Revolution Look In The Mirror After 4-1 Loss to Atlanta

Ian Harkes: "We all will have to look ourselves in the mirror and regroup. Obviously, we're going to be looking for a response Thursday and then also in the league.”

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are looking at themselves after losing 4-1 to Atlanta United on Saturday.

The Revs started positively as they created early goal-scoring opportunities while playing on the road in front of 70,000 fans. Giacomo Vrioni had a chance that went wide and Tomas Chancalay hit the crossbar with a header.

Atlanta’s Thiago Almada broke the deadlock when he scored from the spot in first-half stoppage time. The penalty was given after a foul was committed by Henrich Ravas.

The moment changed the complexion of the game, as Atlanta went on to score three more goals, including a second penalty in the 55th minute. Carles Gil pulled one back when he scored a beauty in the 83rd minute.

“We're in the game and we're executing well, and we should be up in the match and then we give up that [first] goal,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “I think the second half, obviously, they get the second goal on another penalty, and I think from there the guys are dead. They had nothing left to give and, obviously, it got away from us, the game.

“So now, you're down 2-0, now they're in more transitions, they're a very talented team, and now we're trying to now push a little more and we're gambling with a more aggressive attacking shape. It's just not the type of game we want to be in down 2-0 in that second half, and I don't think we had anything left to give, honestly.

“The first half, I think, was there for the taking if we score that first goal, and unfortunately, we give up two penalties and I think from there, we just didn't have the energy.”

The most recent result puts the Revs winless in league play (0-3) despite having three straight wins in the Concacaf Champions Cup.

Playing in two competitions has created schedule congestion as the Revs are set to play eight games in 26 days.

This week they will travel to Costa Rica to face LD Alajuelense on Thursday, Mar. 14 before hosting the Chicago Fire on Sunday, Mar. 17.

“Games are coming thick and fast right now and we can’t move on before we just talked at the end of the game there and addressed it,” Ian Harkes said. “Just not good enough from anyone on the pitch tonight in terms of not enough fight, especially in the second half.

“Goals were too easy. I think we folded a little bit and away from home, if we kept it close and were smarter about how we played – we got too stretched and too open—I think we would have done a lot better. But we all will have to look ourselves in the mirror and regroup. Obviously, we're going to be looking for a response Thursday and then also in the league.”

Harkes noted that the Revs were committing too many turnovers against Atlanta. He said this benefited the home team because they “wanted an open game in transition and we were giving them that.”

The Revs also needed to be more clinical in the attacking third. Although they only have two goals in three league games—both coming from C. Gil—there have been other chances.

“It's tough because our plan in this game was to press on goal kicks, which I thought we did really well in the first half,” Porter said. “We disrupted their build out, made them kick, and we won most every action on a goal kick. In the mid-block, I thought we did really well to be organized, to limit their chances, and to launch counter attacks.

“I thought the execution was really good, but for whatever reason, when we're in on a break or a counterattack, we're not ruthless enough and we're not clinical enough. We had numbers in those situations, and I think we're unlucky on the one with Tomas that hits the crossbar. That's a great cross and a great finish.

“So, I think that's the other thing: it seems like we should score on one end, and then on the other end there's an unlucky ball in the box that somehow ends up in a penalty, or a cross that somehow hits the guy's arm.

“But you’ve got to make your own luck. So, I think for me, a lot of it is the mentality. We just have to be a little bit tougher mentally, I think, in the boxes, both boxes, clearing our lines, not giving away easy goals, and then obviously scoring our chances. Because from my standpoint tactically, I thought in that first half, we did everything we wanted to do, but we just didn't find the goal.”

Revolution fans have experienced a lot between the end of last year and the beginning of this year. In light of this, Harkes was asked to provide a message to supporters after Saturday’s loss.

“Just stick with us,” Harkes said. “Like I said, we look at ourselves first, we disappointed the fans today, especially with that performance. We know we can be better and we have to continue to run the form in Champions Cup into the league. We can't go have a high on one night and then a low back down in the league. So, like I said, stick with us.”