Revolution Knocked Off 2021 Pedestal
Messi, Suárez, & Company Re-Write History
The New England Revolution’s 2024 season is finally over. It turned out to be a long, painful series of unfortunate events that saw the Revs accomplish the following:
Lose 21 games to tie the record of their most losses in a MLS season
Get 31 out of a possible 102 points for a 0.91 points per game average
Score a total of 37 goals while conceding 74 for a -37 goal differential
Finish in second to last place in the Eastern Conference
Finish in fourth to last place in the Supporters Shield standings
It was not quite a wooden spoon performance but it sure felt like one given the expectations and projected top 5 MLS roster when coach Caleb Porter took over last December.
The final game of the season saw the Revolution travel down to Fort Lauderdale to take on the Herons. Inter Miami was on the precipice of setting a new single-season points record, surpassing the record set by the Revs in their historic 2021 campaign. The irony was not lost on anyone that the last game of the Revs regular season in 2021 was a 1-0 loss at home against Inter Miami.
Now Miami had a chance to re-write history with the likes of Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, Luis Suárez, and Jordi Alba clad in pink and black. Jorge Mas and David Beckham have created a super team unlike anything seen before in Major League Soccer.
To everyone’s shock, the Revs managed to jump out to an early lead. In fact, the game played out very similar to the previous game against Miami this season.
This time around, Messi started the game on the bench. The Revs took advantage and got a quick goal from Luca Langoni and another goal from Dylan Borrero. While it was great to be up 2-0, both goals were a bit fluky. Langoni’s came from a deflected pass he intended for Giacomo Vrioni, though to his credit when the ball bounced back to the Argentine he blasted it home past Miami’s keeper Drake Callender. It seems like Callender may be the weakest link for Miami. He did not cover himself in glory when Tomás Chancalay scored in the first minute of the game back in April, coming off his line when he may have been better suited to stay put. The Revs second goal this past Saturday night was another howler from Callender. Diving forward to try and make the save against Borrero’s shot, the ball proceeded to bounce through his arms and legs before making its way into the goal.
Somehow one of the worst performing Revolution squads in team history found itself up 2-0 against the most talented team in the history of MLS. To their credit, the Revs came out playing hard. They were engaged and seemed determined to keep the points record in New England. Unfortunately, Miami happens to have Luis Suárez on their team. A breathtaking brace from El Pistolero saw Miami draw even by halftime. The 37-year-old Uruguayan showed that class is permanent, as noted by Revs commentator Charlie Davies as he marveled at the lethal attacking prowess of Suárez.
If the game had finished 2-2, the Revolution points record would have been saved. Inter Miami needed to win the game in order to break the record. If only they didn’t bring on the greatest player of all time in the second half. Oh, what could have been.
Lionel Andrés Messi subbed into the game in the 57th minute. The Argentine legend needed less than a minute to orchestrate a beautiful play that saw youngster Benjamin Cremaschi score to put the Herons up 3-2. The Revs managed to hang in the game and played a bit better once Bobby Wood was substituted in for Vrioni. Wood proceeded to score in the 72nd minute to bring the Revs even, but a VAR check saw the goal ruled off due to a handball.
The disallowed goal was the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Revs lost their composure and Miami dominated from that point forward. Messi demonstrated why he will be voted the MLS Most Valuable Player despite missing so many games for them this season. He scored a hat trick in 11 minutes, with his first goal in the 78th minute, second in the 81st minute, and third in the 89th minute. The last goal in particular was a masterpiece, as Suárez provided an acrobatic assist that Messi slotted home.
The Revs never stood a chance against Messi’s men. Inter Miami won by a score of 6-2.
The points record set in 2021 had fallen. The Revs place in history was erased. Erased like so many of us want to erase this season from our memories. The once dominant side led by Bruce Arena is truly a shell of its former self, completely unrecognizable. The brilliant, lightning-quick counter-attacking team of Matt Turner, DeJuan Jones, Brandon Bye, Carles Gil, Gustavo Bou, Tajon Buchanan, and Adam Buksa is no more. In its place is a possession-oriented team that moves the ball slowly from side to side, generating turnover after turnover and looking like a sieve in defense.
What a shame it is, how far the Revolution have fallen. It is going to take a herculean effort to one day match the likes of Columbus and Miami. At this point I am happy the Revs have been put out of their misery. That the fans can try and forget this painful season and hope for a brighter future.
The upcoming offseason will be one of the most pivotal in the club’s history. I do not wish for Caleb Porter to fail, or for the Revolution to fail. I want this team to succeed and fight for trophies. I am hoping against hope next year will be better. Stranger things have happened in MLS. Only time will tell.
For now, we can all be thankful that the pain and suffering of this season has come to an end. It could not have ended soon enough.
My sentiments exactly…