New England Revolution 4-Vancouver Whitecaps 0

The month of July is always an interesting time for teams in MLS. With the season  at the halfway point and clubs looking to make moves in the summer transfer window it is a time in which a teams season either comes together or comes apart. One bad move and it is curtains. One good move and it is off to the races.

Although it is too early to tell whether Gustavo Bou will end up leading the New England Revolution to silverware at least for one night it appears to have worked. On Wednesday at Gillette Stadium the Revs newest signing proved to be the difference ripping the Vancouver Whitecaps 4-0.

Bou’s goal came just before halftime giving the 10, 575 in attendance the perfect boost. Off of a corner taken by Carles Gil Bou collected the cross just outside of the box and with the outside of his foot hit a twenty yard stunner into the back of the net. The goal was his first since signing with New England from Tijuana the week prior.

“I think we needed it,” said Revolution midfielder Juan Agudelo. “There were of couple chances we passed up on, and it definitely may have been a different game if the team was able to survive until halftime; but we were just on top of them and it would have been a shame to be going into the half 0-0.”

In the second half Vancouver’s attack found their footing. Using their speed on the outside the Whitecaps midfield began to wear down the Revs defense, finding chances on crosses into the box and long diagonal passes. Midfielder Lucas Venuto played a low curving cross into the box into the box for Theo Bair. While the MLS Homegrown hit a dangerous on shot on target it hit the bar ending the chance.

But the Revolution defense held firm using their strength and size advantage at center-back to limit the Whitecaps chances in front of goal. Goalkeeper Matt Turner had a quiet evening not recording a single save but earning the clean sheet.

The shutout wasn’t lost on Revs defender Andrew Farrell. “It was important,” he said on Thursday. “I think coming against Vancouver, who’s obviously a team that’s been struggling, we knew that we wanted to get a shutout. It just feels really good to shut out the other team and have that zero. It kind of builds up your confidence and obviously the attack had the confidence building throughout this whole run we’ve been going on. We’ve been doing better defensively, and I think getting a shutout is something that can fuel us forward on the defensive side of the ball.”

Teal Bunbury netted his fifth goal of the season in Wednesday night’s 4-0 win over the Vancouver Whitecaps (photo credit: Kari Heistad)

New England’s back four were given a bit more breathing room late in the match thanks to a flurry of goals in the final ten minutes. Diego Fagundez (80′), Gil (82′), and Teal Bunbury (90′) each found the back of the net for the Revs.

For the Revs the addition of Bou could not come at a better time. With the win they extended their unbeaten run to ten matches and moved to within two points of New York City FC (7-3-8, 28 points) for the seventh and final playoff spot in the East.

Bou comes to New England after having scored 20 goals in two seasons for Tijuana and previous stops with River Plate and Club Racing. His passing and work with Gil and Agudelo in the midfield opened up opportunities on the attacking and has the Revs thinking the best might be to come.

“He was great,” said Farrell. “I think in the short practices that we’ve had with him, he’s combined well with the guys up top – with Carles [Gil], Teal [Bunbury], Juan Fernando [Caicedo], [Cristian] Penilla, Diego [Fagundez] – the midfield – Wilfried [Zahibo], Scotty [Caldwell], all those guys; so just seeing him be on the field and contributing with the technical ability he has. We’ve seen his track and ability in practice, so I knew he was capable of that stuff, but pulling it off in a game is amazing, and it was a great first goal for the club for him.

I’m sure he’s happy with it and we’re excited for him, and to keep on getting to know him as a person and as a player.”

The New England Revolution will make their first-ever trip to Nippert Stadium on Sunday when they take on FC Cincinnati. Gametime is 6pm EST and will be on NBCSN Boston and ESPN +.