Teal Bunbury and the Revolution get set to play the Galaxy. Photo/Kari Heistad
Revenge may sometimes be sweet, but it’s not a time machine that can reverse the past. Consequently, the New England Revolution could embarrass the Los Angeles Galaxy 10-0 on Sunday night, but that won’t change the fact that the Galaxy beat them in last year’s MLS Cup final.
So for the Revolution, Sunday’s game at Gillette Stadium—their first match against the Galaxy since last December’s 2-1 overtime Cup loss—is simply the next opportunity to snap a four-game winless run and get three points, not a re-match.
Even midfielder Teal Bunbury, who nearly won the Cup with a shot from nowhere that clanged off the underside of the crossbar and left L.A. goalkeeper Jaime Penedo counting his blessings, is over the loss.
“A lot could have changed if that went in,” Bunbury said in a phone conversation. “It’s unfortunate, but it is what it is.”
Beating the Galaxy this weekend is just one seed that the Revolution will need to plant in their odyssey to winning their first-ever MLS Cup this year. Regardless of the result, the Cup won’t be won on Sunday—even if on paper the Galaxy seem to be the league’s best team. That said, hosting the defending champions on unbeaten, home turf will be a barometer of the Revolution’s potential. For a team that followed up two season-opening losses with a nine-game unbeaten run, being winless in nearly a month thanks to four consecutive blown leads is unacceptable. Turning the tide this weekend against a deep and well-balanced Galaxy side would help restore the Revolution’s momentum.
“They defend well and push-up,” Bunbury said of his next opponents. “They’re good at keeping the ball and creating chances. The biggest thing for us is to stick with what we do well. We need to keep possession and take advantage of the holes and pockets they give us.”
The Revolution will be without Chris Tierney (suspension), who scored in the Cup final, and reigning team MVP Lee Nguyen (suspension). Losing Tierney’s crossing ability will affect the Revolution, though Nguyen hasn’t made the same impact this year. In any event, the absences of both starters will force Jay Heaps to either make a tactical switch or try out an emerging player.
As the Revolution lose two influential players, the Galaxy are getting one back. Robbie Keane, the Irish international with devastating pace and a pure nose for goal who scored the game-winning goal in the Cup, will likely return to the starting lineup after being out injured in recent weeks. Meanwhile, Alan Gordon, L.A.’s current leading scorer, and the remainder of head coach Bruce Arena’s well-rounded core of players, will make for a stiff challenge.
“We’ve seen a lot from them and obviously we know about Keane coming back, he changes the dynamic,” Bunbury said. “They also know how to get results anywhere…it’s not going be easy for us. It’s going to be a battle.”
The Revolution’s home-unbeaten run spans 17 games dating back to last season. Home crowds have been on the rise as the weather has gotten warmer. To boot, the artificial surface at Gillette Stadium has almost always been an impediment to visiting teams, particularly those, who, like the Galaxy, favor a free-flowing possession based scheme that is hindered by plastic grass and rubber soil.
Historically, the Revolution have been good at setting their emotions to the side. That has become especially true under Heaps’ guidance. But beyond that, they’ve been able to bounce back against teams that have beaten them in MLS Cups with controlled intensity, not aggression. The Revolution have gone 4-0-0 all-time in the immediate match versus the team that’s beaten them in MLS Cup. Sunday isn’t about stretching that statistic to five games or, as Bunbury and his teammates have said, about revenge.
It’s about collecting three more points.
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
