This Memorial Day weekend the New England Revolution will face two distinct challenges. I hope that our Revs and Coach Heaps attacking style can earn results. Saturday we visit a DC United team that has shown they are a quality side who can earn results. Tuesday we begin our participation in the 2012 Lamar Hunt US Open Cup with a visit to the Harrisburg City Islanders. As a club in a rebuilding year it is important that New England show our own strengths against these two teams.
New England has demonstrated style, success, and a frustrating tendency to get punished for lapses in concentration. The Revs passing style, especially the combination play of Tierney, Nguyen, and Sene up the left side, has been great to watch. Kevin Alston and Benny Feilhaber haven’t demonstrated the same consistency, yet. With Clyde Simms likely out again this weekend, it will be interesting to see how Shalire Joseph fits into the line up. Though Joseph’s passing can be essential to this New England squad Ryan Guy’s skill set doesn’t seem as good a match for the defensive midfielder role as Shalrie’s. While New England has improved our play we are a rebuilding side. Our lapses in concentration, either starting slow or succumbing late, have turned games into ties or losses that could have earned us more points.
Earlier this season, DC United visited and won on the road in New England. This weekend we have a chance to return the favor, though DC will bring the same obstacles for our Revs. Nick DeLeon, some De Rosario magic, and Maicon Santos combined for a goal. That was the tying goal that erased the lead that Moreno gave us by finishing a laser of a cross from Sene. This was also a game where Pontius ended up one-on-one with the ball at his feet and space to move. He beat Stephen McCarthy and curled in a beautiful shot. Pontius, DeLeon, and Santos were listed on the injured list, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them start or earn substitute minutes. Along with their formidable defense, De Rosario’s penchant for playmaking means that this DC team will be difficult to beat.
The Lamar Hunt US Open Cup is a single elimination tournament and on May 29th all MLS clubs will join the fray against lower division teams. The City Islanders will want to knock us out of the tournament for a shot at the winner of the game between New York Red Bulls and Charleston Battery. Realistically, our Revs have a better shot at winning this tournament than the City Islanders. Winning the US Open Cup earns a club a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League and an opportunity to go to the Club World Cup. New England has won this tournament in the past. We took home the 2007 US Open Cup with a victory in the finals over FC Dallas in Texas. That year we beat the Harrisburg City Islanders 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
Visiting DC is important for a number of reasons. Winning in Harrisburg is also important. This week, I value the Open Cup a bit more than the away match in MLS. I will be watching line up choices in both matches and I want to see offense that can score. Limiting DC and Harrisburg and concentrating on defense will be key. I would love to see the Revs dig in and show a determination to win. We can score against both of these teams, so New England can get results.
Check back with Total-MLS.com next week for recaps, listen to The Rebel Alliance Podcast for more Revs talk, and thank you to all of the Veterans and their families who have served our country.
(image courtesy of David Silverman)
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