Porter Sees Positives In Saturday's Game

Porter: "I thought we played very well for periods. In saying that, I do think we conceded some goals that we can’t concede if we want to get a result in this game."

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Head coach Caleb Porter thought the New England Revolution had positive stretches against the New York Red Bulls despite losing 4-2.

The Revs conceded in the sixth minute when Lewis Morgan found the back of the net. It was the eighth time this year that the Revs conceded first during a regular season game.

But the visitors fought back and got an equalizer in the 24th minute. Tomas Chancalay played provider on a rare Carles Gil headed goal.

The moment energized the Revs, who threatened the Red Bull net. Chancalay looked particularly dangerous.

The Revolution found themselves in another deficit when Emil Forsberg converted a penalty in the 43rd minute. The Red Bulls went to the spot after referee Jon Freemon used Video Review to rule that Henry Kessler committed a handling offense in the box.

“I did love our mentality to go 1-1,” Porter said. “I thought the penalty was very harsh. That's a big moment in the match as well to make it 2-1 going into the break. I thought at 1-1, we had several good chances to go up 2-1.”

The game stayed 2-1 until there was a flurry of goals in the game’s final stanza.

Elias Manoel struck in the 84th minute to give the Red Bulls a two-goal cushion. Giacomo Vrioni brought the game to 3-2 when he collected his second goal of the season by finishing a feed from Ema Boateng. Cameron Harper rounded out the scoring in the 93rd minute.

“I don't think it's a 4-2 game,” Porter said. “I thought we played very well for periods. In saying that, I do think we conceded some goals that we can’t concede if we want to get a result in this game, but our attack played extremely well.

“Red Bull is a team that wants to press. I think we broke their pressure time and again all game long. I don't see many teams that do that to them.”

The Revs ended the night with 1.34 expected goals, their fourth-highest mark of the regular season. They also scored two goals for the first time during 2024 league play.

“I thought we got in really good positions, we just didn't always execute the final rotation or pattern of play to create a chance, but we scored two great goals, Porter said. “Again, it's a game where you leave it frustrated because of the scoreline, but also, I feel like we're on the right track, playing the way we played.”

Porter noted that Ryan Spaulding was a late scratch due to illness. His absence required some shuffling as Andrew Farrell patrolled the right side while the right-footed Nick Lima moved to the left.

Of course, the Revs were also missing DeJuan Jones and Brandon Bye. The Apple broadcast noted that Jones is “about a week or two away, maybe” while Bye is "is coming back, perhaps by the end of the month."

“We need to get DeJuan back, Brandon Bye back, to really be full strength in those outside back positions where we really stretched the opponent,” Porter said. “In the way we want to play, those outside backs, they have to become wingers and they are not just getting the ball and playmaking, but they're running behind the line.

“Farrell is a center back playing right back and Nick Lima is not a left back. So, I think because you guys are the ones listening to me and trying to decide whether or not this is a good game or bad game, you need to remember that.

“We're on our fourth left back today and our third right back today, and if we have DeJuan and Brandon Bye or even Nick Lima and Spaulding, I think we would execute a bit better. But, we still have to defend. I’ll go back to those moments defensively, which cost us the game.”

While the Revs are at the bottom of the league with a 2-8-1 record, Mark-Anthony Kaye has seen improvement during recent weeks. He’s hoping this will lead to more positive results.

“Over the last couple of games you can see the team collectively growing in confidence,” Kaye said. “Good training sessions have been happening on the training field. I think we’ve been able to see that carry out into the games.

“The fight is there. It’s a group of guys who love each other and is going to battle until the last minute. You’re starting to see that now with us coming back if there’s a deficit, scoring a goal and fighting until the end.

“We’re professional athletes, we’re not just going to roll over and die when a team scores on us. We’re going to keep pushing all the time. Hopefully we can start carrying leads throughout the entire game and not having to chase the lead.”