MIAMI, Florida – Tomas Chancalay scored in the second half to hand the New England Revolution a 1-0 win over Club Atletico Independiente of Panama in the first leg of their 2024 Concacaf Champions Cup Round One series on Wednesday night at the Estadio Universidad Latina in Penonome, Panama.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) side will now head home for next week’s return leg with a one-goal advantage and a crucial away goal.
New England fired an early warning shot in the ninth minute when Carles Gil headed off the crossbar, but CAI were unfazed and did their best to keep the Revolution on their toes defensively.
The visitors then almost snuck in a goal before halftime when Mark-Anthony Kaye’s header off a corner kick flashed wide.
The Revs kept poking and prodding and finally picked the lock of the CAI defense in the 55’ when Giacomo Vrioni flicked a header into the path of Chancalay, who bounced a shot into net for a 1-0 New England lead.
Chancalay scores the opening goal for @NERevolution! ⚽ pic.twitter.com/BS9gpDD3Uq
— Concacaf Champions Cup (@TheChampions) February 22, 2024
CAI looked to respond and a shot from Davis Contreras, which took a slight deflection off a defender, almost found the inside of the far post for an equalizer in the 68’.
The two sides continued to trade chances, with CAI starting to commit more numbers forward in hopes of finding a goal to even the series.
New England would get the last shout at goal, with Gil going near post in the 90’, only for CAI GK Eddie Roberts to make the save. Nevertheless, the victory belonged to New England, who became the first team from MLS to win a Champions Cup match away to CAI.
