Revolution Looking To Build On "Epic Comeback" Against Colorado Rapids

"We have to build on that, not just the mentality, but the aggressive nature that we played with at the end of the game.”

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

While the three-game homestand didn’t go as expected, the last 35 minutes against the Colorado Rapids provided some positives that the New England Revolution will look to replicate.

The Revs, who played 10 of their first 15 games on the road, suffered a 1-0 loss to FC Cincinnati in their return to Gillette Stadium.

After a break mandated by the collective bargaining agreement, they lost 3-2 to Nashville SC in a game where they had two different leads.

Three days later, they made five changes to the starting lineup and recorded a 3-3 draw against the Rapids. The Revs erased a three-goal deficit to earn the point.

“Unbelievable, epic comeback; very rare to see that,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “I’ve never had a game like that, and neither had the club.

“So, I think there is a positive in that mentality that we showed, the resiliency and the fight and the heart to claw back. We have to build on that, not just the mentality, but the aggressive nature that we played with at the end of the game.”

Matt Polster highlighted the “great resilience” and “character” that the Revs showed to fight back. He also noted the energy from the crowd, saying, “I wish we could have gotten them three points.”

The Revs are currently four points below the playoff line with a record of 6-6-6. They’ve been competitive throughout the year, only registering one multi-goal loss.

Polster believes the Revs need to find the right balance between attack and defense if they want to play post-season soccer.

“When we score a lot of goals, we seem to give up goals,” Polster said. “But when we don’t give up a goal, we don’t seem to score a lot either.

“I would rather be on the side of winning one-nil, getting back to the clean sheets, finding that steadiness at the back and in the midfield. At some point, I think we have plenty of quality up top to find a goal, and we have Carles [Gil], so that always helps.”

Offensively, the team must find some consistency.

When the Revs collected four straight wins, Leo Campana and Ignatius Ganago started together for three games. Campana had two goals while Ganago had a goal and an assist.

Injuries and absences have prompted changes to the lineup.

Campana and Ganago have the most starts, going 3-0-2. Ganago and Tomas Chancalay paired three times (1-0-2) while Maxi Urruti and Ganago helped secure a win. Chancalay partnered with Luis Diaz and Urruti in losses, and Campana in a draw.

As a starter, Campana and Chancalay have two goals while Ganago has one. Both of Urruti’s goals have come as a substitute.

It can take time for each partnership to find to find chemistry.

“I would say it is like spokes on the wheel,” Porter said. “You lose a spoke and you’ve got to figure out how to get the wheel to roll again. We’re figuring that out and obviously now, with Tomas probably out the next game, we’ve had to figure out a chemistry in that front line that is different than we had developed in the first half of the year.”

The Revs have a busy July ahead, playing three road games and three home games.

Interestingly, the Revolution have been stronger away (4-4-2, 16 points) than at home (2-2-4, 8 points). This is something they’re looking to address.

“We are in the mix and [have] a lot of games to be played,” Porter said about the season. “Disappointing, the last few home games that we didn’t take care of business.

“We have been great on the road. I don’t know why that is. We’ve got to correct that. That’s on me, obviously the players as well, but it starts with me. We have to do better at home. So, our next game when we are back at home [against] Inter Miami, we’ve got to reward [the fans].”