With new head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena watching from the owner's suite at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution fell to English giants Chelsea FC 3-0 in an international friendly.
Ross Barkley scored a goal in each half to pace the visitors, sandwiching a diving header goal by Olivier Giroud which was allowed to stand although replays indicated Giroud may have been offside on the cross. Video Review was not available for the friendly match.
Chelsea, third-place finishers in the recently concluded Premier League season, will next get set to face London rivals Arsenal in the final of the Europa League on May 29. Meanwhile, the Revolution will return to MLS Week 12 action on Saturday, May 18 with a trip to Montreal (1 pm ET).
Both clubs did not emerge unscathed from the match as New England's Tajon Buchanan was forced to leave the match due to injury in the first half, while Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek needed assistance from trainers to come off the field in the second half.
The match was dubbed "Final Whistle on Hate" as both clubs joined forces to raise awareness and money -- an estimated $4 million -- in the battle against hate and prejudice. The idea for the match was developed by club owners Roman Abramovich (Chelsea) and Robert Kraft (New England) in light of a global rise in antisemitic activity.
All proceeds from the match will be donated to 15 organizations dedicated to combatting antisemitism and discrimination. In addition, Abramovich and Kraft will each donate $1 million in support of the cause.
GOALS:
- CHE - 3’ - Ross Barkley
- CHE - 29’ - Olivier Giroud
- CHE - 62’ - Ross Barkley
LINEUPS
New England Revolution (1’-31’): Matt Turner — Brandon Bye, Andrew Farrell, Jalil Anibaba, DeJuan Jones — Scott Caldwell, Wilfried Zahibo — Tajon Buchanan, Carles Gil, Teal Bunbury — Juan Fernando Caicedo
New England Revolution (31’-45’): Brad Knighton — Nicolas Firmino, Antonio Delamea, Zachary Herivaux, Gabriel Somi — Scott Caldwell, Wilfried Zahibo — Tajon Buchanan (36’ Juan Agudelo), Carles Gil, Teal Bunbury — Juan Fernando Caicedo
New England Revolution (46’-90'): Brad Knighton (62’ Cody Cropper)— Nicolas Firmino, Antonio Delamea, Zachary Herivaux, Gabriel Somi — Scott Caldwell, Wilfried Zahibo — Juan Agudelo, Diego Fagundez, Cristian Penilla — Brian Wright
Chelsea 1st Half: Kepa Arrizabalaga — Davide Zappacosta, Andreas Christensen, David Luiz, Marcos Alonso — Ross Barkley, Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic — Eden Hazard, Olivier Giroud, Pedro
Chelsea 2nd Half: Willy Caballero (88’ Robert Green) — Davide Zappacosta (78’ Reece James), Cesar Azpilicueta, Andreas Christensen, Emerson Palmieri — Ross Barkley (78’ Trevoh Chalobah), Jorginho, Ruben Loftus-Cheek (69’ Conor Gallagher) — Willian, Gonzalo Higuain, Pedro
