Revs To Keep A "Steady Hand" After Dropping Home Opener
Porter: “We’ll keep a steady hand. We’ve got an experienced locker room and we’re experienced coaches. This will hurt today, but we have to put it away."
The New England Revolution’s home opener didn’t go the way they hoped.
The club opened its 2024 home slate on Sunday in front of an announced crowd of 29,293, the club’s second-highest attendance for a standalone home opener.
Toronto FC got the game’s only goal in the 27th minute when Lorenzo Insigne scored from the left flank.
“We have a great crowd today and it’s our home opener and we’re on the wrong end of a loss and a result that we didn’t want,” head coach Caleb Porter said. “And our fans, our supporters, who were great today, they go home without joy, so we’re disappointed that we don’t get the result today. This game is about results, and they got a great result today, Toronto.”
The Revs pushed to get an equalizer, especially in the second half, but they couldn’t get past goalkeeper Sean Johnson.
They outshot Toronto FC 23-8, according FotMob, and had the edge in expected goals (1.8-.67).
In the 72nd minute, Carles Gil had a curler that was tipped over the crossbar. Esmir Bajraktervic had a solid bid in the 77th minute while Nacho Gil had a close-range effort in the 80th.
Matt Polster’s 93rd-minute blast looked destined for the back of the net if not for Johnson.
“I’m encouraged by the way the team played, especially in the second half,” Porter said. “There’s a lot of good in there and we need to keep a perspective. We need to stick to the process. This hurts, obviously. We didn’t get the result, so we’re very disappointed, but I think there’s a lot of good in how we played today.”
The Revs will look to build on their strengths and address their weaknesses as they continue to balance the league and Concacaf Champions Cup.
Their next opportunity to see the field is Wednesday when they host Costa Rican side LD Alajuelense. Three days later they will travel to face Atlanta United.
“I thought he had some good moments today,” Porter said. “A couple of times we were in on them early in the game on a break. I think we have to find a goal.
“Maybe the composure to play that extra pass or be more decisive at times to get a cross in. Those are little things I think for sure we can improve on as well. I’m not saying there’s not improvement. There’s improvement, but I do think there’s going to be better days ahead.
“We’ll keep a steady hand. We’ve got an experienced locker room and we’re experienced coaches. This will hurt today, but we have to put it away, file it away tomorrow, and focus on this Cup game we have Wednesday.“
Not having a striker also hurt us. Tomas Chancalay has the tools but his height hurts him. We need a big body striker in there.