The New England Revolution enters Saturday’s game with plenty of confidence after recording a 5-0 victory over reigning champions the LA Galaxy to extend their winning streak to three games. Despite the recent run of form, the Revs know that they must remain composed if they want to beat a hungry DC United.
United’s last victory was in March which means that the team has failed to collect three-points in their last eleven outings. During this strenuous period, DC has allowed 22 goals while only putting the ball in the back of the net on five occasions. Part of the team’s problems can be attributed to the fact that injuries have prevented important players, like Chris Pontius (0 goals, 2 assists) and Dwayne De Rosario (1 goal, 1 assist), from contributing regularly and finding form. Despite all of this, DC United remains optimistic.
Perry Kitchen commented, “We’ve lost all these games and it’s just the same simple mistakes. We’re just giving teams goals. We just have to stay focused. We’re staying positive, we’re staying in it and hopefully this thing will turn around.”
Head coach Jay Heaps knows that his players can’t underestimate DC United’s squad. Since becoming head coach, Heaps has been unable to fully comprehend United which has put the Revs on the losing end of the last three games. Furthermore, Saturday’s match will be a rivalry match which adds to the unpredictability.
Heaps explained, “When you look at film…you don’t look at the score line. You look at how they are moving, their movement off the ball, the shots created, the opportunities created, the opportunities given up. And DC, they’re a very good team. I mean, I look at their players, they have excellent players.”
The Revs will look to breakdown DC United with their free-flowing attack in which any number of players can be dangerous. Since beginning their winning streak, the Revs have outscored their opponents 9-0 with Diego Fagundez, Juan Agudelo, Saer Sene, Lee Nguyen, Chad Barrett and Kelyn Rowe all chipping in.
“It brings the morale up,” Agudelo said of the team’s recent scoring success. “It brings the confidence up in every single player to take chances and to believe that shooting a goal in any way (could mean) a goal. Once the first goal went in, the goals kept coming.”
Although five Revolution players scored in the team’s last match, no player has been more important to the recent run of form than Fagundez. The 18-year-old has been playing beyond his years with tenacious defense, smart movement and clinical finishing. Fagundez is now on everyone’s radar after scoring in the last four games and earning the Player of the Week honor from MLSSoccer.com.
When asked about the added attention, Fagundez said, “It’s going to get harder and harder (to score) but I just need to get those chances by getting in the right spots at the right time.”
Three Things to Look for against DC United
1. The Revs should look to score early. Beyond the weather, Revolution fans should have little to complain about. After all, their team has recorded important victories over the Houston Dynamo and the Galaxy while also putting an emphatic end to the scoring drought. A lack of player consistency in United’s defense has caused the club to allow 24 goals in 13 games. The Revs should look to provide high pressure early and often as a way of trying to force a mistake and score a goal. An early goal against a struggling team would keep the fans loud and supportive.
2. Beware of Sainey Nyassi. After being waived by the Revs, Nyassi trialed with DC United before ultimately signing with the regional rival. The Gambian international contributed 26 minutes in last weekend’s game against the Chicago Fire and will hope to get more time against his former club. The Revs have always struggled when facing former players with Shalrie Joseph being the most recent example. After being traded to Chivas USA last season, Joseph put together a devastating two-goal performance against the Revs. Like Joseph, Nyassi spent several seasons with the Revolution and certainly knows the ins-and-outs of the club.
3. Injured players are ready to return. Two weeks ago, AJ Soares played 90 minutes in an Open Cup game against the Rochester Rhinos which proved that the California native had fully recovered from his hamstring injury. A few days later, Sene made his first start since undergoing surgery to repair his ACL. Both players made their returns at an opportune time since the Revs are entering a busy stretch with two league games and one Open Cup game in eight days. Soares will have to beat out Stephen McCarthy if he wants to retain his starting position with the first-team. Meanwhile, Sene appears to have earned a spot in the midfield but will be competing against Ryan Guy, who is officially off the injury report. This week will be important for both players as they hope to prove that they are fully fit and deserve a spot in the starting eleven.
