New England Revolution vs. Minnesota United FC. What to expect

The New England Revolution return to action Saturday in the first of three straight road games. Kickoff at Allianz Field against Minnesota United FC is set for 8:30 p.m.

Minnesota has an interesting record at home, where they have managed only three wins, but also only lost twice. The other seven games ended in a draw. The team is currently in good form as they have not lost in their last six games, remaining undefeated since a 4-1 loss in Austin on July 8, and conceded only three goals during that span.

On the other hand, the New England Revolution have a negative record away from home, picking up just 13 points from 12 games, a stark contrast to the 34 points they earned at Gillette Stadium.

Interesting was the way the two clubs previewed this match.

On their website, Minnesota highlighted the fact that the Revolution have already scored 45 goals, 12 more than tomorrow’s opponent, and those goals have been scored by 14 different players.

“[Giacomo] Vrioni has come in and looked like a handful. They’ve got one of the best No. 10’s in the league in [Carles] Gil. They’ve got talent,” Minnesotta Coach Adrian Smith said. “They’ve got talent in the forward areas. [Tomas] Chancalay got two goals at the weekend. We looked at him down in Argentina, another really talented forward. They’re blessed with good front men, that’s why they’ve scored so many goals.”

In turn, the Revolution will have to find the best way to neutralize talented Argentine attacking-midfielder Emanuel Reynoso, who missed the first few months of the season after being suspended by Major League Soccer for failing to show up for pre-season camp.

He elected to remain in Argentina, but the league had a heavy hand in addressing the failure to follow his contract.

Reynoso has been a key figure in the recent success of the home side.

“Yeah, you’ve just got to be aware of him [Reynoso] and be alert at all times to where he is on the field,” Revolution’s Interim Coach Richie Williams said. “He’s obviously a difference maker, a very good player, and a very good number 10. So, you’ve definitely got to make sure you’re aware of his ability, but understanding where he is in the field, how he wants to operate, and try to make it difficult for him.”

So, to get a good result, central defender Andrew Farrell warns that the team has to be sound defensively. And then they must “score when you have the opportunity to score and if we have the chance to have points in the bag late in the game, whether it’s one or three [points], we need to be smart, lock it down, and see the game out. These last couple of games right before the playoffs are going to be crucial to keep the points that we have,” he said.

New England Revolution allow last second goal, visiting Austin FC gains 2-2 draw

Austin FC’s Alex Ring scored in the last play of the game to earn the visitors a 2-2 draw on Sept. 2 at Gillette Stadium.

Although the tie extended the Revs’ home undefeated streak to 15 games, the 26,213 fans in attendance certainly felt as if the team had actually lost the game.

Several changes were expected to the starting eleven as the Revolution were playing their third game in the short span of eight days, but Williams made only one change.

Matt Polster, who has played virtually every game and who on the previous Wednesday played right fullback because of the numerous injuries affecting the Revs’ back line, had a night off and was not even on the bench.

Andrew Farrell, who missed two games due to injury, returned to the starting lineup, but this time played right back, the position he owned during most of his Revolution career.

The tactical system remained 4-2-3-1.

Omar Gonzalez and Dave Romney were the central defenders, Farrell and Ben Sweat the outside backs. Mark-Anthony Kaye and Ian Harkes were the defensive midfielders, while the midfield trio had Carles in the middle, Tomás Chancalay and Nacho on the flanks, with Giacomo Vrioni alone up top.

The Revolution started well and had their first threat in the fifth minute. Carles Gil took a corner from the right side and Dave Romney was able to shake off his marker and get off a powerful header, but the ball sailed over off the crossbar.

Three minutes later they another great chance. Nacho Gil dispossessed an opponent near midfield, ran towards the area and then lifted a perfect cross to his brother, Carles. But the shot was not well placed, and keeper Brad Stuver was able to deflect it over the end line.

The visitors responded in the 10th minute. Following a free-kick, Nick Lima’s cross found captain Sebastian Driussi unmarked at the edge of the small area, but the header sailed way wide.

Nine minutes later, the Revs threatened again. Andrew Farrell’s cross from the right was deflected but bounced to Giacomo Vrioni, at the edge of the small box, but he missed the target.

The old saying in soccer warns that those who waist scoring opportunities usually pay the price and the Revolution confirmed that in the 27th minute. Austin turned in a stretch of passes, then Jon Gallagher, near the right sideline, slid a cross into the area and Emiliano Rigoni got off a first-timed shot. The ball first struck the ground and then took an unusual, lucky slant, looping over keeper Earl Edwards Jr.

