Revolution Lineup Notes | February 26 at Portland Timbers

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PORTLAND, Ore. – The New England Revolution open the 2022 MLS season with a visit to the Portland Timbers at Providence Park tonight. The match kicks off at 7:30 p.m. and airs nationally on FOX and FOX Deportes, as well as on the radio at 98.5 The Sports Hub and WBIX 1260 AM Nossa Radio USA. Here is a closer look at New England’s starting lineup for the first of 34 regular season matches.

Starting XI: GK Earl Edwards Jr.; D DeJuan Jones, D Andrew Farrell, D Omar Gonzalez, D Brandon Bye; M Matt Polster, M Tommy McNamara; M Sebastian Lletget, M Carles Gil ©; F Gustavo Bou, F Adam Buksa

Lineup Notes:

Bruce Arena, the reigning MLS Coach of the Year,enters tonight’s match one win shy of surpassing Sigi Schmid (240) for the most regular season wins in MLS history. Arena holds a 38-15-23 regular season record since joining the Revolution in 2019, as his .651 winning percentage ranking first in club history.
MLS veterans Sebastian Lletget and Omar Gonzalez, both acquired in the offseason,will suit up in a New England uniform for the first time. Lletget and Gonzalez both played under Arena for the LA Galaxy and on the international stage for the United States Men’s National Team.
Reigning MLS MVP Carles Gil captains the Revolution into the 2022 season, his fourth MLS campaign. Gil led MLS with 18 assists in 2021, while setting a league record with 130 chances created. The Spanish midfielder is one assist shy of surpassing Shalrie Joseph (34) and matching Joe-Max Moore (35) for sixth-most helpers in club history.
Gil will wear the No. 10 jersey for the first time in tonight’s match.
Joining Gil in the attack are fellow Designated Players Gustavo Bou and Adam Buksa as tonight’s starting forwards. Bou (15 goals) and Buksa (team-best 16) finished tied for ninth and tied for fifth, respectively, in the MLS Golden Boot race last season, leading a New England attack that netted an MLS-best 65 goals.
Tommy McNamara appeared in 32 of the Revs’ 34 games last season. The ninth-year midfielder, who owns 175 appearances and over 10,000 minutes played in MLS, enters his third season in New England.
Matt Polster enters 2022 with45 appearances and 35 starts in a New England uniform as he begins his third season with the Revolution.
Joining MLS veteran Omar Gonzalez, who collects his 240th MLS start tonight, in New England’s starting backline are DeJuan Jones, Andrew Farrell, and Brandon Bye.
Farrell, New England’s all-time leader in MLS appearances, starts, and games played, enters his 10th MLS season – all with the Revolution. Farrell started 33 games in 2021 and leads all MLS players in league action since he arrived on the professional stage in 2013.
Jones collects his 70th MLS appearance tonight and enters the match just 25 minutes shy of eclipsing 5,000 minutes played. The 24-year-old finished fifth in MLS Defender of the Year voting last season, earning the most votes among outside backs.
Bye begins his fifth MLS campaign, all with New England. The 25-year-old finished fourth on the Revolution in minutes played and defensive interceptions last season.
Earl Edwards Jr. registers his first start in net for the Revolution as he begins his second season in New England. Edwards Jr., who was recently elected President of Black Players for Change, last made an MLS start on Aug. 4, 2018 with Orlando City and owns a 1-3-1 career record.

Bench: GK Jacob Jackson, F Jozy Altidore, D Jon Bell, M Emmanuel Boateng, D A.J. DeLaGarza, M Wilfrid Kaptoum, M Maciel, M/F Justin Rennicks, D Ryan Spaulding

Bench Notes:

Jozy Altidore joined New England earlier this month after spending the last seven seasons with Toronto FC. The 11-year MLS veteran, two-time World Cup participant, and two-time U.S. Soccer Male Player of the Year owns 77 goals and 25 assists over 176 MLS appearances, including 135 starts.
Emmanuel Boateng averaged 1.18 assists per 90 last season – best in MLS – as he registered two goals and four assists in 11 appearances last season. Boateng added another assist in the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Veteran defender A.J. DeLaGarza embarks on his 13th season in MLS, his second with the Revolution. DeLaGarza Ranks among the top-20 active MLS players in games played, games started, and minutes played.
Wilfrid Kaptoum returns for his second MLS campaign. New England posted an unbeaten 8-0-3 record in 2021 when the midfielder started a match.
Tonight’s bench features three Revolution II graduates in Jon Bell, Maciel, and Ryan Spaulding, as well as Homegrown Player* Justin Rennicks. Bell and Maciel suited up in 12 and 19 matches last season, respectively, while Spaulding makes his first appearance on an MLS bench. Jacob Jackson, **New England’s first-round selection in the 2022 MLS SuperDraft, features in an MLS matchday roster for the first time. Jackson posted a 26-8-8 career record as a three-year starter at Loyola Marymount.