"Mr. Revs" Gets Redemption After Red Bulls Goal Theft

“Maybe if you say to everyone, ‘Who do you want to make the last penalty?’ I think 99 percent of the team would say ‘Andrew.’"

Photo By ©J. Alexander Dolan

If you are watching a Revolution game and New England happens to score, more than likely Andrew Farrell is one of the first players to be celebrating with his teammates. On Thursday night, Farrell’s teammates were the ones surrounding him.

Farrell scored the game-winning penalty kick that saw New England advance to the Leagues Cup Round of 16. It’s the first game-winner of 2023 but he could have had an earlier stunner that would have seen the Revs take points on the road.

Back in July, the Revs faced the New York Red Bulls in league play and in the 92nd minute the center back launched a shot into the back of the net to give New England a point on the road. But VAR intervened and took the beautiful goal away from Farrell and the points from the Revs.

Against Atlas, Farrell got the moment he deserved.

“It felt good,” the center back said. “Obviously, there was a little more pressure because everyone kept on scoring there so I was like, ‘It’s coming down to the last couple guys, so I’m going to have to maybe take one.’ When they missed one I was like, ‘Oh, we got this.’

“I was excited to help the team advance. It wasn’t our best game. We were down 2-0 early. I’m proud of our guys for fighting back in against a really good team.”

Farrell’s teammates were of course happy that they won the game, but there were also ecstatic that the center back was the one who clinched the victory.

A common theme from Revolution players that spoke to the media after the game was that Farrell’s moment in the spotlight was well deserved.

“Maybe if you say to everyone, ‘Who do you want to make the last penalty?’ I think 99 percent of the team would say ‘Andrew.’ We love him,” captain Carles Gil said. “He does a lot, and he’s been doing very good penalties in training, as it showed tonight.”

Youngster Noel Buck agreed with the captain.

“It couldn’t have happened to a better guy,” Buck stated. “[Farrell’s] always a leader in the locker room, he’s a funny guy. He always makes everyone laugh, and it’s great to see him have that winning penalty.”

Farrell has been a mainstay for New England. He is the club’s all-time leader in MLS appearances, starts, and minutes and is the only player in club history to appear in and start 300 MLS regular season matches for the Revolution.

The center back is New England’s version of Ironman. Up until this season, where his role was initially reduced after the acquisition of Dave Romney, Farrell’s name would be written in permanent marker on the starting XI. With Henry Kessler suffering an injury, Farrell stepped right back into that role.

“Andrew [Farrell] is a big part of our team,” assistant coach Richie Williams said. “He's obviously been here a long time. He's a great competitor. He's a great teammate. I'm really happy for Andrew. You mentioned the goal that got called back in New York, but what a way to end the penalties with him getting the winning penalty there. We were just all excited obviously to advance, but it's great for Andrew. He got up there and took the penalty with confidence, and now we're through.”

While Farrell has racked up some nicknames over the years, he might have a new one to add to his resume. Goalkeeper Earl Edwards Jr. bestowed the title of Mr. Revs on the center back.

“Yeah, had to be him right?” Edwards Jr. said of Farrell’s game winner. “Like he’s just Mr. Revs I feel like. It was really cool to see him step up and finish of course.”

People love to debate if Farrell is a club legend and his importance to the squad but that penalty shot will live in the memory of Revolution fans (and Farrell) for quite some time. It was a special moment for a player who has been a consummate pro and spent his entire professional career in New England.

If anyone deserves the title of Mr. Revs, it is Farrell.