FOXBOROUGH — A few stray thoughts from the Revs’ 1-0 win over those Scarlet Steers from the Garden State on Saturday night, in no particular order...
Cristian Penilla has to start on Wednesday, right?
I would have to think so. Any arguments?
Penilla, along with the substitution of Juan Fernando Caicedo for Teal Bunbury, was the difference-maker for the Revolution Saturday night. And yes, it was his only shot on-target — hell, his only shot on-target in quite a while — so I don’t want this to come across like I’m pumping his tires or anything. But he challenged — dare I say punished? — that right-hand side of the Red Bulls back line with impunity.
Another reason I think Penilla has to start Wednesday? Montreal gives up soooo much space on that side, so much so that I think he can flourish and build off Saturday night. I watched L’Impact’s 3-0 defeat at the hands of Philadelphia earlier today — which I will highlight more in Midweek Kick Tuesday night — and the Union exposed Bacary Sagna pretty badly. Sagna doesn’t have the pace to contain Penilla, so I'm thinking that could be a gold mine for the Ecuadorian.
Check Philly's third goal here:
Add the captain to the score sheet!@AleBedoya17 makes it 3 for #DOOP https://t.co/md2H1C0Op7
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 20, 2019