It’s Major League Soccer’s best rivalry. But players from both D.C. United and the New England Revolution could find it tough to get mentally ready for this weekend’s clash with the U.S. national team’s vital match against Italy taking place just three hours prior and fans being invited to watch the broadcast on the two big ProVision screens at Gillette Stadium.
“We’ll be able to watch some of it during the pregame meal, but probably after the first half, we’ll turn it off and try to focus on the game at hand,” said midfielder Brian Carroll.
D.C. and New England enter the match on the heels of opposite results, United having given up a late goal for a 1-1 tie against the Los Angeles Galaxy, and the Revolution coming from way behind to escape Chicago with a 3-3 tie thanks to two goals in extra time.
D.C. hasn’t lost in six matches, and the Revolution haven’t won in four, but late game-winners have been all too familiar when these teams face one another.
“Especially when you’ve got someone like [Revolution forward] Taylor [Twellman], he got us in extra time last year up in New England,” said defender Bobby Boswell. “We just have to make sure we’re solid and we see everything out.”
D.C. United (7-1-4) at New England Revolution (3-4-3)
» Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
» When: 6 p.m. Saturday
» TV: None
» Radio: 1160 AM, 1540 AM
