SET THE STAGE: FC Dallas vs. New England Revolution | 6.27.21

FC DALLAS vs. NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

2021 MLS Regular Season
June 27 - 8:00PM
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, TX
TXA 21 | FCDallas.com/Stream | FCDallas.com/Radio | 1270AM
#DALvNE

HEAD-TO-HEAD

• FCD record: 1-4-4 (7 pts., 13th in West)
• NE record: 7-1-2 (23 pts., 1st in East)
• FCD vs. NE all-time: 18-23-4 (61 GF, 69 GA)
• FCD vs. NE home: 10-11-3 (31 GF, 30 GA)

TOUGH TEST

• FC Dallas faces its first Eastern Conference opponent of the season and it happens to be the Conference's top team in the New England Revolution. Bruce Arena's men sit atop the East with 23 points from 10 games and have the joint-most wins in MLS with seven. The Revs' main playmaker Carles Gil is an early MVP candidate as the Spaniard has recorded 10 assists through 10 games, twice as many as anyone else in the league. However, New England is somewhat less daunting on the road, registering a 2-1-2 record compared to its perfect five wins out of five at home. Regardless, Sunday's match will be among Dallas' toughest tests of the season. 

Defender Nkosi Tafari: "One of the biggest challenges is that they're in form. They're obviously coming in first in their conference, little bit different style of play than we're used to but their form might be their biggest threat to us. But we've just got to play our game. We're at home which is a certain benefit, it'd be worse if we were on the road and they were in good form with their fans, and on turf as well. But we're at home, we have our grass and our fans, we can play our game."

MAURER MAGIC

• Goalkeeper Jimmy Maurer has been among FCD's most consistent performers over the season and leads all MLS keepers with 91% passing accuracy. The 32-year-old has put in a number of eye-catching performances, and none more so than his five-save outing against LAFC Wednesday night. Maurer continually stepped up to deny the likes of Carlos Vela, Diego Rossi and most notably José Cifuentes with a series of improbable saves. FCD will need Maurer to be at his best again vs. New England who has the third-most goals in MLS. 

Tafari: "When you call on (Maurer), here's there. He will answer that call. He will deliver every single time, it's a good feeling."

JUSTIN CHE

• Seventeen-year-old Homegrown Justin Che made his FCD and MLS debut in Wednesday's game in LA. The defender played as a right wing back in a 3-5-2 formation and acquitted himself well under difficult circumstances facing LAFC's start-studded attack. Che recorded team-highs in open play crosses (three) and interceptions (five) as well as making two key passes and one tackle. While he's still young, Che looks to be in the conversation for Dallas' starting right back going forward. 

Head Coach Luchi Gonzalez: "Yeah, I think he'd have to be (in the starting right back conversation). Even though he's young, he's fearless. He showed immediate conviction and courage to play. He got forward, he got crosses, he's not afraid. He has raw athletic athletic tools. For a young player, he's responsible and aware and has a bite. They're all things that can help him continue to compete and help the team."