Revolution Turn Focus To Orlando After Red Bull Loss

“I think you go this weekend against Orlando, find a good way to get a win, and then that can propel us into getting another.”

Photo Courtesy of the New England Revolution

The New England Revolution are looking ahead after losing 5-3 to the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.

The Revs had a two-goal lead at halftime against the Red Bulls before the home side scored five unanswered in the second 45. A late strike by Leo Campana wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.

New York’s first tally came after Will Sands replaced Peyton Miller, who was dealing with an ankle and calf injury. The following four goals occurred after Wyatt Omsberg came on for Bryan Ceballos.

“It was a great first half, one of the best of the year, followed by a not good half, where we fell apart at 2-1,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “Some of that, I said it, I think had to do with fatigue. Some of it had to do with changes we had to make. We had some key guys out as well.

“In the end, it doesn’t do any good to beat the dead horse. We have to move on from it. It’s my belief that it won’t happen again.”

Porter noted that there were positives in the game, most notably Campana getting a brace to double his goal output on the year.

The striker has now played in six straight, including four starts, frequently partnering with Luca Langoni, who forced an own goal on Wednesday.

“It’s a huge positive that we can’t lose sight of,” Porter said. “He gets two goals in the match. It’s another game where him and Luca look good together.

“I thought, without overstating it, that first half was one of the best of the year. So we just need to build on that and correct what happened in the second half.”

The Revs have a quick turnaround, as they will welcome Orlando City SC on Saturday. Orlando sits sixth in the standings on 35 points, but hasn’t recorded a win since June 25.

Still, the Revs know that this will be a challenging game, with Porter saying Orlando has a “great attacking group.”

A win on Saturday would go a long way as the Revolution look to secure a playoff spot. They’re currently 11th in the East, seven points below the line.

There’s still time, especially with eight of 12 games at home, but they need to start collecting points.

“We’ve done a lot of good stuff in this stretch, but the bottom line is, we have not won enough games,” Porter said. “That’s the reality, which means now the margins are tighter for us at the end of the year.

“In some ways, maybe that’s good because we know what we need to do and it’s about the next game and getting three points.”

Porter stated that he met with the Leadership Council on Thursday, and they remain confident that this team will make the postseason.

“As a group, we all have to become leaders, because we are in a difficult moment,” Polster said. “But again, I think we have plenty of quality and talent in this team, and leaders in this team, and experience in this team to get out of it.

“It just takes one win. I think you go this weekend against Orlando, find a way to get a win, and then that can propel us into getting another