FOXBORO – The New England Revolution got their first result of the MLS season but it wasn’t the one they needed.
The Revolution (0-4-1) picked up their first point of the campaign under first-year head coach Caleb Porter in a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire FC (1-2-2) on a cold and soggy Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
“I think it’s is a step forward but it is not the big step we wanted,” said Porter. “We are at home and we wanted to win, we played to win and we are not satisfied with a draw.”
The Revolution enter their MLS bye week and will close out their three-game homestand against Charlotte FC on April 6. The Revolution will resume Concacaf Champions Cup play against reigning LIGA MX champion Club America in leg one of their home-and-home quarterfinal series April 2 at Gillette. Leg two will be played April 9 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
“I thought there was a pop in our guys that was missing and the last month has been rigorous,” said Porter. “I think it is important for these guys to refresh and we will give them a few days off.”
Due to a raid on his roster, Porter was compelled to make significant changes to his Starting XI from the crew that fell 2-1 to reigning Supporters Shield winners FC Cincinnati at Gillette last Sunday.
The Revolution were minus three significant players, homegrown midfielders Esmir Bajraktarevic (U.S.) and Noel Buck (England), and goalkeeper Henrich Ravas (Slovakia), who are away honoring their FIFA international obligations.
Veteran keeper Earl Edwards Jr. started in goal against the Fire while Nacho Gil assumed Bajraktarevic’s slot as attacking midfielder. Matt Polster, a steady two-way midfielder, was back in the starting group after missing the FC Cincinnati match with a sore hamstring.
“I thought he (Edwards) did well and I thought he gave us confidence with his feet, with his kicking and just in general,” said Porter.
The Revolution’s possession game began to take hold in the 11th minute but failed to penetrate the Fire’s back line. The Fire countered with a transition strategy that was contained outside the scoring area.
The Fire broke the scoreless deadlock with a well-executed transition push through the Revolution box in the 28th minute. Chicago captain Fabian Herbers ran under a rainbow feed inside the goal area and got behind Revolution center back Henry Kessler. Herbers made a clean cross to striker Hugo Cuypers, who took a right foot chip shot that beat Edwards to the crossbar for his second of the season.
“It is a step forward in a lot of ways, we showed a lot of fight and I’m just disappointed we gave up the first goal,” said Porter. “We have to do better there but I liked our response after it and I liked in the second half we were pushing to win.”
The Revolution’s probes got deeper as the first half went on, but they were never able to fully break down the Fire’s defensive structure. The Revolution’s persistence eventually paid off in a marvelously choreographed collaboration in stoppage time.
Left back DeJuan Jones crashed the box and back heeled the ball to Carles Gil, who had an unobstructed view of the Fire goal. Keeper Spencer Richey made the save, but Nacho Gil booted home the rebound for his first of the season.
“As you get results the confidence will grow and grow and that is something that will come with results,” said Porter. “I thought DeJuan had a good game today but I would still like to see him be more aggressive running.”
The Revolution controlled the play from the start of the second half, but had to weather back-to-back corner kicks by the Fire in the 64th minute. Richey made a huge save on Tomas Chancalay in the 87th minute to preserve the tie.
A fracas broke out at midfield in the 90th but Chicago’s Tom Barlow was the only player issued a yellow card. Carles Gil was issued a yellow card for diving on a play up field in stoppage time, a call that left Porter irate after the game.
“Carles was in on a break for us and could score what I believe would be the game-winning goal,” said Porter. “He is one of the best players in the league, and their guy just kills the play.
“At a minimum it is a foul, in my view it is a foul and a yellow card because he is killing the play and the referee doesn’t even call a foul. I don’t know how that happens, it is just shocking. It’s bizarre to me in this league that a guy like Carles is viewed in that moment as diving.”
