The New England Revolution can extend their win streak to five games by completing a Buckeye sweep.

That’s probably the toughest challenge for any team in MLS, but the Revolution completed stage one with a 2-1 victory over FC Cincinnati on June 22 at TQL Stadium.

FC Cincinnati is the reigning Supporters Shield winners and are currently in second place in the MLS Eastern Conference standings. The victory also lifted the Revolution out of last place in the conference.

The Revolution (6-10-1) can go 2-0 against Ohio when they engage the defending MLS Cup champion Columbus Crew (8-3-6) on Saturday night (7:30) at Gillette Stadium.

The game against the Crew is the first of three matches in eight nights for the Revolution. The Revolution host Atlanta on Wednesday (7:45) and are at Seattle (10:30) on July 6.

“I think it is obviously a tough stretch for any team in MLS when you are coming up against Cincinnati and Columbus and what they have done in past seasons,” said Revolution midfielder Ian Harkes.

“It is tough. We went full confidence against Cincinnati and it really showed in the game. It will be the same kind of game against Columbus. But we are coming off a good spell and we are confident. We have to show what we can bring and we have to be cognizant of what they can do. They can hurt teams in the attack.”

The Revolution could be considerably shorthanded against a formidable opponent like the Crew.

The Revolution announced on Thursday that dynamic forward Tomas Chancalay is scheduled to undergo season-ending knee surgery to repair a partial tear of his right anterior cruciate ligament. Chancalay will be added to the Season-Ending Injury List for the remainder of 2024.

Revolution head coach Caleb Porter added the club’s leading scorer and playmaker, captain Carles Gil, and forward Dylan Borrero are questionable for the match.

“Both of them are looking unlikely for the match,” said Porter. “Obviously we have three games this next week as well, so hopefully they will be available for (Atlanta) if they are not available for this game.

“It’s another game where we have guys out and we are not going to make it an excuse. We’ll put guys in that we feel will help us win the game and we’ll come up with a plan, but it won’t be easy for sure.”

That’s an understatement by Porter, who will be facing his former team for the first time as the Revolution’s field manager.  Porter coached the Crew from 2019 to 2022 and won the MLS Cup in 2020. Porter had a hand in drafting and acquiring many of the players on the Crew’s roster.

The Crew have scored 29 goals in 17 games and allowed 17 for a plus 12 goals-differential while keeper Patrick Shulte has made 40 saves with five clean sheets.

Columbus coach Wilfried Nancy employs a 3-4-3 scheme led up top by Cucho Hernandez, who has nine goals in 12 games with four game winning goals and 23 shots on goal. Diego Rossi leads the Crew with six assists while midfielder Darlington Nabe orchestrates the build-up.

“I’ve known him (Nabe) since he was 15-years-old,” said Porter. “He’s the best midfielder in the league over the last decade with the way he keeps the ball, the rhythm that he gives his team.

“Everybody tries to stop Darlington from keeping the ball and he still has like 96 (percent) pass completion over 12 years in the league. You don’t keep him off the ball.”