Revolution II sets club record for longest losing streak

Richie Williams and the New England Revolution II returned to action on Sunday night after an extended break, looking to end a four-game losing streak while also seeking their first road win of the season.

Williams made two changes to the lineup that suffered a 2-1 loss to a shorthanded Huntsville City on July 10. JD Gunn started in goal behind a back line of Moshtaba Al-Hasnawi, Tiago Suarez, Giovanni Calderón and Damario McIntosh. Eric Klein, Maciel and Patrick Leal started in midfield behind an attacking trio of Joshua Bolma, Gevork Diarbian and Alex Monis.

Diarbian almost found the net when he picked up a ball in the middle of the court. Diarbain was one-on-one with his defender and after creating some space, he tried to fire the ball into the top right corner, but his shot went wide of the net.

The controversy began early when it appeared Chicago’s Jean Diouf had brought down Diarbian in the box. Despite that appearance, referee Justin St. Pierre felt there was not enough contact as play continued.

A poor pass in the backcourt gave Revs II a golden opportunity in the 12th minute. Goalkeeper Patrick Los tried to snatch a poor pass from the right flank, but Los ripped a punch off Monis as St. Pierre pointed to the penalty spot. In addition to the penalty, Los received a yellow card for the infringement.

Monis, a former Chicago Homegrown, stepped up to the penalty spot and attempted to score the first goal. Monis sent the penalty kick into the bottom right corner of the net, giving them an early 1-0 lead. A goal that put Monis in the Revs II starting six and was also his third goal against Chicago Fire II in 2024.

Chicago wasted no time in equalizing four minutes later. After his first shot was blocked, Lamonth Rochester took the rebound and fired the ball past Gunn to make it 1-1. Things only got worse in the 20th minute when Jason Shokalook received a pass from Omari Glasgow in the box and fired a shot to give Chicago its first lead of the night.

A bizarre turn of events occurred in the 22nd minute when McIntosh’s cross into the center of the box deflected off Jaylen Shannon and into the net, leveling the game at 2-2.

But Revolution II’s night got even worse in the 25th minute when Suarez brought down Jason Shokalook in the box as St. Pierre pointed to the penalty spot. David Porebra stepped up and looked to add to his Golden Boot when he slotted the penalty into the net to give Fire II a 3-2 lead. It was his 12th goal of the 2024 season.

Calderón was the first Revs II player to receive a yellow card after holding back Jason Shokalook in the 35th minute. Leal was shown a yellow card in the 43rd minute after fouling Vitaliy Hlyut.

There were two substitutions in the 76th minute, as Brandonn Bueno and Robert Nichols III came on for McIntosh and Al-Hasnawi. It was Buenos and Nichols’ first appearance of the 2024 season.

Despite a chaotic first half, Revolution II failed to mount a comeback and Chicago Fire II emerged with a 3-2 home win.

Sunday’s loss marks a new low for New England Revolution II, as their ongoing losing streak extended to five games and is the longest in Revolution II history.

Richie Williams and New England Revolution II will look to stop the bleeding on Saturday, August 3 when they travel to Fifth Third Bank Stadium in Kennesaw, Georgia, where they will seek their first away win of 2024 when they face Atlanta United 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET.