Technical and defensive errors doom Revolution

By Julian Cardillo

The New England Revolution struggled to pick up where they left off in 2014, falling 3-0 at CenturyLink field to Seattle Sounders FC on Sunday evening.

While the loss, furnished by two goals from Clint Dempsey and a single tally by Obafemi Martins, immediately puts the Revolution in the cellar of the Eastern Conference, it’s not particularly indicative of their potential this year. The Revolution practically clamor for a mulligan in week one each season. They are now 5-11-4 all-time in season openers. In fact, the Revolution started their campaign with a loss in three of the six seasons they reached MLS Cup, including last year, when they opened with a 4-0 loss at Houston.

With 33 games left in the season, a single negative result won’t serve as a proper barometer for the Revolution’s potential.

But it does offer a look at the Revolution’s current weaknesses.

The Sounders exposed gaping holes in the Revolution’s defending. Andrew Farrell started at the center back, alongside Jose Goncalves, and struggled versus Dempsey and Martins. Farrell is capable central defender, though his more effective position is right back. That was further brought to light by his tribulations in the middle of the back line, as well as his tendency to dribble the ball out of the defense along the right side of the field.

Dempsey opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 25^th minute, converting for the 1-0 lead after Juan Agudelo dragged him down following the remnants of a corner kick. Martins out-jumped Farrell to reach a cross from the right flank by Tyrone Mears, powering the ball into the back of the net past Bobby Shuttleworth with a looping header in the 41^st minute. Seattle’s insurance strike came in the 67^th minute, as Marco Pappa threaded a through ball in behind Farrell and Goncalves for Martins, who went alone on Shuttleworth with Dempsey. Martins drew out Shuttleworth, and then passed to Dempsey, the former Revolution midfielder walking the ball into an open net.

The Revolution didn’t give the Sounders much of a contest, losing out in shots on target 3-1. Only a line drive shot by Kelyn Rowe in the 40^th minute off a Seattle giveaway seriously tested goalkeeper Stefan Frei, who was otherwise not busy.

The Revolution’s offense didn’t click, not even in their familiar 4-2-3-1 formation with Agudelo playing as the hold-up forward. Lee Nguyen and Jermaine Jones—the Revolution’s biggest impact players last year—did not play due to injury, the Revolution failing to generate much offensive tactic without them. Agudelo was a non-factor, save for causing the penalty kick that led to Dempsey’s first goal. Diego Fagundez hardly contributed to the offense, either, while Teal Bunbury, the Revolution’s assist leader last year, was ineffective and taken out of the game late in the second half after seemingly dislocating his shoulder.

Indeed, the Revolution appeared to try to play like they did last season—quick tempo, with one-touch passes and a collective attack and defend mentality. But the Revolution didn’t showcase the technical clout to pull off the moves they were trying to create.

Getting blown out of game one is nothing new for a team that’s only victorious in season openers 20 percent of the time. But the Revolution showed true vulnerabilities on Sunday night. And, while it’s not one and done, fixing the defensive and technical errors is an immediate, top priority.