Revolution Focus On Making MLS Playoffs After Leagues Cup Ouster

Porter: These last 11 games, once we put it all together, we get everybody healthy and we get these new pieces in, we are going have a proper team. We are going to give it a run and I like our chances

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

The New England Revolution will shift their attention to the final eleven games of the MLS regular season after being ousted from Leagues Cup by New York City FC on Friday night.

NYCFC got on the scoresheet first when Santiago Rodriquez scored from the spot in the 35th minute. Referee Julio Luna didn’t initially give a penalty but changed his mind after being summoned to the screen.

The Revs equalized five minutes later with a well-worked goal that ended with Bobby Wood heading in Brandon Bye’s cross.

The Revs had an opportunity to go ahead when Peyton Miller offered a low cross for Wood, but the shot wasn’t on frame.

In the second half, it appeared the Revs had gotten their first penalty of the year after the referee blew the whistle due to a handling offense. The referee reversed the decision after Video Review.

Porter was asked about the penalty decisions after the game.

“What's the point of having an official if the guy in the booth who – is the guy in the booth just calling all the calls now?” Porter said. “I mean, he doesn't call the penalty on the first one and then the guy in the booth overturns it.

“Then on the second one, he calls the penalty and then the guy in the booth overturns it. Both of them are very soft. So, if you give one soft one, then give the other one, but how do you give one and not the other? And he called the second one.

“Listen, this tournament was fun for our guys. You saw, our guys gave everything, with a lot of guys out. I couldn't be more proud. It's another game where we're playing a really good team and I thought we fought them tooth and nail the entire match. I can't ask for any more out of my guys. I just feel like they got the short end of the stick tonight.”

The game remained 1-1, largely due to several big stops from Aljaz Ivacic. The Revs goalkeeper ended the night with five saves.

The deadlock forced penalties. Both teams were perfect until Mark-Anthony Kaye hit the woodwork in the seventh round. Justin Haak’s strike gave the visitors the win.

“Another good performance out of my guys,” Porter said. “That's four in a row, four results. It's another result. Obviously, we drew the game.

“Obviously, with the tournament, it goes to the penalties and then it's a flip of a coin. Especially when you start to get to the seventh, eighth penalty shooters, it's flip-a-coin.

“[I'm] really proud of the effort, proud of the fight. I thought we played really well on both sides of the ball.”

The Revs now have a break as they won’t play until August 24 when they visit CF Montreal. The game will kick off the final stretch of the regular season, which is important because the Revs are five points from a playoff spot.

The task in front of them is difficult, especially since they play seven of eleven on the road, but the Revs have played some good soccer recently.

“I think the goal we scored at the beginning of the last game was one of our best goals of the season,” Dave Romney said. “I thought the goal we scored tonight was really good. Brandon played an amazing ball into Bobby and then the almost goal that Peyton [Miller] had to Bobby was an amazing ball across.”

Romney also complimented the team’s defensive efforts, saying, “Our press has been extremely organized and it’s been helping us defensively for sure.”

With two weeks until their next game, the Revs hope to get players, like Carles Gil, Dylan Borrero, and Giacomo Vrioni, back for the final push.

“If there's kind of a silver lining in this, we have – it’s hard to think about that now, but we have a little more time now to reset and work on some things before the last 11 [MLS] games,” Porter said. “I like our chances to get in the playoffs if we keep fighting and playing the way that we've been playing.”

The Revs will also get some help from new additions.

22-year-old winger Luca Langoni is expected to arrive in New England next week and the club is reportedly set to sign 24-year-old Nigerian midfielder Alhassan Yusuf.

When asked if he could comment on the reports about Yusuf, Porter said, “I wish I could. I can't.”

He then began to talk about recent transactions.

“We've added a few pieces,” Porter said. “Every piece we add, brick by brick, we're going to build this wall and it's going to be a strong wall. You’ll see, every brick is going to be a quality player. We'll try, it doesn't mean we're perfect, but we are going to try always to get every player in right and every player out right.

“Players out are tough for me. That hurts. I don't sleep when I have to get rid of a player. But also, I understand you have to make tough decisions to grow this club.

“It’s exciting. These last 11 games, once we put it all together, we get everybody healthy and we get these new pieces in, we are going have a proper team. We are going to give it a run and I like our chances.”