Vrioni Is Focused On Getting Better After Two-Goal Performance

Vrioni: "I have to continue to work every day in training because I know I can do a better job."

Photo Courtesy of J. Alexander Dolan

Giacomo Vrioni’s two-goal performance in Saturday’s 2-1 win over Sporting KC is a sign that his hard work is paying off.

Vrioni scored in the 31st minute when he got on the end of a cross from Emmanuel Boateng. The striker’s shot deflected off of a KC defender before sneaking past goalkeeper Tim Melia.

Four minutes later, Vrioni had his second goal when he pounced on a rebound. In one night, the Designated Player equaled his goal total for the previous 14 games.

Vrioni looked overjoyed while celebrating both tallies. His teammates felt the same.

“The guy works hard,” Boateng said of Vrioni. “He’s out there in the gym 40-45 minutes before training every day and after training, [he’s] one of the last guys to leave the place. He works on his stuff after training. Sometimes he’s a little crazy. I’m like, ‘Yo, you’re burning yourself out. Sometimes you just have to let things go.’ But he works tirelessly and I’m happy that he’s getting the results.”

Saturday marked only the second time that Vrioni has started consecutive regular-season games for the Revs. He’s happy to be on the field, believing that it allows him to “build good fitness [and] chemistry with the guys.”

Vrioni played 89 minutes in this weekend’s win. Beyond scoring two goals, he was 4/5 on accurate shots, 7/12 on accurate passes, and created one chance. He also had 25 touches and was the most fouled player in the game (3). One of the fouls he drew resulted in Andreu Fontàs earning a red card.

It was a good performance, but Vrioni is focused on doing more.

“I have to continue to work every day in training because I know I can do a better job,” Vrioni said. “I’m not thinking about my game today because I know I can do a better job helping the team during the game. But, you know, two goals and now we keep going on Tuesday and then [next] Saturday for Cincinnati.”