It feels just like the New England Revolution protection hasn’t had a a lot of an opportunity to take a breath by two video games this season.
And although that unit stood up a lot better to the unrelenting strain from the Pink Bulls on Saturday than it did when the Revolution had been bludgeoned by Nashville SC in final week’s season opener, New England might solely maintain off New York’s assault for thus lengthy.
Julian Zakrzewski’s aim within the 53rd minute proved to be the distinction because the Pink Bulls took down the Revolution, 1-0, at Sports activities Illustrated Stadium. First-year head coach Marko Mitrović continues to be in the hunt for his first MLS win with the Revolution now 0-2.
The Pink Bulls’ teenage trio made a notable influence — one thing the Revolution are searching for out of its personal crop of younger gamers this season — to begin the second half by scoring off a set piece. Seventeen-year-old Matthew Dos Santos performed a nook quick earlier than getting the again and swinging a low cross into the field. That’s the place 16-year-old Adri Mehmeti flicked the ball towards the web and Zakrzewski, who’s simply 17 as nicely, headed his probability previous Revolution goalie Matt Turner.
“If you concede a aim on a nook kick, positively you’ll be able to defend higher. No query about that,” Mitrović mentioned. “I believe that was the one time the place we truly misplaced focus in our field and we received punished.”
In contrast to of their 4-1 loss to Nashville when New England surrendered two objectives within the first 16 minutes, the Revolution protection stood up nicely to fixed strain by the Pink Bulls early on.
Mitrović went with virtually a totally completely different again line in opposition to the Pink Bulls. Middle backs Mamadou Fofana and Brayan Ceballos each drew into the beginning lineup after lacking the matchup with Nashville, whereas Ilay Feingold began at proper again. Will Sands was the one member of the again line to earn a second begin as he slotted in at left again. Keegan Hughes, Andrew Farrell and Ethan Kohler all went to the bench.
Turner was referred to as upon to make considered one of his three saves simply over two minutes into the competition when Pink Bulls defender Justin Che blasted a shot on web from simply outdoors the 18-yard field.
The Revolution actually didn’t acquire traction till the thirty fourth minute when Griffin Yow went into the field down the left wing and received off the crew’s first shot on web, however Pink Bulls keeper Ethan Horvath turned apart the try with ease. Yow had one other terrific alternative moments later to go in alone on aim however Carles Gil’s cross was too robust for Yow to catch as much as.
The offensive probabilities for the Revolution, who had been with out prime striker Leo Campana because of a lower-body damage and have just one aim in two video games, had been restricted within the second half, however they got here extremely near leveling the rating within the 68th minute.
Feingold made a run on their own with the ball down the appropriate wing and crossed it by the field to Jackson Yueill. Yueill’s strike appeared ticketed for again of the web however Pink Bulls defender Jahkeele Marshall-Rutty headed the ball away from the aim line to extinguish the Revolution’s scoring probability.
“That one second on the set piece outlined the sport, and a few conditions, particularly final 15, 20 minutes within the second half the place we might have transformed and scored a aim, we didn’t,” Mitrović mentioned. “I don’t wish to lose the video games, however there are one hundred pc some takeaways from this recreation constructive that we are able to construct off for the approaching video games.”
The Revolution should sit with this loss longer than anticipated as subsequent Saturday’s dwelling opener in opposition to the Houston Dynamo was postponed because of inclement climate, delaying the supply of Gillette Stadium’s new pure grass discipline. New England will subsequent play March 15 at dwelling in opposition to FC Cincinnati.
