New England Revolution Not Feeling Pressure Preparing for Game 2

“I don’t think it adds pressure really. Our guys have been good at scoring goals this year. I don’t think we’ve been shut out for a while. It’s just [about] us not making mistakes in the back..."

Photo By John McGloughlin

The New England Revolution are preparing for Game 2 against the Philadelphia Union in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs but they aren’t buckling under the pressure.

It is win or go home for New England. If they suffer another defeat against the Union, they will have played their last game of the season.

Game 1 was a disaster for the Revs. New England allowed three goals and struggled to find the back of the net. Jacob Jackson very much looked like a goalkeeper who was making his third MLS start and the Union knocked Carles Gil out of the game.

But the Revolution are confident that they can fix the mistakes that they made in Game 1.

“I don’t think it adds pressure really,” Romney said when asked about needing a win in Game 2. “Our guys have been good at scoring goals this year. I don’t think we’ve been shut out for a while. It’s just [about] us not making mistakes in the back and solidifying things. It changes the way they attack if we’re down a goal or two, and it changes the way we defend. Us getting an early goal would be hugely beneficial. We’ve started games on the backfoot too many times. We started well, which is the unfortunate thing. The first 10-15 minutes we’ve been playing well, controlling the game, and it’s been a mistake by any one of our players that’s stalled the momentum. It’s just, can we score when we do have that moment early, and not make stupid mistakes in the end.” 

New England is getting some superb play up top. Gustavo Bou has scored three goals in the last two matches and Tomas Chancalay has been on fire since joining the Revs.

Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye hopes that New England will rise to the occasion.

“I think it's good because we obviously understand how much the game means and we want to rise to the occasion, so we understand you have to win the game to stay and give yourself another chance at having a third game and that's what we're going after,” Kaye said. “So, the pressure at this point doesn't really mean anything anymore because it's do or die.”

While the confidence is appreciated, Revolution fans might not be feeling the same way. The team has limped into the playoffs and had an uninspiring performance in Game 1.

But New England remains confident and believes that they can turn things around in this first-round series. Now it is time for the Revs to prove it.