The New England Revolution returned to play on Saturday evening as they were officially eliminated from playoff contention with a 2-1 loss to D.C. United
New England’s starting XI was unchanged as Aljaz Ivacic started in net behind the back line of Peyton Miller, Xavier Arreaga, Dave Romney, and Brandon Bye.
In the midfield Alhassan Yusuf got another start alongside Matt Polster while Carles Gil was in his familiar No. 10 role. On the wings, Luca Langoni returned to and Ema Boateng were on the wings while Giacomo Vrioni was the lone striker up top.
But what do you need to know about the match? Here are three thoughts.
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1 - Doomed From The Start
It didn’t take long for New England to allow a goal and see the proverbial final nail be stricken into its coffin.
The goal was absolutley insane. Pedro Santos launced a volley off his left foot in the third minute that blew by Aljaz Ivacic.
There wasn’t really anything that New England could do. It was a world-class finish but yet another poor start for the Revolution.
Things only got worse as a miscommunication between Xavier Arreaga and Ivacic that led to Christian Benteke heading in an easy goal in the seventh minute.
Seeing that the Revolution were 0-15-2 after allowing the first goal entering Saturday’s match, the game might has well had been called at that moment. For the rest of the first half, the attack was nonexistent.
Considering that New England needed a win to stay in playoff contention, it was a poor performance and epitomized how the 2024 season has been for Revolution fans; an absolute disaster.
2 - Fan Frusteration
Fans in the fort expressed their frusteration with the team with a sheet/sign that said where is the fight in the first half. A white flag was waved as well.
While the message is worth asking, it is hard to say that the team’s effort should be questioned. Luca Langoni, Alhassan Yusuf, Peyton Miller and more were putting in shifts. After going down two goals, New England could have easily curled into a shell but they worked to get a goal (even if it was an own goal).
The problem seems to lie with poor performances from a select group of players along with some poor tactical decisions. Giacomo Vrioni. Dylan Borrero, and Xavier Arreaga have to meet nevermind exceed expectations. Borrero might be the only player whose effort should be worth questioning.
Otherwise Caleb Porter and Curt Onalfo should receive most of the blame. Porter has failed to get the roster to live up to its potential and play with the right mentality. Onalfo failed to provide Porter with the necessary pieces to succeed and fill the voids of the roster.
Fans are right to be frusterated, this has been a horrible season but for the most part it is hard to blame the players.
3 - Capi Conundrum
In the cherry on top of what was a horrible season. Carles Gil left Saturday’s match injured.
It appeared that New England’s captain suffered a lower-body injury, potentially an injury to his hamstring or calf but I am far from a doctor and also 10,000 leagues above the pitch.
If Gil is injured, the Revolution should shut him down for the rest of the season. There is literally no reason to play him now that they are out of the playoffs.
But that’s all folks. New England’s season will come to an end in two matches time and the offseason will be a long one.
The 2024 Revolution have been put out of its misery. Now the focus is on how the Revolution will change come 2025.
