Thursday evening’s Leagues Cup 2023 action saw **Atlas FC** and the **New England Revolution** battle it out at Gillette Stadium for a spot in the competition’s Round of 16.
The LIGA MX side had qualified for the knockout rounds as the winners of the East 3 group, having beaten both New York City FC and Toronto FC by a 1-0 scoreline.
The Revs, meanwhile, bounced back from an opening game penalty shoot-out loss to the New York Red Bulls by breezing past Atlético San Luis 5-1, to finish as runners-up of East 4.
For the MLS outfit, it was going to be a night to remember whatever the outcome - the franchise was taking to the field for the 1000th game in their history.
It was the Guadalajara-based team, though, that raced to an early 2-0 lead after just ten minutes. Argentine winger Mateo García scored his first goal for the club since joining at the start of last month, before another recent arrival in Ecuador’s Jordy Caicedo scored his second at this summer’s Leagues Cup.
As has often been the case over the last five seasons, it was veteran striker Gustavo Bou who stepped up to bring his team level. The Argentine first pulled one back with a powerful finish from a tight angle on the half-hour mark, before firing in the rebound from his own penalty effort ten minutes from time.
A final whistle fracas saw Atlas FC defender Anderson Santamaría sent off, before the Mexican side’s coach Benjamín Mora was also given his marching orders after a heated conversation with the referee.
A spotless penalty shoot-out saw both sides convert their first seven efforts, before José Abella of Atlas hit his effort against the frame of the goal.
It was only fitting, given the landmark nature of the game for the Revs, that their all-time top appearance-marker in Andrew Farrell was the one to score the winning penalty, in his 355th game for the team.
In the next round, the New England Revolution will be taking on another LIGA MX side in Club Querétaro, who beat Pumas on Thursday night. The winner of that match-up will take on either the New York Red Bulls or Philadelphia Union in the quarter-finals. Will the Revs make their 1001st game just as memorable as tonight’s performance?