But the visitors basically had no time to celebrate because the Revolution equalized on the next play.

Ian Harkes received a pass from Carles Gil and crossed towards the middle of the box, seeking out Vrioni, who was cutting in between the visiting central defenders. His movement caused Nick Lima to miss the tackle and allowed the ball to reach Tomás Chancalay. The blast gave keeper Brad Stuver no chance.

Before intermission, the Revolution created, but squandered, a couple more chances. First, Nacho Gil served Giacomo Vrion and he elected to shoot, from a very tight angle, and Stuver pushed it over the end line. The Revolution forward had better options. Next, a corner by Carles found a cutting Mark-Anthony Kaye and his powerful header got past everyone but sailed over the net.

Thus, it was an evenly divided first half in terms of possession, but with the Revolution controlling the game practically from the opening whistle. The problem was they conceded a goal on a fluke shot and were penalized for the wasted opportunities.

Second half begins with a Revolution goal

The second half began practically with the Revolution’s second goal, as Tomás Chancalay continued his inspired night. Just 100 seconds after the restart, Carles Gil took a short corner, to Nacho, and he lifted a cross towards the far post, where Chancalay was able to outjump the visiting center-backs and blasted a header into the top corner.

The visitors’ lone threat came on a set-piece. In the 59th minute, after a foul by Mark-Anthony Kaye near the edge of the area, Sebastian Driussi took the free kick. His shot sailed past the wall, but Earl Edwards Jr. had a good view and slapped the ball over the bar for a corner.

Suddenly Austin grew into the game, had more possession and in the 63rd minute coach Josh Wolff made two substitutions, with Matt Hedges (D) and Ethan Finlay (F) coming on for Leo Vaisanen (D) and Adam Lundkvist (D).

And the changes came close to paying dividends just four minutes later. The Revs lost the ball near the midfield line, Alexander Ring ran towards the area and then crossed to Emiliano Rigoni, who had broken free, but his shot missed the target and sailed wide.

Soon after there was another threat, with Daniel Pereira intercepting a clearing attempt, then controlling the ball his chest and getting off a blast that beat the Revolution keeper, but the ball struck the far post and bounced out.

Sensing the danger, Richie Williams went to his bench, removing the uninspired Vrioni and Nacho Gil, who was already showing some signs of fatigue, and brought in Bobby Wood and Noel Buck.

By now Austin was gaining confidence, began to press higher and in the 80th minute made two more substitutions to jack up the pressure. Jhojan Valencia (M) and Emiliano Rigoni (M) gave way to Owen Wolff (M) and Will Bruin (F).

Four minutes later danger lurked again near the Revolution goal. Nick Lima served Owen Wolff, who fired a low, well-placed shot, but Edwards dove to his right and with his fingertips deflected the ball over the end line.

Realizing that his team was showing signs of fatigue, Richie Williams turned to his bench again, inserting DeJuan Jones and Christian Makoun in place of Chancalay and Ian Harkes, and then in the second minute of stoppage time Tommy McNamara replaced Carles Gil.

Despite the struggles, it appeared that the Revolution would be able to hold on, soaking up the pressure. Then, about one minute from the end of extra time, the Revolution recovered the ball just outside their area and launched a counterattack. Christian Makoun, who was called up to the Venezuela national team for two upcoming qualifying matches for the 2026 World Cup, ran towards the opposing midfield but inexplicably attempted to lift a 60-yard shot over the visiting keeper, who had strayed from his line. But the shot was short, the ball was recovered and sent to Alexander Ring and he fired past Edwards Jr., making the ball land just inside the far post.

Makuon’s decision was simply mindboggling, as he had the options of either taking the ball to the corner, or work with the two teammates that had moved up field with him.

After the goal, the ball went to midfield and after two touches the referee ended the game.

It was a draw that felt very much like a loss.

In the postgame conference, the Revolution coach couldn’t hide his frustration with how the game had ended.

“We played well enough to get three points. At the end of the game, we didn’t manage the game correctly,” Williams lamented.“All we had to do was dribble the ball to the corner and kill time on the clock. We shouldn’t be shooting the ball on goal at that moment.”

“I think we definitely were the better team, but respect to Austin, they have a good team,” Williams added. “I think we created enough opportunities to get a couple more goals and defended well, even though the first goal for them was basically the first chance on goal. Overall, I do think so but ultimately, we didn’t [win], and we just got a point where we should have gotten three.”

This article originally appeared on The Herald News: New England Revolution vs. Minnesota United FC. What to expect