FC Dallas versus New England Revolution
7:30 PM EST/6:30 PM CST, ESPN +
FC Dallas will be the final team to make a road trip when they visit Foxborough to take on the New England Revolution this Saturday. Both of these teams finished 7th in their respective conferences last season in what was an underwhelming 2017 both teams. There was a sense in both camps that they would be embarking on a new era this year, Oscar Pareja declaring that the “cycle had ended” on the talented squad that promised so much, and New England firing their coach of 6-years Jay Heaps, replacing him with USMNT goalkeeping legend Brad Friedel in his first management position.
Both teams have made positive starts to the new campaign, but New England will definitely be happier of the two teams, and will go into Saturday’s match-up confident of getting a third successive win. Friedel had a bad first day when he saw his team go down to 9-men in a 2-0 loss to Philadelphia, but since then the Revs have picked up wins against Colorado, Houston and Montreal, as well as a spirited 2-2 effort against NYFC. Dallas, despite going unbeaten during their four-game home stretch, had three 1-1 draws broken up with a routine 3-0 victory over struggling Seattle.
Friedel has looked to instill an aggressive, pressing philosophy in his team. Against NYFC, at home, New England took the lead twice, in a high energy fashion. Had they been able to alter their play and contain NYFC they could have picked up the win. In their next match away in Houston, New England sat back and absorbed early pressure from the Dynamo, before taking control and playing with more speed and aggression to take the lead, and eventually come out 2-0 winners have a red card to Demarcus Beasley. The Revs were helped again by the opposition in their next game against Montreal Impact, when Saphir Taider was sent off in the opening 15 minutes. Friedel’s men took full advantage of the extra man and helped themselves to a 4-0 blowout.
Despite being meek in front of goal, FC Dallas does boast the best defense in the MLS currently with only 3 goals conceded. Matt Hedges had a nightmare moment to allow Joe Mason through to score the opening goal for Colorado on Saturday, but overall he has quickly developed a solid partnership with Reto Ziegler, and Cannon and Nedyalkov have both settled quickly as starting full-backs. The form of Jimmy Maurer coming in for Jesse Gonzalez has been very pleasing for Dallas fans, and he was called upon to make some key saves against the Rapids.
In all four of the opening games in Dallas, FCD have looked to dominate possession, and New England will likely be happy for Dallas to do this on Saturday as they look to press and force them into turnovers. There have been regular moments of sloppy passing in all of Dallas’s games. Against the Rapids, Carlos Gruezo was particularly guilty of giving the ball away needlessly. If they do this on Saturday in New England they will be punished.
With Carlo Diaz’s last minute assist to Colman against the Rapids, we saw what Diaz is capable of doing when he can find at bit of space. New England will be trying to deny Diaz as little space as possible, so if FCD are going to get any joy in attack it is critical Hayes and Gruezo keep the ball moving, and try and get a handle of the midfield, to create space for Diaz who should to play long balls. With New England hitting them with the high press, and their full-backs often venturing forward, they will open up areas that Lamah and Barrios can exploit further up the field, if they are given the chance.
New England is a tough place to go. They are 9-0-2 in their last 11, and this team under the rookie manager are brimming with confidence. If Dallas can stay disciplined, hold their nerve and keep their concentration, they have the talent to pick apart a New England that can be erratic. If they fail to that however, it could be a long night.
FC Dallas
NE Revolution
