Luca Langoni Shows Flexibility Against Colorado Rapids

"I thought Luca up top initially, but then as a left wing back, was very interesting because he was basically playing a left wing back in the end and Luis was up top."

Photo By Alex Roldan

Due to injury and choice of formation, Luca Langoni has been spending more time on the sidelines than he likely would have been hoping for but against the Colorado Rapids, Langoni showed some flexibility that could earn him some more playing time.

Langoni didn’t start the match but was forced into action towards the end of the first half as he replaced Tomas Chancalay who exited the game due to injury in the 40th minute. After the match, head coach Caleb Porter hadn’t spoken with trainers but diagnosed Chancalay with a potential groin injury.

Langoni had a solid performance. He brought speed and one-v-one ability to a team that desperately needed it.

“Luca is a different profile,” Carles Gil said. “He’s not obviously a striker, but I think he can be a good player there, because he's very fast, he can make good movements, he can score goals. It's good to have different profile there. We have Leo, Maxi, Chanca had the injury and Gana too when he's there, Luis. It's different players, and sometimes we need more true number nine, sometimes a guy who can make some runs. I think it's important to have a good mix to make chances.”

But in the 81st minute, Porter added a unique tactical wrinkle. He took off Peyton Miller in favor of Luis Diaz, seeing Langoni drop into a left wing back role.

The added width allowed for Langoni to utilize his speed even more but also made New England much more open in the back. The move seemed to pay off as the Revs erased a three-goal deficit and secured a crucial point.

“I thought Luca up top initially, but then as a left wing back, was very interesting because he was basically playing a left wing back in the end and Luis was up top,” Porter said. “I think it gives us a little bit of a formula, at the very least, to chase a game.”

With the potential for Chancalay to miss some games, this could be a crucial stretch of games for Langoni. It will provide an opportunity for him to show his worth and if he can be a long-term part of New England’s project.

The move to left wing back could add to Langoni’s value, as New England searches for wins late in matches, but the Argentine’s main goal should be cementing a spot in the starting XI, even when the Revs are completely healthy.