New England Weekly Review: August 27, 2024
We're so back!
Following a mediocre showing at Leagues Cup, the New England Revolution fired on all cylinders to beat CF Montreal 5-0. With two games in hand, the result raised morale around the squad as they face the last 10 matches of the regular season.
Rhode Island FC continued its impressive run of draws in a 0-0 tie with Loudoun United FC. With 13 draws this season, Rhode Island is just one more from the USL Championship season record.
Hartford Athletic pulled off a shock result by beating top-of-the-table Louisville City FC 2-1 thanks to a Mamadou Dieng brace.
Revs II lost 2-1 to the Carolina Core after conceding twice in the last five minutes. The Revs II have not won an away MLS NEXTPro game in the past year.
Here’s a run-down on some talking points from the weekend.
Goals Galore and Goals to Come
For the first time in the 2024 MLS season, the New England Revolution won a game by more than a one-goal difference. By scoring five from 14 shots against Montreal, the Revs showcased an attacking prowess that Caleb Porter’s side has lacked all season long.
The game was also the highest xG recorded all season long by the Revs with a 2.28. It was also the first game this season in which Bobby Wood and Giacomo Vrioni scored.
The first reaction could be that CF Montreal isn’t a good team this year, but the Canadian club sits on top of the Revs in the table.
The reality is that the Revs finally showed that they play best when devastating oppositions in transitions. With Esmir Bajraktarevic and Brandon Bye’s pace down the right wing and Carles Gil’s creativity in the final third, Bobby Wood capitalized on two close-range chances in the first half.
The second half emphasized the importance of the depth on the wings and up top that the Revs built up this year. Dylan Borrero grabbed an assist in the second half, Vrioni came off the bench to score, and new signing Luca Langoni put on a show in the final 15 minutes.
Langoni’s arrival could be a differential element to the Revs frontline. While Bobby Wood’s effectiveness has helped the Revs’ goalscoring in the past months, Langoni’s speed and skill could give him an edge. His assist and goal both came off counter-attacks in which he displayed his ability to drive up the pitch and composure in the final third.
With Langoni, Porter could count on a new striker or a winger. This weekend Langoni played down the right wing after going in for Bajraktarevic. At Boca Juniors, he played on the left wing and even as a striker.
A front three of Langoni, Borrero, and Bajraktarevic could provide exciting results with the service provided by Gil in a counter-attacking set-up.
The question now rests on how Porter will approach the remaining 10 games. On Saturday, Porter opted to drop back and defend after going up 2-0 before the half. As a result, the Revs found more space behind Montreal’s backline when transitioning forward and capitalized on the numerical advantages.
Tampa Bay’s Newest Duo Bleeds New England
Ryan Spaulding returned to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on loan last week after playing 10 games for them last year. In his first week back in Florida, he started in a 3-1c loss against Detroit City FC and a 2-0 win over Miami FC.
Alongside Spaulding, the Rowdies also have Damien Rivera on loan from the Revolution. Rivera has regularly featured off the bench and enjoyed a few late goals in the USL Championship.
Against Miami, Rivera scored his fifth goal of the season and notched his second assist in three USL Championship starts.
Both New England natives are looking for playing time and to continue developing although it is hard to envision a place for either player in the short term.
With Peyton Miller’s emergence and the acquisition of Will Sands, Spaulding dropped to third-choice left-back while being the oldest of the bunch.
In Rivera’s case, there isn’t a clear comparison point with any of the wingers on the first team. Langoni’s arrival could offset several pieces in the long term such as Borrero's being on the last year of his contract and Vrioni’s possible exit. Tomas Chancalay will also return from injury for next season.
The Revs to USL Championship pipeline could be fruitful as it allows younger players to pick up confidence at a higher level than MLS NEXTPro. Following Panayotou’s impact at Rhode Island earlier this season, Spaulding and Rivera could grow in Tampa and maybe even push for a run in the USL Championship playoffs.
Paving the Way
Following reports from a few weeks ago that former Seacoast United Phantoms’ center-back Moise Bombito could make a move to Europe, OGC Nice ended up signing the Canadian international and handed him his debut over the weekend.
Originally, Bombito was linked with a move to Olympique Lyon, but the deal collapsed due to Lyon’s recent problems with Financial Fair Play. Nice swooped in and paid just under $8 million to the Colorado Rapids.
With the end of the USL League 2 season and Bombito’s former club winning the national tournament this summer, some players might take Bombito as a role model to make it to the professional level.
Vermont Green FC saw goalkeeper Francesco Montali sign for Minnesota United during the summer and featured Zachary Zengue, who was drafted by the Columbus Crew but is continuing his college career at Georgetown.
The Pioneers’ Alec Hughes was snubbed at the last MLS Super-Draft. After trying out with several MLS clubs during the Spring, he decided to continue playing at UMass Amherst where he continues as a graduate student.
Most players will continue playing in college and attempting to make it to the MLS through the draft like Bombito or the USL Championship.