While Saturday was a squander in Montreal, Revolution appear to have shaken their post-Arena malaise
After two-plus years, the Revolution appear to have turned the corner on establishing a successful post-Bruce Arena identity. The roster has been transformed — only Carles Gil remains in the lineup from the starters in Arena’s final game in July 2023 — and the Revolution are in sixth place overall (just behind Arena’s San Jose Earthquakes) halfway through the MLS season.
Their record (9-5-3, 30 points) is similar to 2023 (8-3-6), and only the third time since 2018 they’ve been better than .500 at the midway point. Not that a winning first half guarantees anything. In his first year as coach, Brad Friedel was 7-4-6 and still missed the 2018 playoffs. And, in 2023, the Revolution crashed after Arena went on administrative leave.
This year, the biggest upcoming obstacle is a road-loaded schedule. The Revolution meet the Houston Dynamo at Gillette Stadium on Saturday, then will contest six of the next seven matches away.
The Revolution’s away record fell to 1-4-2 Saturday after they squandered a two-goal lead in a 2-2 tie against CF Montreal. Gil opened the scoring with his 22nd successful penalty kick (24 attempts) in the 30th minute, then combined with Peyton Miller to set up Dor Turgeman in the 36th. They had a chance to extend the lead, but Sébastian Breza tipped Gil’s low shot off the right post in the 41st.
Montreal central defender Brayan Vera’s spectacular 35-yard blast cut the deficit in the 52nd, and Prince Owusu equalized in the 59th off a cross from Luca Petrasso.
“We could have stopped the cross, but that’s the game, and we just move forward,” Revolution coach Marko Mitrovic said.
The same could have been said for Vera’s shot. The Revolution failed to anticipate the attempt, though Vera threatened with a high drive in the first half and did connect on three direct free kicks in three seasons with Real Salt Lake. Vera capitalized on the Revolution’s packed-in defense, and sent the shot just under the bar, and over Matt Turner.
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In the second half, Turgeman — attacked by Breza (who was cautioned by referee Jair Marrufo) while celebrating his score and responding to chants and taunts from Montreal supporters — had two opportunities to break the deadlock. But Turgeman missed an open net after drawing Breza out of the penalty area (62nd minute), and had a breakaway off a Gil through ball kick-saved (68th).
Turgeman also went down in the penalty area after speeding past Efraín Morales in the second half — he did not earn a foul call — and had a goal disallowed for offside.
Revolution depth has been tested. From the Opening Day lineup, only Gil, Turgeman, and midfielder Brooklyn Raines started in the same positions against CF Montreal among field players. The Revolution lost their opener (4-1 at Nashville SC) and were 1-3-0 after four games, but have displayed resilience.
Hopes for a strong finish could depend on the addition of winger Jack Harrison, plus the recovery of right winger Luca Langoni (leg), and possible returns of forward Leo Campana (leg) and defender Ilay Feingold (lower body).
Harrison, 29, who played for the Berkshire School and Black Rock FC before starting his professional career with New York City FC, obtained green card status on Sunday. Langoni (three goals, six assists) has not started since converting the decider in a 2-1 victory over Minnesota on May 16. He nearly set up a last-second tie-breaker against CF Montreal with a deflected cross that was headed wide by Wilson Harris.
Campana led the team in scoring during the preseason with seven goals and scored in the season opener, but has played only 19 minutes since. Feingold has not participated since April 25, causing Matt Polster to retreat to the right back spot.
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