Last Saturday, the Revs got out to a 2-0 lead against LAFC. But by the end of the game, LAFC had equalized the game at two. Saturday afternoon’s matchup was more of the same. The Revs were dominant in most areas, but were unable to hold LA off for the entirety of the game. In a chippy contest, the teams found themselves in a draw at the final whistle.
The Revs continued their early success in games, when Adam Buksa opened the scoring within a minute. Eddie Segura gave the ball away poorly, and Buksa was able to pounce on the opportunity with a cool left footed finish to the far post. In the seventh minute, Matt Polster added a second. Not known for his goal scoring, Polster took a shot on from distance. At the edge of the box, Polster let it rip with the weak foot, and picked out the bottom right corner.
The high attacking tempo pushed on, as Diego Rossi was the next player to find the back of the net. Corey Baird picked Rossi out for an easy tap in to pull one back. A couple of yellow cards, saves, and dirty challenges rounded out the rest of the first half. The teams went into the break with New England holding a 2-1 lead.
LAFC did not waste much time, scoring within the first thirteen minutes through Carlos Vela. Revolution center back Henry Kessler was manhandled by perhaps the best player in MLS, and he was never able to recover. Vela was calm in the box, finishing into the bottom left. The tie would not last long, as Buksa was hacked down in the box. Revs captain Carles Gil sent it straight down the middle of Vermeer’s net, restoring a New England lead.
Not unusually, the Revs conceded a late goal. LAFC found their equalizer in the final six minutes of regulation. Cifuentes nodded a header into the box for a defensive minded Eddie Segura, who volleyed home the goal in stride.
But, the festivities were not yet over. Yellow cards continued to pile up, amounting to somewhere in the double digits. Finally, a red was shown. LAFC’s Eduard Atuesta was ejected in minute 87, though it wasn’t enough time for the Revs to capitalize. The match ended at three a piece.
Finally, we’ve made it to the conclusion of the preseason. In five games, New England posted a 2-1-2 record. These games proved the potential of the Revolution in 2021.
There are numerous promising aspects of this team, including ones that haven’t been in action yet. New signings Arnor Traustason and Wilfrid Kaptoum have yet to take the field. The Revs will begin their journey in exactly a week, on the road against the Chicago Fire.