Caleb Porter Says Giacomo Vrioni "Has Done Well"

Porter: "He’s been kind of an off-and-on starter and he’s never gotten a run of games, a consistent run of games where he can get belief and gain chemistry and continuity with his teammates."

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Giacomo Vrioni had a positive night on Wednesday as he hit the crossbar and had the game-winning assist in the New England Revolution’s 1-0 win over Club Atlético Independiente.

The Designated Player contributed 76 minutes in the Concacaf Champions Cup game. There were times when he functioned as a hold-up striker and times when he looked to stretch the backline.

In the 9th minute, Carles Gil played a short corner that resulted in a cross that an Independiente player failed to clear. Vrioni took advantage of the moment with a header that rattled the crossbar.

Vrioni ultimately found his way onto the scoresheet in the 54th minute.

Nacho Gil played a diagonal ball that Vrioni nodded into the path of Tomas Chancalay. The Argentine’s well-taken strike beat the goalkeeper to give the visitors the lead.

Head coach Caleb Porter spoke about Vrioni after the game.

“Giacomo has done well,” Porter said. “He missed a couple of weeks to start the preseason, so he’s a couple of weeks behind the other guys because he had a little bit of a strain that kept him out about a week and a half. So he’s still building fitness, he’s still getting sharp, but it’ll come.”

This is Vrioni’s third season with the Revolution after joining the club midway through 2022. Last year, he had six goals and two assists in 29 league games (13 starts). He also had a hat trick during Leagues Cup.

The hope is that Vrioni, who had 19 goals in the Austrian Bundesliga in 2021-22, can be a consistent contributor to the Revolution in 2024.

“As you guys know, he’s been kind of an off-and-on starter and he’s never gotten a run of games, a consistent run of games where he can get belief and gain chemistry and continuity with his teammates,” Porter said. “That’s very important for a No. 9, especially one that needs service.

“So we’ve gaining that chemistry, and that cohesion with him and the other attackers. I’m confident that will come.”

Porter has seen some good things from all three of his DPs and he’s hoping this will continue as their relationship grows.

“I thought [Chanclay and Carles Gil] did some really nice stuff today, along with Giacomo,” Porter said. “Those three guys will just keep getting better and better and better together. That chemistry will continue blossoming. For sure those two guys and Giacomo will score goals for us.”