A Closer Look At Leo Campana's Encouraging Night

Campana had a goal against D.C. United, but he could've had more.

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Leo Campana registered his fifth goal of the season in Saturday’s 2-0 win over D.C. United. It was a promising night for the striker, who has struggled with injuries.

Let’s take a closer look at his performance.

The Revs opted for a 4-5-1 formation for the second straight game, which head coach Caleb Porter said was a big decision since the team has had success in the 3-4-1-2.

“I truly felt like it was our best [starting] 11 and I felt like it was the right system to highlight our best [starting] 11,” Porter said. “It doesn't mean next week we won't change again, honestly, because we have to look at LAFC. We have to take a look at what we think is the best way to go tactically from here on out.”

I thought Campana struggled early on without a dedicated strike partner. He didn’t get many touches and didn’t have a shot until the 40th minute.

He grew into the game, finishing the night with 33 touches (6 in the opposition box), six shots (two on target), and three big chances missed. He also went six-for-eight on aerial duels.

Obviously, the game-winning goal in the 62nd minute was his best moment. That said, I thought Campana had several good actions, which is promising since I haven’t been a big fan of his runs since he joined the Revs.

Campana’s first bid came in the 40th minute when he floated off his defender’s shoulder and headed Carles Gil’s service just wide. This is the type of movement you want to see from an attacker.

In the 57th minute, Chancalay used the width to cause D.C. headaches on the break before offering a centering pass. Campana hit a powerful shot from the top of the box that the goalkeeper nearly fumbled.

The breakthrough came in the 62nd minute when Campana leaped just outside the six to nod in Gil’s cross. It was a good header from a spot where strikers tend to do their best work.

The moment that I liked most didn’t result in a goal, though it should’ve. In the 68th minute, Campana got to Chancalay’s pass, though he couldn’t put it on frame. It was a well-timed run toward the six-yard box.

Campana also had headers in first- and second-half stoppage time; the first went into the goalkeeper’s hands and the second went wide.

These were all promising moments for Campana, who ended the night with his highest xG of the season (.97).

Obviously, you can’t make too much of one performance against a team that is without a coach and is at the bottom of the Eastern Conference, but I thought Campana was getting into good spots, which is something Gil spoke about.

“Right after the game, I told him the most important [thing] today was he had four or five big chances,” Gil said. “Because if he has these chances, he’s going to score, for sure, and if not, he’s there in the right spot. The goals will come.

“He scored a very good goal, and I think he had bad luck in some of the other headers. Leo is a key player for us. We need him, and like today, he was key with this first goal. Like I said, having these chances, it’s important because for the centerbacks it’s difficult to manage him. He’s a big guy, good on the ball, header, so I’m sure he’s going to have more goals in the last games.”

Overall, I like that Campana was spending more time in the box, getting his head on crosses, and timing his runs.

In the modern game, strikers have to lead the press and hold up the ball. That said, their primary task is to score goals. Campana did that once on Saturday, and he could’ve had more.

“I thought he played great,” Porter said. “He had some really good moments where he got on the end of things, on the end of the crosses. I thought we did a good job of connecting crosses. It was great that he stuck with it and obviously found the first goal, which is so important in this type of game.”

The Revs have players who can cross (FotMob lists them as the ninth most accurate crossers with 4.4 completed per match), but they need players who can get into the right positions to finish the play, which Campana did this weekend. Now he needs to be consistent and clinical.

Campana has made nine straight appearances, his longest streak since coming to New England during the off-season. His most recent game is one to build on, especially with LAFC coming to town next weekend.