Porter Says Revs Need To Learn From Early Red Card
Porter: “I think we got to learn from it. Everybody on the team, we have to use this as a lesson."
The New England Revolution found themselves in a difficult situation against D.C. United when Giacomo Vrioni was given his second yellow card in the 25th minute.
Vrioni’s first yellow came 12 minutes in when he delayed a restart. Thirteen minutes later, the striker was given a second for a tackle.
This meant the Revs had to play a man down for 65 minutes.
“I think we have to learn from it,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “Everybody on the team, we have to use this as a lesson.
“First yellow shouldn’t happen. I haven’t seen a replay on the second yellow. Knowing he was on a yellow, he shouldn’t be leaving his feet. I’m not sure he got him, but, again, I haven’t seen it. It didn’t seem like he got him but when you leave your feet on a yellow already, you’re just putting yourself in a situation you shouldn’t be in.
“So, we have to learn from that because that hurts the team. We’re on the road, we’re 0-0, and down a man [25 minutes] in. There aren’t many teams in the world that are going to win that game.”
Three days earlier, the Revs were in Panama for a Concacaf Champions Cup game. To play a second consecutive road game after a long preseason was an arduous task. The red card increased the difficulty.
Christian Benteke put D.C. ahead in the 34th minute but the Revolution brought the game back to level terms when Carles Gil scored a picturesque goal in the 67th minute.
The Revs continued to battle, but Benteke scored goals in the 72nd minute and in stoppage time to secure a 3-1 win.
“I can’t ask for much more from the group in that second half,” Porter said. “A lot of times [when it’s] 1-0 that long it goes two, three pretty early. We hung in. I thought maybe we could claw out a point and get that 1-1 scoreline. What a tremendous goal from Carles, world-class goal. He and everyone really ran hard and worked hard. I thought he did well.”
After an extended time away from New England, the Revs will play two home games next week. They will welcome CA Independiente on Thursday before playing Toronto FC on Sunday.
“It’s been a long preseason and it was a long road trip back from Panama,” Porter said. “These guys need a break. We’ll take a day and circle the wagons, reset, and we go again next week. We have two home games. It’ll be nice to be back at home, in front of our supporters. We need their support. We need their energy. We want to get that first home win on Thursday to advance in the [Concacaf] Champions Cup, and then our first league home win, hopefully, on Sunday.”
What will HE learn?