FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution played out a tense match with New York City FC at home on Saturday night, one that saw them show resilience at the back and create promising opportunities up front. Missed chances came back to bite them in the end, though, and New England ultimately fell 1-0 to the Bronx Blues, off an 81st-minute Keaton Parks header.
The Revs won the statistical battles in terms of possession, shots, and shots on target, but were unable to find the back of the net. Head coach Caleb Porter said after the game that he was proud of the shift his players put in, but rued those spurned attacking opportunities.
“I thought we played really well today, well enough to get a result in the game,” he said. “The big thing we didn’t do is finish. When we get in all those spots to create goals, to create chances, to score goals, we have to do better.”
Midfielder Mark-Anthony Kaye similarly felt that everything went well apart from the finishing in the final third, and chalked up the lack of attacking output to the choices being made in crucial situations.
“I think it’s just decision-making in the final moments,” he said. “We get ourselves in really good spots, and that’s a credit to the whole team, all 11 players on the field doing their job to get to that point. We just seem to not make the right decision at the right time. That’s what has been hurting us right now. We’re going to go back to training this week, keep the things that we’re doing well, and then keep improving on scoring goals.”
Porter said that this had been his message to the team after the game, to keep looking ahead and building on all of the things they have been doing well.
“We’re on the right path,” Porter said. “It doesn’t feel like it with the result today, but that’s what I told them.”
Defender Henry Kessler also echoed this same mentality post-game.
“You have to take it day by day, try to improve each and every day, and prepare for the next match,” he said. “We go in believing that we’ll win every game that we play. We’re not heading into games thinking that we’re going to lose. We’re not deflated, but we need to start getting points, and we know that. But we just take it day by day.”
Kessler also expressed his gratitude to Revs fans for their consistent support of the team, and asked them to continue to bring that energy and spirit each week.
“We wish we were doing better – obviously, they do too,” he acknowledged. “[We’d ask] for them to continue supporting us. We see it. I think the attendance has been fantastic, the fans have been incredible. It doesn’t go unnoticed despite the result. So, I would ask them to continue to have our back. They’ve been great this year.”
One blow that dampened the Revolution attack was an early injury to forward Tomás Chancalay, which was severe enough to force his substitution in the 11th minute. Porter was tentative after the game, but said he hoped the injury wasn’t too serious.
“[Chancalay] had to come out of the game,” he said. “I don’t know what it is, something with his knee. I don’t think it’s too bad. But we would never take him out unless he had to come out.”
The Revolution now fall to 2-10-1 on the season after the loss to NYCFC, and will hit the road next weekend to face Nashville SC, who will themselves face off against FC Cincinnati in Ohio on Wednesday before hosting the Revs.
