I love the US Open Cup. I love the rich history of unexpected heroes and surprise upsets. The tournament gives different players an opportunity to show their worth in a meaningful way. With this in mind, I have decided to take a different approach to writing about the Revs 2013 Open Cup experience. Each game, I will talk about what players saw their stocks rise or fall because of their performances.
Rising
Kelyn Rowe
This selection shouldn’t be a surprise for anyone that has been watching the Revs this season. Rowe, whether as a starter or a substitute, has slowly established himself as an influential presence that can take control of a game. Beyond his one goal and 5 assists in league play, Rowe has also accumulated four goals and one assist during the Open Cup. The California native has shown consistency and confidence in his second year with the Revolution and could develop into a game-changer in the vein of Graham Zusi.
Gabe Latigue
After featuring as right back against the Rochester Rhinos, Latigue played on the right flank against the New York Red Bulls. You could tell that Latigue felt more comfortable in his natural position as he was active on both sides of the ball. Although Latigue’s 4th minute assist was pretty pedestrian, he should be applauded for providing several dangerous crosses, both in the run of play and on set pieces. With proper service being a chronic problem for the Revs, fans will want to keep an eye on Latigue.
Soccer in Boston
Playing the first-ever game in city limits was a big deal for Revolution fans that have long endured the commute to Foxboro. The moment that I arrived at Harvard Square, I could feel the excitement of the Open Cup. Fully decked out in Revs gear, I was approached by two strangers who were curious about the game and how to get tickets. Arriving to Charlie’s Kitchen brought a new wave of enthusiasm with diehards talking and chanting. The game itself was sold-out with new and old satisfied customers. I attended the game with a few soccer fans that were oblivious to MLS and they fully endorsed a move to the city. Of course, this is all very unscientific research but it’s important to note that the Revs game in Boston was well-received.
Falling
Chad Barrett
Barrett, who played the bulk of the game on the left flank, put in an industrious shift but lacked sharpness in front of net. At various points, his first touch that let him down and put him in an awkward position. In other instances, Barrett simply couldn’t hit the ball on frame. Fans shouldn’t lose all hope, however, since the former Galaxy man is doing well to put himself in good positions. With more practice and regular playing time, Barrett will hopefully find his groove and become a contributor. For now, Barrett’s stock is decreasing, especially since Dimitry Imbongo showed some impressive holdup play while also scoring a goal.
The Defense
The defensive unit of Tyler Polak, Kalifa Cisse, AJ Soares and Darrius Barnes had never played together and it certainly showed. Both allowed goals highlighted the group’s inability to communicate and stay organized. On the first goal, Barnes attempted to play the ball back to Matt Reis but telegraphed the play which allowed Fabian Espindola to get to the ball first. The second goal occurred when Eric Alexander’s cross found a wide open Johnny Steele. Makeshift defenses did well to earn victories against the Rhinos and the Red Bulls but head coach Jay Heaps might want to consider using a more experienced group now that we are in the latter stages of the tournament.
Jerry Bengtson
Despite not playing in the Open Cup game, Bengtson finds his stock decreasing after abandoning the Honduras National Team during World Cup Qualifying. The 26 year-old striker reportedly criticized head coach Luis Fernando Suárez before leaving for Boston. This situation is problematic for Bengtson because he could always rely on his stellar international form to eradicate his poor performances with the Revs. Furthermore, Heaps has a reputation of valuing hard workers over prima donnas. Hopefully this incident helps motivate Bengtson, but until then his stock is decreasing.
