BSJ Match #6 Breakdown & Review: Revolution 0, Columbus 1 - Revs fall by inches in Columbus

We're six games into the season now, and New England just lost their fourth on Saturday against the Columbus Crew. Couple that with DC United's loss to LAFC, Columbus now sit atop the Eastern Conference standings. Brad Friedel and his team went down by a goal late in the first half and had to chase an organized Columbus team for the majority of the second half after Michael Mancienne was sent off for receiving two yellow cards.

Let's look at the starting 11...

• Their formation shifted into a 4-4-1 of sorts; with Bunbury playing more on the wing but still playing high as a forward when the Revs were on the ball. Tajon Buchanan ran as the lone forward.


• Friedel brought Luis Caicedo on as a right back and pushed Andrew Farrell in as the right center back. This was a great move, in my opinion. Caicedo is one of the more fit players on the team and can run the flank of the pitch as well as anyone in the league. He was able to get forward in the attack and get back to defend without sacrificing either part of the game.


• Cristian Penilla was brought into the game in his normal position on the left wing. Bye (as always) did well in balancing offensive and defensive responsibilities which allowed Penilla to stay higher.

• In the 13th minute, his distribution was poor when he threw the ball right to the other team.


• About a minute later, he came out too soft on Higuain, who blew past the goalkeeper and likely would have scored if Mancienne wasn't there to make the save.


• And early in the 14th minute, he misread the flight of a corner kick, which left him out of position to save a header from Robinho, had he headed it on net.