NOTE: This story was written based on an EA SPORTS FIFA 20 simulation of the New England Revolution vs. Colorado Rapids match originally scheduled for Saturday, April 4. It includes made-up quotes, and recounts events that occurred exclusively in FIFA 20. You can watch the full highlights HERE.
FAKESBOROUGH, Mass. – Carles Gil marked his return to the starting lineup with one of the goals of the season as the New England Revolution used four different goal scorers to roll to a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night, as simulated by EA SPORTS FIFA 20.
Adam Buksa, Gustavo Bou, and Diego Fagundez also scored, but Gil’s goal was the pick of the bunch and it proved to be the eventual game winner. In the 52nd minute and with the Revs leading 2-1, the 27-year-old Spaniard sized up Brandon Bye’s right-wing cross before unleashing a stunning full volley into the upper corner and past helpless Rapids goalkeeper Clint Irwin.
It was Gil’s first goal of 2020 after registering 10 goals and 14 assists last season – in real life – en route to being named MLS Newcomer of the Year.
“Carles looked like he hadn’t missed a beat. He was fantastic,” head coach Bruce Arena would’ve said if he’d seen this performance. “All those goals and assists he racked up last year must’ve impressed the programmers at EA, because they had to have upped his rating for him to score a goal like that one.”
New England actually trailed to an Andre Shinyashiki goal in the 34th minute, but it took them mere moments to equalize through Buksa, who has been lethal both on the field and in video-game form in recent weeks. An opportunistic goal from Fagundez followed, before Gil’s stunner extended the Revs’ lead early in the second half.
Bou then capped the scoring with a long-range rocket in the dying minutes, giving the Revolution goals from all three of their Designated Players.
“These video games are getting pretty realistic,” Bou was probably thinking, but in Spanish.
Gil’s emergence wasn’t the only return to celebrate, either, as goalkeeper Matt Turner was back between the sticks for the Revolution. He made a trio of stellar stops, including a second-half save on former teammate Kei Kamara, tipping his drive over the crossbar.
“It’s always nice to be back on the field and to get a win, but I’m not happy with myself for conceding two goals,” Turner probably would’ve said, because that’s the type of competitor he’s always been. “I’m looking forward to another game soon, and this one better be a clean sheet. You hear me, FIFA?”
Turner and the Revs will continue their three-game, week-long homestand on Wednesday night, when they’ll welcome the defending MLS Cup champion Seattle Sounders to virtual Gillette Stadium.
In the meantime, they’ll prep by watching game film. At home. Nowhere else.
“We’ll be ready,” said the entire squad. “We’re all stocked up on soap and hand sanitizer, we’re practicing safe social distancing, and we’re all going to ride this thing out together. All of us.”
