Charlie Davies and Brad Feldman have been fantastic on the radio broadcast for the New England Revolution all season. On Saturday night against their eastern conference foes the Philadelphia Union, Davies characterized the 2026 Revolution perfectly, using two different metaphors. The first, and my personal favorite, was Beauty and the Beast. The second, equally as good, was Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hide.
What exactly was Charlie getting at? So far this season, the Revolution have been a team of two halves. Most of the time they begin games passively, on the back foot. They are not taking the initiative and dictating the game. This is the Beast, the Mr. Hyde side of the Revolution. The frustrating missed passes and turnovers. Playing the ball slowly, side to side and backwards, more negative than positive play.
How then, are the Revs currently sitting second in the Eastern Conference
Somehow, they are able to flip a switch in the second halves of games. Head coach Marko Mitrović works his magic during halftime, and the team responds to close out the games. They play more quickly, more aggressively, controlling the pace of the game. They play line breaking passes, attacking their opponent in waves. This is the Beauty and Dr. Jekyll side of the Revs, the type of play that has left fans inspired.
While certainly frustrating at times, making fans wonder what the team would look like if they could tap into that beautiful style of play for a full 90 minutes, the Revs are picking up points at a rate we have not seen for years.
With their win on Saturday night against the Union, the Revs are unbeaten this season at Gillette Stadium. They are perfect through six games, taking 18 out of a possible 18 points at home.
Fortress Foxboro indeed.
The turning point in the game came in the 59th minute when central defender Mamadou Fofana blocked a shot by Ezekial Alladoh, preventing what should have been the Union’s second goal of the night. Until that point in the game it was Philly that had the upper hand, despite being in last place in the Eastern Conference and struggling to score goals so far this season. They went ahead in the 37th minute from an own goal scored by Revolution defender Will Sands. It was not exactly Sands' fault, as the Revs were scrambling to recover from a direct ball over the top that beat central defenders Fofana and Ethan Kohler.
Fofana and Kohler were both closely marking Philadelphia’s striker, neither dropping back to provide coverage. The ball over the top forced the backline to sprint towards their own goal, and the ensuing play saw Sands play the ball into his own net past keeper Matt Turner.
Philadelphia had not been dominating the game, but the Revs were not in control either. It was a scrappy first half, neither side playing clean soccer.
It looked like the game would be out of hand when the Union had a clear chance in the 59th minute. A low shot to the far post from phenom Cavan Sullivan was saved by Turner, but he gave up a rebound right in front of the Revs goal. It looked certain that Philly would bury the ball into the back of the net and take a 2-0 lead.
Enter Mamadou Fofana, who reacted instantaneously, lunging in front of Alladoh’s shot and clearing the ball off the line. In that moment the momentum flipped, and the Revs never looked back.
The Revolution began playing attacking soccer, moving the ball with pace and putting the Union on the back foot. They began playing the beautiful game the way Davies had been calling for all night.
New England was rewarded with a beauty of a goal from winger Luca Langoni in the 61st minute, just moments after Fofana’s save. The Lobster’s goal was assisted by captain Carles Gil, coming after a Revolution corner kick. The Argentine received the ball from Gil and drove across the top of the 18-yard box. He lifted his head and curled a shot to the far post, the ball rippling the side netting as Gillette Stadium erupted.
Could the game really end in any other way but a dramatic fashion? Of course not. This is the 2026 New England Revolution. Who else could it be to secure the victory but Carles Gil?
The captain scored the winner in the 87th minute, a counterattack facilitated by midfielder Matt Polster. The veteran made his first appearance since his injury, coming on as a substitute in the second half. His connecting passes in the midfield sprung the Revs on the attack, resulting in a thunderous goal by the Revs’ little magician.
The Foxboro Faithful roared as Gil drove his shot past Philly keeper Andre Blake. Carles sprinted to the sideline, roaring back at the crowd and his teammates in defiant victory.
Are you not entertained?
The next game feels like the biggest game the Revolution have had in years, because in all honesty it probably is. They take on Nashville on Wednesday night, a clash of the two teams atop the eastern conference.
The Revs will be out for revenge after their dreadful performance in Nashville to start the season. A win against Nashville would solidify their standing as one of the best teams in the league and ensure Gillette Stadium has truly become the Fortress Foxboro of old.
