Carles Gil Makes History As Revolution Collect First Win Since May 31st
...And Revs legends got to see it.
The New England Revolution broke a nine-game winless run on Saturday, collecting a 2-0 win over D.C. United on Alumni Night.
The Revs entered the game having not recorded a win since May 31st. Carles Gil ensured that the streak wouldn’t extend further.
In the 62nd minute, he offered a picturesque cross that Leo Campana headed home. Eight minutes later, the midfielder found the bottom right corner to give the home side a two-goal advantage.
Not only did these moments result in three points, but they also created history, as Gil (130) surpassed Taylor Twellman (129) for most regular-season goal contributions.
“It’s special to break the record,” Gil said. “Like I’ve said many times, [Twellman] is a legend here in the club, in the league. I have more games [played] than him, I think, to break the record. But it’s a pleasure to have these words about him, and he’s a big legend.”
The occasion was even more special because Twellman and 19 other former players were in the building to celebrate the Revs’ 30th season.
Twellman, who scored 101 goals for the club before retiring, acknowledged that Gil “is the best player in Revolution history.”
“I wish I got to play with Carles,” Twellman said. “With Steve Ralston, Pat Noonan, Clint Dempsey, Andy Dorman, and Michael Parkhurst, whenever we talk about the game and the Revs come up—Shalrie Joseph is another one—we all immediately just wish we got a season or two with him.”
Head coach Caleb Porter noted that Gil is a “top player” who is “so humble.” He said it was only appropriate for him to etch his name into the club’s history book with so many alumni in the stands.
Porter gave a specific shout-out to Matt Reis, who came down to the bench during the second half to pump up the team. Porter and Reis previously worked together in Columbus.
“He’s such a great guy and such an awesome goalkeeper,” Porter said. “I thought that was really cool, that he came down to the bench and showed support.”
While Matt Turner, who earned a shutout in his first start for the Revs since May 2022, didn’t get to see Reis during the game, he did have a lot of positive remarks for his fellow goalkeeper.
“He’s a legend here, and a great person,” Turner said. “When I got here in 2016, I heard so many stories about him, about how he was around the locker room. If I can have a bit of the career and just the name that he carries around here in New England in the future, then that’s pretty successful.”
While it was nice to collect a 2-0 win in front of the fans and former players, the Revs are still eight points below the playoff line. As such, they know there’s much work to do.
“We have to take it one at a time,” Porter said. “This is a good three points. Obviously, they’re very important, but we have to do it again next week against LAFC.”