The New England Revolution are off to an inexplicably abysmal start in MLS under first year coach Caleb Porter.
The Revolution dropped to 0-4 with a 2-1 loss to reigning Supporters Shield winner FC Cincinnati before 14,557 on a sun splashed Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium. The Revolution are alone in last place in the Eastern Conference, off to their worst start since going 0-6 in 2001 and have been outscored 10-3 in the four matches.
“In terms of the vision and where we are going, I’m more convinced that ever we will get there,” said Porter. “This bus is moving and I’m learning there are some guys on it and some guys are on helping me drive it and some guys are on it sitting in the back.”
The Revolution wrapped up an arduous run of eight games in 26 days with the opening match of a three-game homestand. The Revolution will engage Chicago Fire FC on Saturday, March, 23, with three significant players, homegrown midfielders Esmir Bajraktarevic (U.S.) and Noel Buck (England) and goalkeeper Henrich Ravas (Slovakia), away honoring their FIFA international obligations.
The Revolution (3-0-1) will resume Concacaf Champions Cup play against reigning LIGA MX champion Club America in leg one of their home-and-home quarterfinal series on April 2 at The Razor. Leg two will be played on April 9 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
Porter made substantial alterations from an offensive perspective to the starting XI that battled a LD Alajuelense to a 1-1 draw on Thursday night in Costa Rica. Playmaker and team captain Carles Gil was back in the 10-position, striker Giacomo Vrioni took his place at the top of Porter’s preferred 4-2-3-1 scheme with the club’s leading scorer, Tomas Chancalay, at attacking midfield. DeJuan Jones, an offensive-oriented left back, resumed his place on the backline.
“For three and a half weeks we haven’t trained, not even one day,” said Porter. “The days we’ve had are walk-throughs because the guys are recovering.
“If you don’t train you lose the little details and the habits. You need habits through training and there are a lot of excuses, but at end we didn’t get the job done today.”
FC Cincinnati field manager Pat Noonan, the 2023 MLS Coach of the Year, employed a 3-4-2-1 scheme that methodically attacked the Revolution’s back line with possession and passing.
The Revolution created their early scoring opportunities with turnovers and transition runs up the pitch. Cincy keeper Roman Celentano made huge saves on Bajraktarevic and Vrioni on transition plays. The contrasting styles provided a coherent flow to the match that ended in a scoreless tie after 45 minutes with zero stoppage time.
“If you watch that first half, we did everything we wanted to do,” said Porter. “We played through their press at will, we got through their final third but we have to find the goal. We can’t play that well and have nothing to show for it.”
The Revolution caught a huge break at the start of the second half when substitute attacker Luca Orellano’s chip shot goal in the 46th minute was ruled offside. The missed opportunity emboldened FC Cincinnati and they went up 1-0 off a corner kick in the 52nd minute.
Defender Yuya Kubo’s header crossed the goal line before Ravas could swat it away. FC Cincinnati went up 2-0 when midfielder Luciano Acosta, the 2023 league MVP, beat Ravas on a free kick from the top of the box in the 54th minute.
“It was definitely an unacceptable way to start the second half at home considering how important home games are for us,” said midfielder Mark-Anthoy Kaye. “It is something we are going to have to look at this week and figure out exactly what went wrong.”
The Revolution got on the board on a marvelous transition goal by Vrioni in the 62nd minute. Vrioni ran under a clearing pass from the midfield, maneuvered center back out Matt Miazga of position and fired the ball inside the far post for his first MLS goal and second in all competitions.
The Revolution went all out for the remainder of the second half but failed to net the equalizer. There were seven yellow cards issued by referee Richonne Clark in the second half.
