Everything you need to know from the Revolution’s to the Impact in quickie form, with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Buchanan's header will linger: As is typical for an opener, the Revolution played a very uneven game but they had all you asked for — a chance to win or tie in the end. After seeing their apparent 2-1 lead erased via VAR when Wilfried Zahibo was ruled offside in the 73rd minute and Maximiliano Urruti gave Montreal a 2-1 lead with a beautiful chip over Matt Turner in the 80th minute, Tajon Buchanan was all alone on the back post ready to head in the equalizer in the 87th minute ... but it went off the post, and there went the Revs' best chance.
Bunbury gets first of the year: The Revolution got the new season off to a great start when Cristian Penilla found an unmarked Teal Bunbury off a short corner and the veteran buried it as New England found its footing.
Way to start it off, @TealBunb!#NERevs // #MTLvNE pic.twitter.com/MvGq6goVis
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) February 29, 2020
Mixed bag from newcomers: Henry Kessler made his professional debut and I thought he acquitted himself very well with several nice touches in danger areas. Didn't seem to panic and distributed the ball nicely. Adam Buksa, on the other hand, didn't do much of anything and had some questionable fouls.
TURNING POINT
Buchanan's missed header. It was sort of like fumbling at the pylon in the other football. I know he was near the post, but you have to find a way to bury that.
SECOND GUESS
There's no way that, in a professional soccer league, that a) a February opener is scheduled for Montreal and b) it is forced inside to be played on a parquet artificial surface with more seams than a baseball. Plus, it looked like it was the turf used the last time the Expos played there. Talk about a home-field advantage. The Revs seemed unprepared for the turf. If the MLS wants to be taken seriously, they can't play on that surface. Should have just played futsal on a basketball court.
THREE UP
From Tom Benedetto...
THREE DOWN
INJURIES
Matt Turner (knee) was shaken up and it might have contributed to the game-winning goal.
TWO TAKES BEDARD WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER
Something to build off of: Never want to start off the season with a loss but considering the Impact already played a game to get settled and seem more talented, the Revolution played well for the most part. Certainly some sloppiness and some things to be cleaned up — especially the lack of much out of the midfield — but all in all, I thought it was a promising start.
Plan for Bou: Obviously every team knows that much of the Revs' offense runs through Gustavo Bou, so they're going to have a play to shut him down or, at least, limit his touches. Bruce Arena is going to have to have a better counter punch when teams clamp down on Bou. Can't rely on big runs from defenders to start the counterattack.