FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After appearing off the bench in back-to-back games, Charlie Davies returned to the New England Revolution’s starting lineup for Sunday’s regular-season finale against New York City FC, and he wasted little time putting his stamp on the match.
Davies assisted on Lee Nguyen’s opener just two minutes after the opening whistle, and then scored what proved to be the game winner shortly before halftime as the Revs rolled to a 3-1 victory.
The goal was his first since bagging a pair against Toronto FC back on August 1, but it still secured the Revolution’s Golden Boot award as he led the club with 10 strikes on the season.
Davies, however, isn’t particularly interested in individual awards.
“It’s all about the team,” Davies said. “Obviously I wanted to come in and do whatever I can to help the team and continue to improve.”
The pacey forward once again proved that his game is about much more than speed. He stretched NYCFC’s backline by continuously making runs in behind the defenders, but also displayed a powerful frame as he used holdup play on both Nguyen’s goal and his own tally.
Davies went the full 90 minutes on Sunday for just the second time in his last 11 appearances, but he has no doubt he’ll be ready for Wednesday night’s Knockout Round meeting with D.C. United, despite the abbreviated recovery time.
“It’s a quick turnaround, but we’re used to it,” Davies said. “We’re ready to play. We know what’s on the line. We know that we have to give our best performance, so I think we’ll be ready.”
There’s plenty of history between the Revolution and D.C. United, two MLS originals who’ve met 66 times in the regular season and three times in the MLS Cup Playoffs (1997, 2004 and 2006).
There’s history between Davies and D.C., as well. After suffering catastrophic injuries in a fatal car crash in Washington, D.C., back in 2009, Davies found a home in the city when United offered him a platform to return from the accident in 2011.
Davies scored 11 goals with DCU that season and declined to celebrate when he scored at RFK Stadium as a member of the Revolution earlier this season, but those sentimental feelings will be put away for 90 minutes on Wednesday night.
“D.C. is very special to me,” Davies said. “I still have some very close friends there and it’s a very special place. I’ll always have a special place in my heart for D.C. But it’s game-time. It’s business. So for me, I’ve got to go there and look to play my best and help this team win.”
Sunday’s one-goal, one-assist performance will give Davies confidence heading into the postseason, where he’s shone in the past. Last year, he became the first player in Revolution history to score twice in an MLS Cup Playoff game, and he did it twice, against both Columbus and New York.
Whatever his contributions, Davies will be happy so long as they help the team win.
“I think tonight was a huge step forward, not only for myself, but as a team,” Davies said of the win over NYCFC. “I’m more thrilled that we’re back on track as a team. We’re looking forward to the playoffs.”
