From Disallowed Rocket to Redemption: Sands’ First Goal, Miller Lift Revs Past Atlanta 2-1

FOXBOROUGH, MA– New England Revolution (5-0-3, 15 pts.) were victorious 2-1 over Atlanta United FC (1-1-7, 4 pts) on Wednesday night.

The match kicked off at 7:45 p.m. ET at Merecedes-Benz Stadium to a crowd of 16,257.

New England starting lineup: 4-2-3-1 | Matt Turner, Will Sands, Ethan Kohler, Mamadou Fofana, Ilay Feingold, Brooklyn Raines, Carles Gil (C), Alhassan Yusuf, Griffin Yow, Luca Langoni, Dor Turgeman

New England substitutes:| Donovan Parisian, Peyton Miller, Diego Fagundez, Eric Klein, Andrew Farrell, Tanner Beason, Cristiano Oliveira, Malcolm Fry, Marcos Zambrano

Atlanta United FC starting lineup: 4-4-2 | Lucas Hoyos, Pedro Amador, Juan Berrocal, Enea Mihaj, Matthew Edwards, Cooper Sanchez, Will Reilly, Matias Galarza, Aleksey Miranchuk, Fafa Picault, Saba Lobzhanidze

Atlanta United FC substitutes:| Jayden Hibbert, Elias Baez, Ronald Hernandez, Stian Gregerson, Ajani Fortune, Tristan Muyamba, Cayman Togashi, Luke Brennan, Emmanuel Latte Lath,

The match kicked off with New England starting from the center circle as they elected to build out of the back to begin the match.

Cooper Sanchez had an early chance in the 4th minute when a service into the area by Fafa Picault was touched just over the bar.

Luca Langoni had the first opportunity for New England when his long distant effort snuck just wide of the right post.

Entering the 19th minute, New England had thought they had taken the lead when midfielder Alhassan Yusuf unleashed a rocket of a volley that snuck bar-down into the top right corner, however, the play was called-back due to forward Dor Turgeman allegedly impeding the view of the goalkeeper whilst in an offside position. The scoreline would remain 0-0.

Matías Galarza had the next chance for Atlanta in the 34th minute when his left footed shot from outside the box went high over the net.

Just four minutes later, midfielder Saba Lobjanidze had an effort inside the center of the penalty area that was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

Entering the 39th minute, Atlanta took the lead.

Following a lofted ball to the back post by midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk, the ball fell for Pedro Amador who centered it to find Saba Lobzhanidze for the quick shot that was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner and then finished home on the rebound by forward Fafa Picault to make it 1-0.

In the 45th minute, Atlanta United midfielder Matias Galarza was issued a yellow card.

Atlanta’s next chance came in the 45+1 minute when a long-distant strike by midfielder Aleksei Miranchuk was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

Just 3 minutes later, in the 45+4 NE had another chance when a service into the area by midfielder Luca Langoni was headed goalward by winger Griffin Yow but was comfortably claimed by goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos.

After the initial 45+8 minutes, the match entered halftime with Atlanta United ahead 1-0.

The second half began with Atlanta United starting from the center circle as they elected to advance the ball quickly into New England’s defensive third.

In the 48th minute, Atlanta United midfielder Matthew Edwards was issued a yellow card.

In the 61st minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his first change of the match by replacing winger Griffin Yow with winger Diego Fagundez.

Less than a minute later, Atlanta had a clear chance when an effort toward goal by Matias Galarza was deflected just over the crossbar by defender Ethan Kohler and out for a corner kick.

Less than a minute later, Kohler blocked yet another shot on target out for yet another corner kick.

Enea Mihaj had thought he scored in the 64th minute when his header inside the penalty area was met with a great save by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

In the 67th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his second change of the match by replacing winger Luca Langoni with winger Peyton Miller.

Entering the 74th minute, New England leveled the match.

Following a corner kick delivery by midfielder Carles Gil, the ball was headed in by defender Will Sands for his first ever MLS goal to level the scoreline at 1-1.

Dor Turgeman had a massive chance just two minutes later when his right-footed shot from outside the box was parried away for a corner kick by goalkeeper Lucas Hoyos.

Saba Lobzhanidze had an unbelievable chance in the 77th minute when he was on a breakaway and took an extremely weak shot that was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

Entering the 79th minute, New England took the lead.

Midfielder Diego Fagundez combined to find midfielder Carles Gil cutting inside the penalty area where he played a square pass across the six-yard box to find Peyton Miller for the tap-in finish to make it 2-1 to New England.

Following the goal, Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino made his four changes by replacing Matias Galarza, Cooper Sanchez, Fafa Picault, & Saba Lobzhanidze with Tristan Muyamba, Ajani Fortune, Cayman Togashi, & Luke Brennan.

Atlanta had another chance in the 85th minute when a 30 yard long-distant effort by Aleksei Miranchuk was saved by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

In the 88th minute, Revolution midfielder Brooklyn Raines was issued a yellow card.

Less than a minute later, midfielder Ajani Fortune had a long distant shot that was also claimed by goalkeeper Matt Turner.

In the 89th minute, Atlanta United head coach Tata Martino made his final change of the match by replacing midfielder Will Reilly with forward Emmanuel Latte Lath.

In the 90th minute, Revolution head coach Marko Mitrović made his final change of the match by replacing forward Dor Turgeman with midfielder Eric Klein.

Atlanta had a clear chance in the 90th minute when a corner kick delivery into the area was shot towards goal and was deflected off the hand of defender Ilay Feingold and cleared. The VAR took a look and a penalty was not given.

In the 90+4 minute, Revolution midfielder Carles Gil was issued a yellow card.

After the 90+4 minutes, the match concluded with New England rallying back for the 2-1 victory.

Marko Mitrović and the New England Revolution (5-0-3, 15 pts.) are on the road to face Eastern Conference side Inter Miami CF (4-4-1, 16 pts.). The match is set to kickoff at NU Stadium on Saturday, April 25th at 7:30 p.m. ET on MLS Season Pass on the Apple TV app.

(Editor’s Note: For more of Yann Teixeira’s photos, click on the link)

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