VANCOUVER – Four days. Two countries. Two huge road wins.
The New England Revolution wrapped up a tremendous week on Saturday night, grinding out a 2-1 win over Vancouver Whitecaps FC at BC Place. It was the Revolution’s first road win of the MLS campaign, coming just days after a 1-0 victory over the Carolina RailHawks in a U.S. Open Cup encounter.
“We rolled up our sleeves, did what we had to do, and got the result,” said Brad Knighton. “It’s a massive win for us on the road. We knew it was going to be a tough week for us playing two games on the road, but everyone believed that we could do it and we pulled out the result here, as well.”
Knighton was solid throughout his first two appearances of the season, earning wins against two of his former clubs in the RailHawks and Whitecaps. The 31-year-old goalkeeper made three stops on Saturday, and perhaps more importantly was strong off his line as he commanded the penalty area.
“Any time I’m able to come back to Vancouver is something special, so I’m very fortunate and grateful for the opportunity,” Knighton said. “I’m just glad to have this team in winning ways right now.”
London Woodberry also had himself a memorable night, notching his first MLS goal in the 31st minute when he latched onto a Lee Nguyen free kick and powered a header past David Ousted.
It was a just reward for Woodberry, who put together a gutsy performance at BC Place just three nights after he went 120 minutes in the heat and humidity in North Carolina. Woodberry was so taxed, in fact, that he required an IV to replenish fluids after the midweek marathon at WakeMed Soccer Park.
“I was really proud of his willingness to fight, his willingness to lay it all out there,” Heaps said of Woodberry. “Tonight, he was excellent. He didn’t make a wrong step. I thought he was really good all the way around. And the goal, he just wanted it more.”
Woodberry’s opener was temporarily answered by a stunning Nicolas Mezquida free kick, but the Revs responded in the second half through Kelyn Rowe, who bagged his third goal of the season in front of friends and family who’d made the drive from the Seattle area.
The buildup was simple, but the finish from Rowe was sublime as he met Teal Bunbury’s excellent cutback with a first-time drive, placing it low inside the right post from 18 yards.
“It was one of those where if you peel to the top of the box, a lot of times defenders will drop off into that dangerous six zone,” Rowe said. “I tried to find open space and Teal found me with a good ball.”
Rowe’s goal restored the Revolution’s lead in the 55th minute and from there the visitors knew it was going to be a slog to the final whistle, as tired legs kicked in following the midweek game and Thursday’s cross-country flight to Vancouver.
But it was a slog the Revolution fought through valiantly, holding off the hard-charging Whitecaps to claim a critical three points in the Eastern Conference standings.
“Credit to Vancouver – they were putting a lot of pressure on us those last 10, 15 minutes,” Rowe said. “On the road, it’s something you’ve got to do; you’ve got to kind of bunker down and it’s all about working hard and finding that result.”
New England are now finding results consistently, having won four of their last five games in all competitions to climb – at least temporarily – into a tie for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
It’s a stretch that has the Revolution growing in confidence ahead of another road trip next weekend, when they’ll visit longtime rival D.C. United at RFK Stadium.
“We’ve got a good group here,” said Woodberry. “Hopefully we can keep this thing running.”
