After losing their third match in 2020, the New York Red Bulls visit the New England Revolution. The Red Bulls are still only five points off from second place and only two from third place in the Eastern Conference. Kickoff is set for 8:00 p.m. ET on Saturday.
Here are the Keys to the Game, presented by Honda:
Need to Start Strong and Fast
After the match against the Philadelphia Union, Head Coach Chris Armas took a hard look on those first 45 minutes, where the team didn’t step up to the task in front of them. In the second half, the team’s intensity elevated, which led to a series of big chances created. Armas wants to see that energy from the get-go against the Revolution.
“We think that it was completely different in the second half, but it’s unacceptable, the first half, for us to show up without the energy, and the fight that we normally have, and the commitment,” said Armas. “Plain and simple, half of two games. First half, far off, second half looked like us and that’s got to be the standard.”
The Red Bulls are now 0-3-0 when conceding first this season, making it essential for our team to get on the scoreboard first. When scoring first, New York have a record of 3-0-1.
Offense Needs to Impose Presence
So far in the new season, Danny Royer, Kaku and Florian Valot have been the only attackers to score a goal. On Tuesday night, forward Mathias Jørgensen got his first minutes in the 2020 season.
Depending on who gets the start, it will be important for the attack to impose its presence and generate uneasiness in the Revolution’s defense.
If players like Brian White, Tom Barlow or Omir Fernadez are able to find the back of the net on Saturday, it could potentially generate a positive dynamic that could lead New York on scoring more goals.
Gustavo Bou Leads Revolution’s Offense
The Revolution signed Gustavo Bou on a Designated Player deal last year in July, and in his first season, he started 13 regular season games and scored nine goals.
To kick off this season, Bou already scored two goals in six starts. Also, the Argentine already has one assist.
New England have scored the same amount of goals as New York in the current season with six.
