New England Weekly Review: June 10, 2024
New England Weekly Review: June 10, 2024
Looking through the USMNT horror-show, the Revs winning streak, and action across the USL categories.
New England soccer entered its fullest dimension this past week ranging from the semi-pro action in USL League 2 to the game’s biggest stars meeting at the international stage.
For the New England Revolution, the international break left rivals New York Red Bulls weak as several starting players missed the game. The Revs took all three points thanks to an Ema Boateng winner in the 81st minute.
Hartford Athletic put on a brave display against the Western Conference leader New Mexico United, but conceded in the 87th and left the game empty-handed.
Rhode Island FC fell apart in the first post-Jack Panayotou era game and lost 2-0 to Detroit City FC.
The USMNT put on a defensive horror show and conceded five goals against Colombia in a pre-Copa America friendly. Tim Weah pulled one back for Berhalter’s side in the 58th minute, but Colombia’s attack sentenced the USMNT to a 5-1 defeat.
Revs II suffered from several international absences and lost 3-1 to Columbus Crew 2. The result saw them drop to 12th place in the Eastern Conference of the MLS NEXTPro.
In USL League 2, the Seacoast United Phantoms dethroned the Western Mass Pioneers by beating them 3-2. A brace from Yaniv Bazini pushed Vermont Green FC past Albany Rush. Seacoast and Vermont play for the top spot on Tuesday at 6 p.m. at the Seacoast United Outdoor Complex.
Here are some pointers from all the games across the globe that involved New England:
International Alerts
Revs II Alex Monis’ made his international debut for the Philippines national team in a World Cup Qualifying loss to Vietnam. Monis received the eligibility to play for the Philippines from his parents and had previously represented the USA at the U-16 level.
In the 70 minutes of action that he got, Monis assisted the Philippines’ first goal in the 63rd minute to open the scoring. Monis and Philippines play Indonesia on Tuesday but mathematically have no chance of qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
Olger Escobar also featured for Guatemala in the early stages of CONCACAF’s World Cup qualification in games against Domenica and the British Virgin Islands. In the 6-0 win over Domenica, Escobar assisted Guatemala’s fifth goal from a corner kick. The Malden, Massachusetts, native now has three caps to his name for Guatemala. Escobar’s next international match will be a friendly against Argentina on Friday, June 14th at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C.
Hartford Athletic left-back Tristan Hodge made his case for a starting spot on Trinidad and Tobago’s squad. Hodge played 14 minutes in a 2-2 draw against Grenada to open their World Cup qualifying campaign. However, Hodge started and won a penalty in Trinidad and Tobago’s 7-1 demolition of the Bahamas.
Rhode Island left winger Jojea Kwizera played 14 minutes on his debut for Rwanda’s national team in a 1-0 loss to Benin. The former CF Montreal player became the first active Rhode Island player to win an international cap while at the club.
Kwizera’s Rhode Island teammate Isaac Angking got his 14th Puerto Rico cap in a 0-0 draw with El Salvador. Angking played 70 minutes before coming off for Beto Ydrach. Puerto Rico plays Anguilla on Tuesday in their next World Cup Qualifying fixture.
Former Seacoast United and University of New Hampshire center-back Moïse Bombito started and played the full 90 minutes in friendlies against the Netherlands and France for Canada. Following a nightmare 4-0 defeat against the Netherlands, Bombito led Jesse Marsch’s defense to a 0-0 draw against France. The clean sheet strengthens his claim to be a possible starter for Canada at the Copa America. Former Revs winger Tajon Buchanon also started both games but was subbed off in the second halves.
In a more obscure corner of New England soccer, Black Rock FC’s Sachiel Ming made his international debut for Bermuda by coming off the bench against Antigua and Barbuda. The Syracuse commit scored a 90th-minute equalize 6 minutes after entering the pitch. Ming also played in Bermuda’s 6-1 loss to Honduras.
Assessing Game 1 of the Winger Drought
With Tomas Chancalay’s injury and Esmir Bajrakterevic on international duty, Caleb Porter dug deep into his squad to rotate on the wings against the Red Bulls. In the first half, Ian Harkes and Carles Gil played a hybrid winger/attacking midfielder role that required them to shift and roam as play progressed. Dylan Borrero started on the left wing and swapped to the right in the second half.
Harkes played well, but the midfield role suited him better as his defensive contributions relieved stress from Matt Polster and Mark-Anthony Kaye. However, Gil has to be the attacking midfielder to create more chances.
In the 50th minute, Gil spun off his defender and slipped in Vrioni on goal while Harkes followed up the play from the right wing. Such a play requires Gil to play in the center with the freedom to create overloads in the mid-spaces or arrive late into the box. The biggest positive from playing Harkes with Gil was that they didn’t seem to get in each other’s way.
In the second half, Ema Boateng came on for Harkes. Boateng played down the left with Borrero on the right in more traditional winger roles. Boateng scored the winner and made a case for more playing time.
Panayotou returned from his loan spell at Rhode Island but sat on the bench this game. Porter only used three of his subs and Borrero played the entire game; a positive sign of recovery for the Colombian. With Panayotou, the Revs have two players for each wing as long as Gil stays centrally.
Panayotou should get minutes in the following month and, if not, Rhode Island should propose another loan spell.
USL League 2 Tactic Talk
Pep Guardiola's presence at the TD Garden for the Boston Celtics’ game one of the NBA Finals went viral on social media this week. During his passage through New England, Guardiola failed to check out a certain USL League 2 team that wears his team’s colors and plays a similar tactical system.
That is Alex Ryan’s Seacoast United side.
In the match against the Western Mass Pioneers, Seacoast United came out in a 4-2-3-1 that shifted into a 4-4-2 while they pressed to match up with the Pioneer’s backline. Once Seacoast settled on the ball, right-back Mitchel Varley floated up to the Pioneer’s defensive line, and left-winger Terry Makedika hugged the touchline to create width. Left-back Harrison Bertos dropped in to form a back three and Marco dos Santos tucked in up top to float around.
Once they’re comfortable, Ryan’s side transitions into a 3-2-5 with tweaks. For instance, Taig Healy and Marco dos Santos roam and counter-press while striker Ibrahim Conde stays central. Once Conde checks in or drifts wide, both playmakers follow to combine and overload one side of the defense.
The main danger comes from the efforts made to contain the attacking trio. As the middle of the field becomes congested with defenders, Makedika puts on a show and takes defenders one-on-one. Healy’s goal against the Pioneers came from a Makedika take-on after dos Santos, Conde, and Healy created several chances.
While the Pioneers attempted to break on counters through Scott Testori and Alec Hughes, Seacoast’s midfield duo of Charles Strine and Shun Kushima cut them off. Despite being shorter than both of the Pioneer’s forwards, Kushima and Strine won nearly all of their aerial duels.
For the match against Vermont Green FC, the key will be on who gets more comfortable in possession. Seacoast proved how dangerous they can be in a 3-2-5 against the Pioneers. Adam Pfeifer’s side also likes to hold possession and have the depth in midfield to challenge Seacoast.
With another top-of-the-table matchup for Seacoast, their chances of winning the Northeast Division depends on Tuesday’s tactical battle.