FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution’s starting lineup this past Sunday afternoon at Red Bull Arena totaled 209 career goals, and the Revs brought another 62 career goals off the bench. Altogether the Revolution featured six players who’ve scored 25 or more career goals.
But despite their wealth of attacking talent the Revs were shut out for a fourth straight game, frustrated by the rival New York Red Bulls in a 1-0 loss.
It’s a trend that’s confounded fans and media, and left players and coaches searching for answers.
“We have so many guys that start, guys who come off the bench, a lot of depth guys who consistently throughout the years have just scored goals,” said Teal Bunbury, who has 29 career goals, including two this season. “It’s tough when you know you have a group that any given time, any given game, can score two, three or four goals, and it’s just not happening.”
At times this season it has happened for the Revs; they began the year with a three-goal outburst in Houston and scored multiple goals in five consecutive games from April 30 to May 28.
But the goals have dried up in recent weeks. They’ve often generated attacking thrust (they rank fifth in MLS in total shots with 363), but it hasn’t translated into enough clear-cut scoring opportunities (they rank 18th in MLS in big chances created with 29).
According to Kelyn Rowe, who has 25 career goals, one potential factor has been the Revolution’s inability to turn half chances into goals the way they have in recent years.
“You saw a couple chances the other night against the Red Bulls,” Rowe said. “You saw a couple against the San Jose Earthquakes (last Wednesday night). Kei (Kamara) hitting the post. I had a good shot, and Diego (Fagundez) did, as well.
“I think for us in past years and past games, we’ve put those half chances away.”
New England’s quest for goals in part sparked a recent tactical shift to a two-striker formation, with a diamond in midfield. The move has helped the Revs tighten things up defensively – they shut out San Jose and conceded just one goal to New York – but they’re still working out the kinks offensively.
A primary component of the new setup is how the two forwards work together, as every movement and every run has to complement the strike partner.
“When you’re playing with each other, you’re playing off each other,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “I think the runs have to be in tandem. They can’t be isolated runs where one run takes a striker out of the play and the other striker is doing something different. It’s got to be on the same page.
“That’s probably the final piece of putting this together.”
The Revolution’s next chance to break out of their scoring slump will be on Saturday night when they host the Colorado Rapids, who boast the league’s top-ranked defense with just 22 goals against in 25 games.
It’ll be a difficult test for the Revs, but they’re determined to turn the tides heading into the final seven games of the regular season.
“I don’t know the exact answer,” Bunbury said of the lack of goals. “But I do know that we’re working our tail off in training trying to maximize our potential in terms of getting opportunities, getting chances and just having a little more of a killer instinct in the final third.”
