longest a team has gone without scoring from the start of the season was in 2007, when Toronto FC started the year without a goal in 383 minutes. The Revolution saw their overall league scoreless drought reach 325 minutes, dating back to last season.
• Rookie Fatai Alashe scored the first goal in Avaya Stadium history as the Earthquakes inaugurated their new stadium with a 2-1 win against the Chicago Fire. It was the second win in a row for the Quakes after putting an end to a 16-game winless streak dating back to last August.
• Ty Harden – making his 100th career league appearance – scored his first MLS goal and also assisted on the Quakes’ opener.
• The Revolution have won the last two meetings between the teams over the last two seasons, including a 2-1 win at Buck Shaw Stadium last year in the only match between the clubs.
• The Revolution won 2-0 in 2013 in the last meeting at Gillette Stadium; that was their first home win vs. the Quakes since the 2009 season. That win in 2013 ended a five-game New England winless run vs. San Jose.

REFEREE: Jose Carlos Rivero. AR1 (bench): Gianni Facchini; AR2 (opposite): Eric Weisbrod; 4th: Alan Kelly MLS Career: 38 games; FC/gm: 26.6; Y/gm: 3.8; R: 11; pens: 19

SUSPENDED: none
DISABLED LIST: none
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: SJ: Fatai Alashe (U.S. U-23); Tommy Thompson (U.S. U-20)

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (38 meetings): Revolution 13 wins (2 shootout), 48 goals … Earthquakes 20 wins (0 shootout), 67 goals … Ties 5
AT NEW ENGLAND (19 meetings): Revolution 7 wins (0 shootout), 23 goals … Earthquakes 10 wins (0 shootout), 29 goals … Ties 2

Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City SC | MLS Match Preview

MONTREAL IMPACT vs ORLANDO CITY SC
OLYMPIC STADIUM, Montreal, Que.
March 28, 2015 (WEEK 4, MLS Game #28)
4 p.m. ET (MLS LIVE)

The Montréal Impact make their league home debut for 2015 against another recent MLS arrival, when they face expansion side Orlando City SC on Saturday afternoon at Olympic Stadium. The Impact are still looking to break into the goals column in league play this season, coming off a scoreless draw at New England last weekend. Orlando City have had a bright start to their MLS history, though they were pegged back for their first loss in a late 1-0 defeat by Vancouver Whitecaps FC last Saturday at the Citrus Bowl.

• The Impact are still looking for their first league goal of the season, reaching a scoreless draw at the New England Revolution in their second MLS game of the season. The Impact have scored five goals in three CONCACAF Champions League matches in 2015.
• Orlando City SC were shut out for the first time and lost for the first time in their MLS history, seeing Vancouver Whitecaps score the game’s only goal deep in stoppage time for a victory Saturday evening at the Citrus Bowl.
• Orlando City saw their shutout streak put to an end after 194 minutes with the dramatic Vancouver goal, the longest goalless skein in MLS so far this season.

REFEREE: Ted Unkel. AR1 (bench): Claudio Badea; AR2 (opposite): Richard Gamache; 4th: Silviu Petrescu
MLS Career: 15 games; FC/gm: 24.7; Y/gm: 3.3; R: 3; pens: 5

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SUSPENDED: MTL: Hassoun Camara (through March 29)
DISABLED LIST: ORL: Martin Paterson
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: MTL: Maxim Tissot (CAN; vs GUA 3/27, vs PUR 3/30); Laurent Ciman (BEL; vs CYP 3/28, vs ISR 3/31); Ambroise Oyongo (CMR; vs IDN 3/25, vs THA 3/30); Romario Williams (JAM; vs VEN 3/27, vs CUB 3/30) ... ORL: Brek Shea (USA; vs DEN 3/25, vs SUI 3/31); Darwin Cerén (SLV; vs ARG 3/28, vs GUA 3/31); Conor Donovan (U.S. U-20); Cyle Larin (CAN; vs GUA 3/27, vs PUR 3/30); Rafael Ramos, Estrela (POR U-20), Kevin Molino (TRI; vs PAN 3/27)

HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME: First meeting.
RETURN MATCHES: 6/20: Montreal Impact vs. Orlando City FC, 8 p.m. ET; 10/3: Orlando City FC vs. Montreal Impact, 7:30 p.m. ET
• Coaches record: Frank Klopas vs. ORL: first game … Adrian Heath vs. MTL: first game

Shay Facey: New York City FC definitely not something to be taken lightly

Manchester City loanee Shay Facey wasn't exactly sure what he was getting into when he agreed to join MLS expansion side New York City FC for the 2015 season.

Now, after two games, one start, and one red card, he knows what's what, and he apparently likes what he sees.   

“As you can see, with the fan base alone that the club’s got New York City FC is going to be a huge club," Facey told Soccer Newsday. “NYCFC is definitely not something to be taken lightly."

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The native Mancunian came up through the Manchester City youth academy and was a member of its Elite Development Squad before making the move to the Big Apple. It's a move he would recommend to anyone.

"I would say if you do get the opportunity to come here, definitely take that opportunity with two hands,” he said.

Facey made his NYCFC debut in the club's home opener against the New England Revolution, coming on in the 79th minute to help preserve the 2-0 win in front of 43,507 fans at Yankee Stadium. He then made his first start last weekend against the Colorado Rapids. The Citizens earned a point in a scoreless draw at Dick's Sporting Goods Park, but Facey was given his marching orders in the 82nd minute after picking up his second yellow card on a tackle on Juan Ramirez.

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And if any of his former Man City teammates are concerned about a drop in the level of play, Facey has news for them.

“For sure, the quality of this team is not far away from Manchester City, and it has the potential to be a huge club attracting [top] players.”