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Revs Down Fire 1-0 In Season Opener

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Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune

Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune

The future looks bright for Jay Heaps new and improved Revolution,  opening up their season with a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park Saturday night. Although the match was not the smoothest of play between the two eastern rivals, an early three points puts a smile to all fans anticipating the new soccer era bestowing upon New England. The Revs locked up the win with their stable defense and emerging go-to striker, Jerry Bengtson.

Just The Beggining For Jerry

Jerry Bengtson owned the night’s lone goal, heading in a clever chip shot by Kelyn Rowe over all of the Fire’s defenders in the 62nd minute. Bengtson looked to be in ‘national team’ form, winning headers up the field and finishing goal opportunities (even when called offside). Unable to find his stride last season, the Honduran striker looked comfortable on the pitch. With fellow teammate Saer Sene out on injury for the next month or so, expect Jerry to be the striker New England relies on.

Andrew Farrell MLS Ready

Number one MLS SuperDraft pick Andrew Farrell strutted his soccer talents, showing off his speed, vision, and superb positioning in the right back position. A few mistakes such as holding on to the ball a bit long were expected, but the club must be enthusiastic of just how involved and skillful Farrell truly was on the field. The more games under his belt this season, the more Andrew will look like the Revolution’s starting back for years to come.

Starting Lineup Still Puzzling?

New England’s starting lineup looked choppy the first half, with Juan Toja looking rather fatigued up top and Donnie Smith failing to play with the intelligence Rowe brought in the second half. Kalifa Cisse and Jose Goncalves proved relatively stable in their MLS debut, aspiring to add to a strong center-back line New England lacked a year ago. The goalkeeper question however remains up in the air. Matt Reis received the nod on Saturday, and performed excellent all night including an incredible full body extension save in the first half. Bobby Shuttleworth will most likely continue to ease into the starting role, still learning from the 37-year-old Reis before his MLS departure.

The Revs will next head to the city of brotherly love as they take on the always tough Philadelphia Union next Saturday at 5 pm ET.

Matt Bloom

Lack of Spending Dividing MLS?

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Courtesy of the New England Revolution

Courtesy of the New England Revolution

New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft has yet to come under any criticism of player spending simply because the fan base that supports the Revs is not particularly large nor upset of his ownership. As the Revolution open up the 2013 MLS season against the Chicago Fire this Saturday, one must ask not just why the team was on bye for the MLS opening week (every club should play in week 1), but where’s the cash for New England’s designated players?

Each MLS team is allowed to spend an unlimited amount of money on two designated players that does not count towards the team’s salary cap. The designated player rule has given clubs like New York, Houston, and L.A. a chance to be an MLS Cup contender the last few years thanks to big signings in David Beckham, Thierry Henry, and Landon Donovan. It is becoming more apparent every year now that the teams are becoming divided due to lack of designated player spending, giving the highest spending teams a much easier road to the playoffs. No offense to the talented Jerry Bengtson, but a salary of $120,000 is not ideal compared to the millions other clubs are paying out for DPs to improve their club. Of course the Revs are not alone in spending conservatively, but the MLS’ attempt to harness interest in American soccer will only come with more star players on every team’s roster. Improved ticket sales, apparel sales, food and concession sales, what’s not to like MLS owners?

It’s hard to believe there is any valid reason why Kraft and other club owners are holding back, do they not have faith in Major League Soccer or their team? We’d like to think they are waiting for a new stadium or waiting for the right player to show interest in their club, but quite frankly star players follow the money, no matter who they are playing for. New England is currently projected to finish 9th in the Eastern Conference for a second year in a row by the North American Soccer Reporters. Although the NASR may be pessimistic, the Revolution’s signings this off-season (Cisse, Goncalves, Dorman) and current signings in Latigue, Soffner, and Smith are good but not great. When you watch the Revs this season in dire need of that game-winning goal in the last 10 minutes of a match, ask yourself where the million dollar designated player is to finish the game.

Matt Bloom

Klinsmann, Defense Just Start of U.S. Soccer Problems

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Honduras' late goal put them in position for deserving for first WCQ win. (AP Photo)

Honduras’ late goal put them in position for a deserving first WCQ win. (AP Photo)

The experiment that was Jurgen Klinsmann’s starting lineup for the United States failed to deliver Wednesday afternoon, conceding a 2-1 loss to Honduras in a pivotal first match for World Cup qualification. New England Revolution’s Jerry Bengtson would score the game-winning goal for his national team in the 79th minute, finishing a tricky pass from teammate Oscar Garcia in front of the net. The U.S. team looked gassed by the time Bengtson scored, perhaps not accustomed to the 90 plus degree heat and sweltering humidity at Estadio Olimpico Metropolitano.

More criticism will fall on Klinsmann from this loss, but not only for testing out defensive players who have not played together before a World Cup qualifying match. All three substitutions were used before Honduras’ goal,  giving Klinsmann no insight on who to throw into the game for a late offensive surge when the U.S. needed it the most. Perhaps Herculez Gomez could have been the spark the team needed to at least draw. However Jurgen’s roster changes and starting lineup tweaks are not the only problem with this team.

U.S. Soccer has been troubled by inconsistent play and lack of a star player since the departure of Landon Donovan. Where was Michael Bradley’s reliable midfield play? Why has Jozy Altidore lost his touch? Who besides Clint Dempsey can score on this team? These are the issues the team faces now, and could be facing after they miss Brasil 2014 if they do not get their act together. It pains Americans to see their team squeak by on 1-0 victories thanks to Tim Howard bailing out the defense for 90 minutes. It is not the formula to get to Brasil, and certainly not the formula to make it out of the group stage if they were to reach it. Performing to the highest level is critical to staying competitive on the world stage, as well as utilizing a forward on that forces the opposition to make significant changes. Who will be our Wayne Rooney? Our Lionel Messi? Our next Landon Donovan?

Taking a painful 0 points in the first match, the national team will host Costa Rica in March in the next qualifying match. As hard as Honduras fought, games will only get harder from here on out as Panama and Mexico look awfully dangerous at the right time. It is not to say the U.S. team can not turn things around in the next month, but it will not be easy. In nine more games, one can only hope team chemistry and an unsung hero will come about this team.

Matt Bloom

Twitter: @foxborofort