Boateng Scores Game-Winning Goal After Midweek Conversation With Porter

Boateng: "He knows how to coach me. Just like a lot of the guys on the team, he’s been able to find ways to pull strings and get the best out of everybody.”

Photo Courtesy of J. Alexander Dolan

Earlier this week, head coach Caleb Porter spoke to Ema Boateng about doing more for the team.

On Saturday, the speedy winger came off the bench to score the game-winning goal in a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls.

The moment occurred in the 81st minute, 12 minutes after Boateng entered for Ian Harkes.

After a spell of possession, Xavier Arreaga beat a defender and found Carles Gil. The captain offered a picturesque cross with his right foot that Boateng finished.

“I’m proud of Ema coming into the game,” Porter said. “It’s a great example of why you have to have the right mentality whether you’re starting or coming off the bench, because I don’t look at them as subs. They are solutions, right? We’re making subs, it’s a solution to the match, and we needed a little spark and Ema came in and found that spark.

“We had a good chat a couple days ago. I told him he needed to be better, because I’ve known Ema a long time. We’ve been together at the Crew and here. I could look him in the eyes and say, ‘Ema, you’ve got to be better for us. You’ve got to come into games and bring that spark.’”

Boateng answered the call, as his first goal of the season helped the Revs earn their fourth win.

He celebrated the strike by embracing Porter on the sidelines.

“[I] came on and did enough to help us win the game, so I had to go over to him and let him know that I heard everything that he said and [I’m] willing to try and give more and more every game,” Boateng said.

Porter and Boateng know each other well, having won a championship with the Columbus Crew in 2020.

Boateng explained that Porter is always looking to get the best out of him and the other players.

“We have a great relationship, played for him in 2020,” Boateng said. “Even before that, when he was at Portland, I was in college and went there to train with his team a couple of times.

“So we have a great relationship and he knows me really well. He knows how to coach me. Just like a lot of the guys on the team, he’s been able to find ways to pull strings and get the best out of everybody.”