"By The Numbers" presented by Compass Minerals is a season-long series that gives a statistical preview of every Sporting match. To visit the series archive, click here.
After visiting California last weekend, Sporting Kansas City will venture to the opposite side of the country for a showdown with the New England Revolution on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT with live broadcasts on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV, Sports Radio 810 WHB and La Grande 1340 AM.
We take a statistical look at the regular season matchup in our newest edition of By the Numbers, presented by Compass Minerals.
Head-to-Head
- Sporting and New England last met on June 12, 2022, when the Revolution earned a 2-1 road win at Children’s Mercy Park. Gustavo Bou and Emmanuel Boateng scored on either side of Johnny Russell’s second-half equalizer.
- Sporting are visiting Gillette Stadium for the first time since April 28, 2018, a period of almost five years. The Revolution earned a 1-0 win with a first-half goal from Teal Bunbury.
- Sporting have lost their last four road matches against the Revolution dating back to 2014.
- Sporting are 0-5-1 at Gillette Stadium since 2013 (including playoffs) and last won at the stadium on Aug. 4, 2012, four days before Kansas City hoisted the 2012 U.S. Open Cup.
- Sporting are 25-19-12 against New England in the regular season, including an 11-11-6 road record.
- Since eliminating New England from the 2013 playoffs en route to MLS Cup, Sporting are 2-6-1 in nine regular season meetings against the Revolution with 21 goals conceded and zero shutouts.
- New England have scored in each of the last nine regular season meetings, while Sporting have scored in seven of those nine.
- Prior to their nine-game scoring streak in the series, New England went five straight meetings without scoring against Sporting from 2012 to 2013.
Sporting Kansas City
- 2023 MLS record: 0-5-3, 3 points (14th in West | 2 GF, 11 GA)
- 2023 MLS away record: 0-3-2 (1 GF, 6 GA)
- Last 5 Matches: 0-4-1 (L-L-T-L-L)
- Sporting rank fourth in MLS in shots (116) and sixth in shots on target (41).
- Sporting rank fourth in MLS in key passes (82), third in corner kicks (53) and third in shooting accuracy (56.2%).
- Sporting have had 43 shots blocked this season, the second most in MLS.
- Sporting lead MLS in progressive carries (175) and rank fourth in progressive passes (359).
- Sporting rank third in MLS with 136 crosses from open play.
- Sporting lead MLS with a dribble success rate of 59.4%, completing 92 of 155 attempted dribbles.
- Midfielder Erik Thommy leads MLS in both shots (32) and shots on target (12). His 16 blocked shot attempts are also the most in MLS and six more than any other player.
- Forward Daniel Salloi ranks seventh in MLS in chances created (18), third in successful crosses from open play (eight) and third in progressive carries (32).
- Salloi and forward Willy Agada have provided Sporting’s two goals this season.
- Midfielder Remi Walter has started 50 consecutive regular season matches for Sporting since Sept. 29, 2021, the third-longest active streak among MLS field players behind Jakob Glesnes (81) and Darlington Nagbe (75) and the eighth-longest streak in club history.
- Walter and defender Robert Voloder have played all 720 minutes this season.
- Defender Graham Zusi ranks seventh in MLS with 58 progressive passes.
New England Revolution
- 2023 MLS record: 5-1-2, 17 points (1st in East | 13 GF, 7 GA)
- 2023 MLS home record: 3-0-1 (9 GF, 1 GA)
- Last 5 Matches: 3-0-2 (W-W-T-W-T)
- New England occupy first place in the Eastern Conference with a 5-1-2 record, including a 3-0-1 mark at home. Their 17 points are tied for the second-most through eight games in club history (20 points in 2005).
- New England are led by coach Bruce Arena, the winningest head coach in MLS history with 255 regular season wins and five MLS Cup titles.
- New England have outscored opponents 9-1 in four home matches this season.
- New England set an MLS record with 73 points during the 2021 regular season, going 22-5-7 as Supporters’ Shield winners, before missing the playoffs last year with a 10th-place finish in the East and a 10-12-12 record.
- New England have scored 10 of their 13 goals this season in the second half. Their 10 second-half goals are tied for second-most in MLS.
- New England have conceded four of their seven goals this season after the 75th minute. Their four goals conceded after the 75th minute are tied for the most in MLS.
- New England are tied for third in MLS with a 0.88 goals against average. The Revolution’s four shutouts are one behind the league lead (Nashville SC, FC Cincinnati).
- New England have faced 115 shots, tied for the second most in MLS. The Revolution have been outshot 115-103 despite outscoring opponents 13-7.
- Gustavo Bou, Dylan Borrero, Carles Gil and Bobby Wood lead New England in scoring with two goals apiece. Gil has added a team-best three assists while also leading the Revs with 13 key passes.
- Defenders Brandon Bye, DeJuan Jones and Dave Romney have played every minute for New England this season. Romney is third in MLS with 45 clearances, while Jones is tied for sixth with 17 interceptions.
- Goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic leads MLS in saves (35) and ranks fourth in save percentage (81.4%).
Milestones and Miscellany
- Sporting will play its 500th away match in all competitions on Saturday.
- Defender Graham Zusi is one shy of his 350th regular season appearance for Sporting, which would tie Kyle Beckerman for third-most regular season appearances with one MLS club in league history (Beckerman 350 with RSL, Nick Rimando 369 with RSL, Chris Wondolowski 376 with SJ).
- Forward Daniel Salloi is one shy of his 50th goal for Sporting in all competitions.
- Forward Johnny Russell is one shy of his 50th goal for Sporting in MLS competitions and two shy of 50 regular season goals for the club. His 48 regular season goals and 53 goals in all competitions are both third most in club history.
- Midfielder Roger Espinoza is one shy of his 300th start in MLS competitions (regular season, playoffs and MLS is Back Tournament).
- Midfielder Remi Walter has made 50 straight regular season starts for Sporting, the third-longest active streak among MLS field players behind Jakob Glesnes (81) and Darlington Nagbe (75). His 50-game streak is the eighth longest in club history, one shy of a tie for sixth (Kevin Hartman 90, Jimmy Nielsen 90, Mark Chung 74, Tony Meola 55, Jimmy Conrad 52, Bo Oshoniyi 51, Ilie Sanchez 51).
- Forward Khiry Shelton is one shy of 100 starts in his MLS regular season career.
