After a mediocre performance in the Leagues Cup, the New England Revolution hit the ground running to beat CF Montreal 5-0. With two games in hand, the result boosted the team’s morale heading into the final 10 games of the regular season.
Rhode Island FC continued its impressive streak of draws with a 0-0 draw against Loudoun United FC. With 13 draws this season, Rhode Island is just one draw away from the USL Championship single-season record.
Hartford Athletic pulled off a surprise result, beating league leaders Louisville City FC 2-1, with a brace from Mamadou Dieng securing the win.
Revs II lost 2-1 to Carolina Core after conceding two goals in the final five minutes. Revs II did not win an MLS NEXTPro away game last year.
Here’s a summary of some of the weekend’s talking points.
For the first time in the 2024 MLS season, the New England Revolution won a game by more than one goal. By converting five of 14 shots against Montreal, the Revs showed an attacking prowess that Caleb Porter’s team had lacked all season.
The game was also the Revs’ highest xG game of the entire season at 2.28. It was also the first game this season in which Bobby Wood and Giacomo Vrioni scored.
The first reaction might be that CF Montreal is not a good team this year, but the Canadian club is at the top of the Revs in the standings.
In fact, the Revs finally showed that they play best when they destroy their opponents in transition situations. With Esmir Bajraktarevic and Brandon Byes’ pace on the right wing and Carles Gil’s creativity in the final third, Bobby Wood converted two close-range chances in the first half.
The second half underscored the importance of the depth on the wings and in attack that the Revs have built this year. Dylan Borrero had an assist in the second half, Vrioni came off the bench to score a goal, and new addition Luca Langoni had a great performance in the final 15 minutes.
Langoni’s arrival could be a differentiator for the Revs’ attacking line. While Bobby Wood’s effectiveness has contributed to the Revs’ scoring output over the past few months, Langoni’s speed and skill could give him an advantage. His assist and goal both came on counterattacks, where he showed his ability to push up the court and show composure in the final third.
With Langoni, Porter could count on a new striker or winger. This weekend, Langoni played on the right wing after coming on for Bajraktarevic. At Boca Juniors, he played on the left wing and even as a striker.
A top three consisting of Langoni, Borrero and Bajraktarevic, with the support of Gil in a counter-attacking tactic, could produce exciting results.
The question now is how Porter will approach the remaining 10 games. On Saturday, Porter decided to drop back and defend after taking a 2-0 lead before halftime. This allowed the Revs to find more space behind Montreal’s back line as they advanced and took advantage of the numerical superiority.
Ryan Spaulding returned to the Tampa Bay Rowdies on loan last week after making 10 appearances for them last year. In his first week back in Florida, he started in a 3-1 loss to Detroit City FC and a 2-0 win over Miami FC.
In addition to Spaulding, the Rowdies also signed Damien Rivera on loan from the Revolution. Rivera was a regular substitute and scored a number of late goals in the USL Championship.
Against Miami, Rivera scored his fifth goal of the season and provided his second assist in three appearances in the USL Championship.
Both New England natives want to get playing time and continue to develop, although it is difficult to imagine either player finding a place in the short term.
With the emergence of Peyton Miller and the signing of Will Sands, Spaulding dropped back to third left back, despite being the oldest of them all.
In Rivera’s case, there is no clear point of comparison with any of the first-team wingers. Langoni’s arrival could compensate for several problems in the long term, such as Borrero’s final year of contract and Vrioni’s possible departure. Tomas Chancalay will also return next season from injury.
The Revs’ path to the USL Championship could prove fruitful, allowing younger players to gain confidence at a higher level than MLS NEXTPro. After Panayotou’s success in Rhode Island earlier this season, Spaulding and Rivera could grow in Tampa and perhaps even earn a spot in the USL Championship playoffs.
Following reports a few weeks ago that former Seacoast United Phantoms centre-back Moise Bombito could move to Europe, OGC Nice signed the Canadian international and gave him his debut over the weekend.
Bombito was originally in talks with a move to Olympique Lyon, but the deal fell through due to Lyon’s recent problems with Financial Fair Play. Nice took the opportunity and paid Colorado Rapids almost $8 million.
With the USL League 2 season coming to an end and Bombito’s former club winning the domestic tournament this summer, some players may look to Bombito as a role model for moving up to the professional leagues.
Goalkeeper Francesco Montali signed with Minnesota United over the summer from Vermont Green FC, and his roster included Zachary Zengue, who was drafted by the Columbus Crew but is continuing his college career at Georgetown.
Alec Hughes of the Pioneers was passed over in the last MLS Super Draft. After auditioning with several MLS clubs in the spring, he decided to continue playing at UMass Amherst, where he is continuing his graduate studies.
Most players will continue to play in college and try to get into the MLS or USL Championship via the draft, like Bombito.
