TUCSON, Ariz. – Just two weeks out from the opener in Houston, Saturday night’s preseason meeting with Sporting Kansas City served as another important step for the New England Revolution.
For the first time this preseason the Revolution’s starting group played into the second half, with most of New England’s starters playing 60 minutes and a few playing as many as 75 minutes. It was a major test for the players’ fitness as they push towards a legitimate 90-minute match on March 6.
But beyond fitness, Saturday night’s extended runout also offered the Revs their first real chance this preseason to simulate a halftime break. Head coach Jay Heaps was able make tactical adjustments, convey them in a halftime team talk, and see the results play out in the second half.
“One of the things we talked about was where we could find Teal (Bunbury) and where we thought the runs were going to be open,” Heaps said after the 1-1 draw at Kino North Stadium. “I think Teal did a great job, because he started slow and he grew into the game.”
“I feel like in the first half I wasn’t getting on the ball as much,” Bunbury said. “In the second half, Jay was letting me know that if I tuck inside, it might be harder on Seth (Sinovic) and (Matt) Besler – the left back and the left center back – to deal with me.”
The adjustment worked wonders in the 58th minute. Starting from a wide position, Bunbury made a slashing run inside and behind the Sporting KC backline, running onto a defense-splitting pass from Diego Fagundez and lashing a shot past Tim Melia to pull the Revolution level.
“I’m trying to work on those runs in preseason, getting in behind,” Bunbury said. “Diego slipped an unbelievable ball. I wanted to make sure I had a good touch and hit it low and across the goal.”
While the results still don’t count just yet, Heaps was nevertheless happy to see his side battle back from an early deficit and to watch Bunbury work himself into the game after a slow start.
Those are two scenarios that have the Revolution confident about the progress they’ve made as the regular season draws ever closer, now just 14 days away.
“We still need a little bit more work … but it’s still preseason,” said Fagundez. “We have two weeks to learn a lot of things, but I think by the time those two weeks are done, we’re definitely going to be ready.”
