Revolution completely outmatched, lose 4-0 to a rotated defending MLS Champions LAFC squad

FOXBOROUGH, MA– FOXBOROUGH, MA– The New England Revolution (2-0-1, 6 pts.) were defeated by Los Angeles FC (2-0-0, 6 pts.) in a 4-0 blow out on Saturday night. The match kicked off at 10:30 p.m. ET at BMO Stadium, in Los Angeles to a crowd of 20,007. The team started their lineup in a 4-1-2-1-2 [...]

FOXBOROUGH, MA–

Starting XI versus Los Angeles FC on Sunday, March 12th, 2023. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution

The team started their lineup in a 4-1-2-1-2 (4-4-2 diamond) formation with Đorđe Petrović starting in net with a regular backline of (left back) DeJuan Jones, (center backs) Dave Romney and Henry Kessler, along with (right back) Brandon Bye. The midfield consisted of captain Matt Polster (central defensive midfielder), Noel Buck (left central midfield), Latif Blessing (right central midfield) with DP Gustavo Bou making his 2023 MLS season debut in the attacking midfield role. The forward roles were manned by (left) Dylan Borrero and (right) Bobby Wood.

Captain Carles Gil started today’s match on the bench following a muscle strain injury that was left out of the injury report by Head Coach Bruce Arena.

Midfielder Matt Polster was named the captain in Gil’s absence. It is the first time that Polster has worn the captain’s armband for New England.

Designated Player Gustavo Bou returned to the Revolution lineup following his return from Argentina. Bou had missed the entire preseason and first week of the MLS season due to issues regarding his P-1 Visa. He played 60 minutes with Revolution II in a preseason friendly match prior to the trip to LA.

7⃣ pic.twitter.com/jzlOWsiDaw

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 13, 2023

Midfielder Latif Blessing was also applauded by the LAFC fans and received his 2022 MLS Cup Championship ring prior to the match. Blessing had played for LAFC from 2018-2022 and was acquired by New England in January of 2023.

Latif Blessing

Class, class, class from @LAFC pic.twitter.com/SnBEIPQDMQ

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 13, 2023

Starting XI versus Los Angeles FC. Image Courtesy of New England Revolution

The match began with LAFC starting from the midfield kickoff and quickly moving the ball around the backline to begin their lethal matchup and stalwart display against the revolution.

The first moment of the match began in 12th minute as LAFC’s #30 Sergi Palencia made a slide tackling effort to keep possession on the right side of the field from an incoming DeJuan Jones. His right footed cross was blocked by center back Dave Romney and found the foot of LAFC’s #11 Timothy Tillman. His right footed touch in the box was quickly used as a decoy as Tillman began to perfect a Cruyff turn which fooled the incoming Gustavo Bou. Gustavo’s lunging effort to block an anticipated shot caught the LAFC forward’s front foot and brought him to the ground, which quickly resulted in Referee Alan Chapman to call the PK.

LAFC’s #99 Dénis Bouanga stepped up and buried the Penalty kick directly up the middle past diving goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović to give LAFC the 1-0 lead.

Bouanga. Bang.

pic.twitter.com/JwUtxKbGsl

— LAFC (@LAFC) March 13, 2023

As the match progressed, LAFC continued their offensive dominance with a fantastic string of give and go plays. In the 32nd minute, LAFC’s # 22 Kwadwo Opoku’s left footed effort atop of the New England penalty area was saved by a diving Đorđe Petrović. The shot was clearly going to find the back of the net without the save.

The match entered halftime with LAFC leading New England 1-0.

Image Courtesy of New England Revolution

The Revolution kicked off the 2nd half and just like in the first half, LAFC continued to dominate the match.

In the 55th minute following a challenge by New England’s Henry Kessler atop the box on LAFC’s #7 Stipe Biuk, LAFC had won a freekick opportunity. LAFC’s #99 Dénis Bouanga and #23 Kellyn Acosta both looked to take the freekick which followed a rock-paper-scissors atop of the box that Bouanga ended up winning. Bouanga’s right footed effort smashed the top right of the crossbar and came right back to the player who was intercepted by midfielder Latif Blessing. His shot had definitely beaten Petrović who fully stretched out to attempt to make a save.

In the 63rd minute, Bruce Arena made his first changes of the match as attacking midfielder Gustavo Bou, and forwards Dylan Borrero, and Bobby Wood were replaced by DP Carles Gil, Emmanuel Boateng, and DP Giacomo Vrioni. Midfielder Matt Polster passed on the captain’s armband to Carles Gil as he entered the match.

2 minutes later in the 65th minute, captain midfielder Matt Polster entered the referee’s book as he picked up a yellow card for his hard tackle on LAFC’s #11 Timothy Tillman.

Less than 30 seconds later, LAFC began their counterattack as LAFC’s #20 Jose Cifuentes was all alone in the middle of the park. His chip managed to find #99 Dénis Bouanga behind the Revolution defense. Bouanga managed to use his body position to shield the ball past DeJuan Jones and an out of position Dave Romney.  Bouanga let the ball bounce past him into the Revolution box and his right footed touch and then shot snuck under the legs of Petrović for his second goal of the match. This is his 5th goal in LAFC’s last 2 matches, as LAFC take the 2-0 lead.

