The New England Revolution solidified third in the Eastern Conference with a 2-1 win over fourth-place Chicago Fire on Sunday.
Dor Turgeman scored his seventh goal of the year before assisting on Peyton Miller's fifth. Maren Haile-Selassie cut the lead in half in the 62nd minute, but Chicago couldn't find an equalizer.
Here are three thoughts from the game.
Finding Dor
From the start, it was clear that the Revs were looking to find Turgeman in transition. After a few attempts that yielded little, Jackson Yueill's clearance put the striker in a duel with Sam Rogers. Turgeman won out and put the visitors ahead.
A similar play was seen just after the break when Yueill found Turgeman, who played a low pass that Miller finished with a well-timed run.
Yueill explained after the game that these moments were all part of the game plan, a testament to an already well-regarded coaching staff.
"The first goal, we spoke a lot about how much they like to push their wingbacks high," Yueill said. "We thought we would have Dor isolated in certain moments to counter their counter a little bit. That was a tactical thing that we were looking at. Credit to him for making the run and having the pace and the ability to finish.
"The same thing with the second one. We were able to find him in behind and the back post [pass] to Peyton. I think the team executed really well in both of those instances."
No More Road Woes
At the beginning of the year, the Revs were strong at home (7-1-0) and struggled on the road (1-4-1). Head coach Mitrovic recognized the storyline but didn't think much of it. This is the mindset of a coach who is always looking for solutions.
He seemed to have found it, as the Revs are 4-2-1 away from Gillette Stadium since the World Cup break. They've looked more comfortable in their system, even in games that they lost.
"Nothing changed," Mitrovic said. "I know that people purely look at the statistics. If you take the first three road games away and what happened in our first four games when we as a team hadn’t been ready or on the level of [play] where we are right now, I think often we had some very decent performances on the road. None of those games on the road we were outplayed or didn’t have an opportunity to get a good result.
"Even before we started this [road stretch] because the last seven games we played six games on the road, I know there was a lot of talk about the [road] record. Look, I know the record exists there, and the record is there when we win six games in a row at home. We are not here to look at the records, we are here to go game after game and training after training to be who we are and push for the right outcome. Now, we got awarded but if we want to keep having the same outcomes we just have to keep doing the right things."
Fighting Through Fatigue
Chicago dominated the second half, maintaining 71% possession, registering six shots on target (1.58 expected goals), and recording 27 touches in the box. While the home team did find a goal, the Revs walked away with full points.
This probably isn't a formula for long-term success, but here's something to be said about a team that can stick together to see out a lead. A four-game road stretch is always difficult. Having to play three in eight days – with one in being in LA – is flat-out daunting.
But the Revs return home having earned 9 of 12 points. It says a lot about the team's togetherness.
"This was our fourth game in a row on the road," Mitrovic said. "We really had a very challenging and difficult game week. I mean, every team has the same circumstances and same challenges in this league, but going to Columbus, going to LA, going to New York, and going to Chicago, there was big fatigue presented with the players.
"I’m just impressed with the way they recovered, the way they pushed, and their mentality. We actually had four very demanding games, because all those teams that I named are very quality teams and every game for us was a big challenge. The way we faced those challenges and the way we embraced all the adversities that we had, I’m really grateful for this group."
Mitrovic complimented the entire group, noting that it was a team-wide effort that extends beyond Ethan Kohler, Mamadou Fofana, and Matt Turner. He did, however, give a special shoutout to his center backs.
"I strongly believe that center backs are actually a reflection of the team," Mitrovic said. "When they are composed on the ball, the team will be composed on the ball. When they are relentless defending, the team will be relentless defending. When they are aggressive, the team will be aggressive. I think that Mamadou and Ethan are actually a mirror of this team. What the two of them present on the field, that’s who we are on the field as a team."
