Usseglio: Fan Appreciation Night?
Someone should have told the Revolution
Saturday night against D.C. United was the final New England Revolution home game of the season. It was also Hispanic Heritage Night and Fan Appreciation Night. The Revs needed to win all 3 of their remaining games in order to have any chance of making the playoffs.
They needed to perform and put in a full 90-minute effort one last time in front of the home crowd, who turned up for the Foxborough finale. There were 44,110 fans in attendance, the second-largest crowd for a regular season game in Revolution history. Which honestly is pretty remarkable, given how bad the Revs have been this season.
There was no reason for a lack of motivation from the Revolution players. And yet, somehow, the Revs came out of the gates flat-footed against a D.C. United side hungry for a win to continue their own playoff push.
It took all of 3 minutes for D.C. to get on the scoresheet. Pedro Santos scored a rocket of a goal from a cross that went all the way across the Revs box, catching defender Brandon Bye and keeper Aljaž Ivačič sleeping. The Revs looked shell-shocked. The fans looked stunned. In their most important home game of the year, the Revs defense looked like they were out to lunch.
It did not take long for the suffering to get worse when United scored off a direct long ball that was knocked behind the Revs defensive line. The line was out of sorts, failing to drop back to protect against the world-class aerial threat that is Christian Benteke. Benteke punished their mistake, heading home D.C.’s second goal of the game in the 8th minute.
Less than 10 minutes into the game and the Revs found themselves down 2-0.
While letting up 2 goals in the first half is not normal for the Revolution this season who most of the time played well in first halves and then fell apart in second halves, it did somehow capture the spirit that was this lost year. Bad decision making, players looking out of sorts, the opposing team all over the inevitable turnovers in the midfield and then wreaking havoc on the Revs defense, and the attacking threat being nonexistent.
The Revs had three shots on goal in the first half. They had zero shots on goal. That is right, they had zero shots on goal. In a home game. When they were desperate for a win to keep their season alive. Unacceptable.
It was a fitting first half to remind everyone just how frustrating this season has been. Not a great way to show appreciation for the record crowd that showed up to support the 14th team in the Eastern Conference in their last home game of the season.
Things were not looking great going into the second half. Dylan Borrero came on as a substitute for Peyton Miller, looking for redemption after his 2 game suspension. The game continued at 2-0, with the Revs not generating much in the offensive end. Coach Caleb Porter made a triple substitution in the 60th minute, bringing in Nacho Gil, Tim Parker, and Esmir Bajraktarević. The Revs went into a change of formation, putting 3 at the back to have a 3-5-2. Langoni moved into the second striker spot alongside Vrioni. The subs and formation change worked. The Revs started to look more dangerous against a United side that were sitting back and countering when they had an opportunity.
In an unfortunate turn of events, Carles Gil, the 2024 Revolution Team MVP, went down in the 66th minute holding the back of his right leg. It seemed like a non-contact injury, which is never a good sign. Gil had to be subbed out, with Ian Harkes coming on to replace him. Given the outcome of the game, this could have been the last time we see Carles Gil in a Revolution jersey this season.
Despite the injury to Gil and the poor play by the Revolution, the home crowd were pushing the team to carry on. D.C. United almost got their third goal of the game in the 71st minute, when midfielder Boris Enow blasted a shot off the crossbar from United’s sixth corner kick of the game. Had that goal gone in, that would have been it.
Instead, the Revs got back into the game. Harkes was a bright spot, impacting the game from the moment he entered the pitch. The Revs scored their first goal from a cross by Harkes that was headed into United’s goal by their own defender, Matti Peltola, in the 74th minute. It was a great header by Peltola, just not into the right goal. From the Revs perspective, it was great. The goal was in front of the Fort, and the crowd responded. The Revs found themselves back in the game, even though through 74 minutes they still did not have a shot on goal.
The Revs almost got a penalty call in the 80th minute, but on replay it was clear Bajraktarevic was fouled just outside of the box. Nacho Gil took the free kick, putting the first shot on target of the game for the Revolution. Now the Revs were cooking. United was holding on, pinned back deep as the Revolution kept pressuring to find the equalizer.
In a positive turn of events for New England, the official added 8 minutes of extra time at the end of the second half. The Revs came close to scoring on multiple occasions. As extra time ticked down, the Revs were more and more desperate to score. Ivacic came up into the attacking box on a Revolution corner near the end of extra time. The Revs were throwing everything forward to try and get a result.
But alas, that result never came. The game finished 2-1, officially eliminating the Revolution from the 2024 MLS Cup Playoffs.
The loss was the 19th loss of the MLS season. According to Football Reference, that is the third most losses in a season in Revolution history, topped only by 20 losses in 1999 and 21 losses in 1998. With two games left on the schedule, it is possible the Revs could match their worst losses total in team history. For the 2024 season, the Revs only accumulated 19 points at home out of a possible 51. They finished with eight home losses, four draws, and only five wins. A far cry from the Fortress Foxborough of old.
On the 98.5 Sports Hub postgame show with Brad Feldman and Charlie Davies, Davies thanked the fans for showing up and pushing the team. He commiserated with the fans that the performances from the team haven’t met expectations this year. That he wants more, just like everyone listening. That it hasn’t been good enough.
As a fan of the Revs, it was comforting to hear Davies speak the truth. To not sugarcoat the situation, or make excuses, or try to put a positive spin on things. Davies and Feldman have been outstanding all season, and you could hear on the broadcasts how difficult and frustrating it was for them, as it was for us fans watching.
Now the Revs must turn their attention to next season because this season is over. Technically there are still two games remaining against defending MLS Cup Champions Columbus Crew and then Supporters’ Shield Winners Inter Miami.
I do not know what to expect out of these games, and what kind of a squad will be rolled out. I do know that I am excited to see DeJuan Jones and I do know that I am hoping this organization gets their stuff together for next year.
Because another year like this will be hell.
Porter has to go. He and Curt Awful have have turned this team into a dumpster fire. Just look at the emotions and jesters they make on the pitch they are not happy. Wonder what the atmosphere is like in the locker room?