3 takeaways from the Revolution’s defeat in Philadelphia

New England Revolution

Accidents proceed to mount for New England, with Carles Gil exiting Saturday’s loss.

Accidents to a number of starters compounded what was already a troublesome 3-0 loss for the Revolution on Saturday night time towards the Philadelphia Union.

New England captain Carles Gil exited the sport abruptly within the thirty fifth minute with what the Apple TV+ broadcast known as a “proper leg damage,” whereas proper again Brandon Bye was pressured off close to the tip of the sport after a collision (favoring his left arm).

Apart from that, it was a decisive defeat for the Revolution towards a well-recognized Japanese Convention foe.

Listed below are a couple of takeaways:

A worrying pattern of accidents continued.

Gil’s damage didn’t look like critical within the second, although he shortly realized that his night time was over. After elevating his arm to the bench, Gil sat down and waited for remedy from the medical workers.

Precisely what the character of the fitting leg damage is stays to be seen.

“We’ll know extra after we get an MRI,” mentioned Bruce Area after the sport.

Any Gil absence from the lineup could have huge ramifications. Because the literal centerpiece of New England’s midfield, the 30-year-old is actually irreplaceable in present circumstances. Whereas the Revolution can (and have) coped with accidents to Gil earlier than, it’s a course of that’s produced combined outcomes (see: the 2020 common season).

Bye went off late within the second half clutching his arm, a testomony to the physicality of the sport towards Philadelphia.

Like Gil, the fitting again offers each expertise and high quality at a place the place New England lacks an abundance of depth. It might imply that 2023 MLS SuperDraft No. 4 total decide Joshua Bolma lastly will get a run within the lineup, or presumably that left again DeJuan Jones strikes to the fitting and one other bench choice (maybe Ben Sweat) slots in on the left aspect.

Midfielder Matt Polster additionally appeared to select up a leg damage, although he was in a position to persevere. In all, it underscores a tough early-season pattern of accidents. Ahead Gustavo Bou, winger Dylan Borrero, center-back Henry Kessler, and several other others are already out. Area’s crew can ill-afford too many extra absences.

Errors proved expensive.

As for the sport itself, it was principally even over the primary 45 minutes. Even with Gil heading to the bench, 18-year-old academy graduate Jack Panayotou got here on and confirmed flashes of his expertise in tough circumstances.

Within the second half, the Union have been in a position to execute a number of swift counterattacks that led to objectives. The primary objective resulted from a fast throw-in, which caught center-back Andrew Farrell out of place and left fellow center-back Dave Romney attempting (unsuccessfully) to mark two gamers.

From there, New England struggled to create any breakthroughs regardless of having fun with a lot of the possession. The Union merely waited for opportune moments to counter, and located two extra objectives because the Revolution didn’t register a shot on the right track.

In every case, Philadelphia exploited New England errors.

“Errors in a recreation like this are going to price you,” remarked Area, “and so they did.”

Strikers struggling to supply.

One worrying side of the Revolution’s current struggles — the crew has misplaced two league video games in a row, and three total together with the U.S. Open Cup defeat — has been the play of the crew’s strikers.

With out Bou within the lineup (he continues to cope with an damage of his personal), forwards Bobby Wooden, Giacomo Vrioni, Jozy Altidore, and Justin Rennicks have didn’t make a lot of an influence over the past two weeks.

Every has been given various minutes with out an excessive amount of to point out for it. Wooden, who began on Saturday, had what was most likely the Revolution’s greatest probability of the sport. He discovered himself on the tip of a left-sided cross from winger Emmanuel Boateng, however couldn’t place his shot into the far nook (sending the ball large of objective).

Vrioni, one of many crew’s “Designated Gamers,” got here on for Wooden within the 66th minute however contributed simply 5 touches on the ball. He has but to make a constant influence for New England, although his presence was extra needed than ever with fellow Designated Gamers Gil and Bou out.

If Gil misses greater than a recreation — and on condition that Borrero is out for the season with a torn ACL — Area is starting to run in need of dynamic attacking choices. He (and the remainder of the crew) will want better contributions from the strikers up entrance if New England could have any probability of constant what was till not too long ago a strong begin to the 2023 season.