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3 takeaways from the Revolution’s 4-1 loss in Atlanta
New England lost its third consecutive game to open an MLS season for the first time since 1998.
As good as the Revolution have looked in CONCACAF Champions Cup competition, Caleb Porter’s team slumped to yet another MLS defeat on Saturday, falling 4-1 to Atlanta United in front of 67,727 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. It sends New England to its first 0-3 start since 1998.
Though the scoreline probably overstated Atlanta’s dominance — the Revolution arguably had the better first half — the result counts just the same. As another former New England head coach would be the first to tell Porter, “You are what your record says you are.”
The only consolation came from Revolution captain Carles Gil, who scored a late curler to keep New England from being shut out.
So what is there to make of the latest loss? Let’s take a look:
A tactical tweak crossed up Atlanta in the opening half.
Coming off a 4-0 smashing of Costa Rican side Liga Deportiva Alajuelense in a midweek Champions Cup matchup, things were looking up for New England heading into the weekend. After all, the dominant win came despite the choice to rest Gil (who also signed a contract extension on Thursday in another piece of good news).
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Not everyone entered the game rested, however, as Tomás Chancalay, Matt Polster, DeJuan Jones, and Dave Romney all once again got starts (the group has started every game for New England this season). Fatigue would eventually play a role.
The story of the starting lineups was Porter’s decision to opt for a 4-3-3 for the second game in a row, instead of his generally favored 4-2-3-1. Giacomo Vrioni returned from suspension, slotting in at center forward, with Chancalay moving back to the left wing. Gil played right wing (drifting infield frequently), and Polster combined with Ian Harkes and Mark-Anthony Kaye as a solid center midfield trio.
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Including a third center midfielder at the expense of a more attacking player gave the Revolution much more solidity in defense and had a noticeable effect in disrupting Atlanta’s buildup during the first half.
In fact, the visitors produced arguably the best chance of the first half from open play, when right back Nick Lima broke down the wing and crossed for Chancalay. The Argentine’s header clanked off the crossbar, a fortunate break for Atlanta.
But just as it appeared the Revolution would at least make it to halftime at 0-0, a bad break handed the home side a penalty kick: Polster intercepted an attempted cross inside New England’s box, but the deflection stalled just beyond the reach of Revolution goalkeeper Henrich Ravas. Atlanta forward Giorgos Giakoumakis knifed in front and managed to get a touch on the ball before being tripped by a fractionally late Ravas.
Thiago Almada converted the ensuing penalty and New England trailed 1-0 at the break.
The game changed after the second penalty kick.
In the second half, Atlanta tried a few tactical changes to open up space against New England’s three-man midfield. The answer appeared to be attempting to build from wider spaces, circumventing the Revolution’s ability to crowd the middle of the field.
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This played a role in multiple United goals, including the second (which came in the 55th minute), though it was another case of bad luck for the Revolution.
Atlanta winger Xande Silva tried to cross, but instead hit the arm of Lima inside the box. Replays showed Lima’s arm was close to his body, and the ball initially hit his chest. But after it deflected, it clearly struck his right arm and the referee instantly decided to award the penalty (though he chose not to award one for New England on a similar infraction later in the game).
After Giakoumakis converted to double Atlanta’s lead, Porter opted to throw caution to the wind and make a change: Attacking midfielder Esmir Bajraktarevic came on for Kaye.
The substitution was necessary — New England trailed 2-0 and had to try to change the game — but proved fatal. Without the extra holding midfielder, the Revolution proved easy prey on the counterattack. Atlanta’s third goal happened because of this: After New England lost possession, both Polster and Harkes were caught upfield. Given ample space, United were able to maneuver the ball out wide to right back Brooks Lennon, whose perfect cross to the back post found an unmarked Giakoumakis (and he made no mistake with his close-range header).
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A fourth goal – completing the 29-year-old Greek international’s hat trick — came 15 minutes later after multiple crosses by Atlanta weren’t cleared by an increasingly tired Revolution defense. As this was New England’s sixth competitive game of the season while only Atlanta’s second (largely due to the Revolution’s Champions Cup participation), the disparity in energy levels became increasingly clear.
“I think the second half, obviously, they got the second goal on another penalty, and I think from there the guys are dead,” Porter said of his team’s fatigue. “They had nothing left to give and, obviously, it got away from us.”
Another game, another contrast in center forwards.
Through three MLS games, the Revolution have already surrendered hat-tricks to multiple opposing center forwards. The first came against Christian Benteke in the 3-1 loss to D.C. United in the MLS opener. In that game, Vrioni was sent off in the first half after accruing a pair of rash yellow cards.
Against Atalanta on Saturday, the juxtaposition of center forwards was once again on display. While Giakoumakis finished his glittering night with three goals, Vrioni was held to just 21 touches before being subbed off in the 83rd minute. He was the least involved player out of any of the 22 starters from both teams.
Though he continues to work hard (fighting on several occasions to either regain or keep possession), Vrioni’s lack of scoring is already a concern for New England.
As organized and composed as the Revolution may have looked for much of the first half, not having a more capable center forward was one of several factors that meant they went into the locker room at halftime without a goal of their own. The Italian-Albanian needs to get going for Porter’s team to fully realize their potential.
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The MLS schedule won’t get any easier for New England. Following the return leg of the Champions Cup matchup in Costa Rica on Thursday, the Revolution will host defending Supporters’ Shield winners FC Cincinnati on March 17 still looking for a first league win.
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