Revolution Quality on Display
Revolutions's Dominant Performance Closes Out Preseason
The New England Revolution wrapped up their 2025 preseason this Saturday afternoon with a game against local rival Hartford Athletic of the USL Championship. Originally scheduled for a 7:30pm kick off, the game at Gillette Stadium was moved up to 12:30 pm due to inclement weather.
With the MLS regular season only a week away, this was the final tune-up before points are on the line in Nashville. The game was streamed on the Revolution’s website with Philip Galati IV and Clyde Simms on the call.
Head Coach Caleb Porter selected his first choice starting lineup, with the notable absence of midfielder Matt Polster. The starting eleven included Aljaž Ivačič, Brandon Bye, Brayan Ceballos, Mamadou Fofana, Will Sands, Jackson Yueill, Alhassan Yusuf, Luca Langoni, Ignatius Ganago, and Leo Campana. When introducing the starting lineups, Galati IV mentioned that Polster is expected to be back for the first game of the regular season.
The Revolution showed their quality from the opening whistle, dominating the first half of the game. Hartford, who finished in 10th place in the Eastern Conference of the USL Championship last season, struggled to possess the ball and break through the Revs pressing.
The Revolution were snapping passes, pouncing on turnovers created by their press, and playing like a team that has been together for much longer than a preseason. Coach Caleb Porter mentioned prior to the game that the team has come together faster than even he was expecting. You could clearly see it on the field Saturday afternoon.
Midfielders Yueill and Yusuf were excellent all game. Yueill was connecting passes in the midfield and delivered dangerous in-swinging crosses on corner kicks. Yusuf was a menace, making some hard tackles and creating countless turnovers with his pressing. He always seemed to be in the right place at the right time.
Campana was active, dropping back into the midfield to get involved and connecting with Gil and Langoni in the attacking end. He scored his first goal at Gillette Stadium on a nice header from a Yueill corner kick, putting the Revs ahead 1-0.
Langoni and Ganago were dangerous on the wings, their speed and skill causing problems for Hartford’s defenders. Langoni had some dangerous crosses and his pressing led to multiple turnovers. Ganago ran at defenders and often cut back to his right foot to either send in a cross or have a shot on goal.
Bye and Sands also had good games, flying up and down the wings to provide service while also closing down the players they were defending. Sands unfortunately had to leave the game in the second half due to what looked like a hamstring injury. Center backs Brayan Ceballos and Mamadou Fofana looked confident and composed on the ball, even when under pressure. They had some great line breaking passes, a direct style of play that helped the Revs attack Hartford’s tired defense.
The second half was more open than the first, with Hartford creating chances and the play going end to end. The Revs defense bent but never broke, with keeper Aljaž Ivačič never really tested.
The Revs substitutions all made an impact on the game. Noel Buck almost scored from a great cross by Langoni that forced an incredible save by Hartford’s keeper. New defender Ilay Feingold also almost scored a goal when he came on to replace the injured Sands. Veteran striker Maxi Urruti scored a beautiful free kick on what must have been his second or third touch of the game. Youngster Allan Oyirwoth looked the part in midfield, playing with a calmness and ease that belied his age.
The game ended 2-0, an emphatic win to close out the preseason as the Revs get ready to take on Nashville SC at GEODIS Park next Saturday night. While the quality of Hartford was not at the level of the Revolution, the way the Revs played left fans feeling hopeful. You could see the game model that Porter wants to play. You could see the talent and dynamic qualities of the players on this year’s team. You could see the promise of what could be.
On to Nashville.