Dread it? Run from it? Destiny arrives all the same, and now he's here. pic.twitter.com/DrMShw710t

— LAFC (@LAFC) March 13, 2023

Minutes later, in the 68th minute, LAFC continued to be a problem for the Revolution backline as #7 Stipe Biuk’s right footed shot was saved once more by Petrović which then led to a clearance by Henry Kessler. Again, less than 30 seconds later, LAFC once more attacked the Revolution backline who were completely out of position, bare Henry Kessler. The 69th minute 3 versus 1 effort led #99 Dénis Bounaga to slide the ball across the box to find LAFC’s #10 Carlos Vela whose left footed effort from the six-yard box was met by an incredible save by Petrović who pushed it wide for a corner kick.

1 minute later in the 70th minute, #7 Stipe Biuk’s effort from the left side of the field was once again saved by a diving Petrović for another LAFC corner kick.

Once more, in the 72nd minute, LAFC continued their attacking dominance as #10 Carlos Vela’s travela cross to #99 Dénis Bouanga was intercepted by a diving Petrović. The ball managed to fly out of the box to LAFC’s #12 Diego Palacios whose left footed one-time shot was saved once again by a diving Petrović for his 4th save in 5 minutes.

Djordje made a total of 8 saves last night, matching his single-game career high. Here are a few of the best. pic.twitter.com/YypvNq42vZ

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) March 13, 2023

In the 75th minute, Head Coach Bruce Arena made his fourth substitution of the night as midfielder Noel Buck was replaced by forward Justin Rennicks.

7 minutes later in the 82nd minute, the revolution looked to pass out of the back as Henry Kessler found Latif Blessing in the middle of the defensive zone. Blessing had a poor touch and was unaware of a pressing #11 Timothy Tillman and was quickly dispossed of the ball. Tillman’s took one touch with his left foot which was then followed up by a left footed shot that rocketed past Petrović for LAFC’s 3rd goal of the night.

Timothy Tillman makes it three for @LAFC! pic.twitter.com/bsgCxpHlUc

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 13, 2023

7 minutes later, in the 89th minute, Revolution captain Carles Gil went down following an attack that ended up being called offsides. Gil who trapped the ball with an outstretched left leg in the box, made 3 touches and passed the ball to Latif Blessing, who was 5 yards outside of the center of the penalty area. As the play continued, Carles was seen holding the back of his left hamstring. He was seen bending down and continuing to hold the area and trying to move his left leg in what looked like was to ease pain. Following this he walked 5-10 yard further into the middle of the field where he slowly ended up on his back and in pain. With his hands on his head and still laying on his back, he was approached by LAFC’s #14 Giorgio Chiellini who looked to console the player. As the revolution training staff member approached Gil, he got up and brought his jersey above his head overcome with frustration and anger. He walked off of the field visibly upset. He walked past the Revolution training staff and headed straight to the locker room.

Carles Gil exits in the 91st minute after entering in the 63rd minute #NERevs pic.twitter.com/B4xcz8li2s

— Seth (@SethMan31) March 13, 2023

He was replaced in the 90th minute with New England’s 5th and final substitution as Damien Rivera entered the match to replace the injured Carles Gil. Polster reclaimed the captain’s armband duties following the injury.

In the 95th minute, LAFC continued to be a threat to the New England squad. In the closing moments of the match, LAFC’s #20 Jose Cifuentes found #99 Dénis Bounaga sprinting up the left side of the field. His two left footed touches were followed by a left footed cross past DeJuan Jones to find #7 Stipe Biuk at the back post to fire a shot on target. The shot which was caught by a diving Petrović was carried over the line by his own momentum and was LAFC’s 4th goal of the match, Stipe’s first in an LAFC uniform.

Stipe Biuk adds one more for @LAFC in the closing moments of the match! pic.twitter.com/z47Dp2IuxT

— Major League Soccer (@MLS) March 13, 2023

The match ended with LAFC beating the New England Revolution in dominating 4-0 fashion.

LAFC versus New England Revolution match stats. Image Courtesy of LAFC.

Image Courtesy of New England Revolution

The only positive coming from Sunday’s match was that goalkeeper Đorđe Petrović registered 8 saves and took himself to 101 career MLS saves. He was listed as the Team’s Man of the Match.

Bruce Arena responded to media following the match and noted that Carles was left out of the starting lineup due to a muscle strain. He announced that Carles had suffered another muscle injury in the match which led to his substitution.

Bruce Arena said it was a muscle strain that kept Carles Gil on the bench to start tonight's game, and "he suffered another muscle injury" that led to his late substitution. #NERevs

— Jeff Lemieux (@jeff_lemieux) March 13, 2023

With the result, the Revolution drop the 6th place in the Eastern Conference.

As the team looks forward to next week, a few players are facing some major upcoming milestones in their MLS careers. Team records dictate defender Dave Romney is now just 1 appearance away from his 175 total appearances in his career. Defender Omar Gonzalez remains 27 minutes away from surpassing the 22,000 MLS minute milestone. Forward Justin Rennicks is now only 23 minutes away from surpassing the 1,000 MLS minute milestone. And finally, Captain midfielder Carles Gil remains just ONE assist away from surpassing the 50-assist mark in his MLS career. This assist would equal former New England Revolution midfielder Lee Nguyen’s mark for second-most assists in team history. Carles is averaging 0.50 assists per 90 minutes over his Revolution career, which is the third best mark in MLS History.