If you thought that rivalry games were only for the group stage, think again. The Leagues Cup Round of 32 features a highly anticipated game in which the home team will look for a victory against its opponent for the first time in the year, as New England Revolution will host New York City FC on Friday at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass via Apple TV for a spot in the Round of 16.
The Revs will look to put in the past the previous two meetings between these clubs, as it has not been kind for the home team. Revolution has lost both MLS encounters against New York City FC this season; the first was on April 13 in Yankee Stadium by a score of 2-0 and a little over a month later, on May 25, it was a 1-0 final that gave NYCFC another victory, this time on the road.
Revolution are motivated for this upcoming matchup, as they come off a group-clinching penalty-shootout win over Nashville. The 1-1 score after 90 minutes was enough to put them through as East 5 winners, but they achieved an important extra point on shots from 12 yards afterwards. Goalkeeper Aljaž Ivačič was a key player for the team making his presence felt with save after save.
New York City Football Club, on the other hand, got what they needed to qualify to the next round after their first group game. They faced Club Queretaro at home and after a 0-0 draw, a penalty shootout win gave them a total of two points and with that they eventually secured a spot in the Round of 32 as a second-place team out of East 1; FC Cincinnati finished in first place after going undefeated in group play.
NYCFC will look to finish their attacks when they step on the pitch and have a solid back line, as they had a 2-0 lead versus FCC heading into the 79th minute, only to concede four goals before the end of the game and they know New England Revolution is a dangerous team.
The winner of this matchup will face the winner of a game between to Liga MX teams, as Tigres and Pachuca face off for a spot in the Round of 16 and both Revolution and New York City FC are looking forward to another elimination game against a Mexican club to come one step closer to raising the Leagues Cup trophy.
