Djordje Petrovic out to extend shutout streak
New England Revolution second-year goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic hopes to accomplish a significant club first against a formidable opponent.
Petrovic will attempt become the only keeper in club history to open the season with three consecutive clean sheets when the Revolution (2-0-0) confront reigning MLS champion LAFC (1-0-0) on Sunday night (10:30) at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Petrovic has logged 180 shutout minutes in wins against Charlotte FC (1-0) and the Houston Dynamo (3-0). Petrovic, a member of the Serbia National Team who experienced a call up in January, needs eight move saves to reach a hundred in his MLS tenure.
“He’s played well but he wasn’t kept that busy in the last game against Houston,” said Revolution head coach and sporting director Bruce Arena. “He had one really good save at the end of the Charlotte game.
“He is very reliable and he has grown as a goalkeeper from last year and he continues to get better. I think his distribution has gotten better and his ability to communicate with his teammates has improved. He is growing into a real good goalkeeper.”
Since joining the club on June 12, 2022 as a replacement piece for Matt Turner, who signed with Arsenal of the English Premier League, Petrovic has 0.39 shutouts per start in the regular season.
That percentage has him tied for second among MLS keepers with 15 or more starts. Petrovic has collected nine clean sheets in 23 MLS starts, tied for sixth most in Revolution history.
“I think he is playing well of late but he played well last year,” said left outside back Brandon Bye. “We knew right when he came in he was a good player, we’ve known that since day one.
“Coming into training camp he has gotten more comfortable with the team and obviously understanding a little bit more English helps. He is growing as a player and growing as a teammate as well and a leader back there and that is always good.”
The Revolution’s back line has been exceptional in the opening two games despite the loss of ironman center back Andrew Farrell, who is sidelined with a right leg injury.
Dave Romney, who was acquired from Nashville in a cash transaction back in January, has seamlessly assumed Farrell’s slot alongside Henry Kessler.
Bye and DeJuan Jones are the Revolution’s experienced bookend outside backs that have kept the flanks honest, while defensive midfielder Matt Polster has been a factor in the Revolution’s hot start.
“There are no goals and we are ready for the next game on Sunday,” said Petrovic. “I am experiencing better communication with the rest of the team and we are playing better as a team.
“Everything, like the pieces of the puzzle, are coming together.”
LAFC began the defense of its title with a scoring binge. LAFC beat Portland
3-2 in its MLS opener on March 2 and then pummeled Alajuelense 3-0 in a Concacaf Champions League match on Thursday night. Arena said forwards Gustavo Bou and Jozy Altidore made the trip to the West Coast but would not say if they will see the pitch.