HOUSTON – There’s no need to get into specifics, but prior to Saturday night’s 2-0 victory over the Houston Dynamo, it had been a long time since the New England Revolution had picked up a meaningful win outside the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium.
That’s why the three points procured at BBVA Compass Stadium were so significant for the Revs, who’ve now put together a three-game unbeaten run (2-0-1) and are gradually finding their identity under new head coach Brad Friedel and his staff.
“It’s really important to get it in just our second away game, get that first (road) win,” said Scott Caldwell, who started as part of a three-man central midfield alongside Wilfried Zahibo and Luis Caicedo, making his first MLS start. “It shows us that we’re able to win; it gives us that winning mentality on the road. I thought everyone brought the mentality.”
New England’s mentality on Saturday night featured an element of bend-but-don’t-break, particularly in the early stages when Houston put the visitors under an immense amount of pressure.
But the Revs ultimately flipped the script on the Dynamo – typically lauded for their ability to hit on the break – as it was New England who capitalized on the counterattack with the speedy Cristian Penilla often leading the charge.
It was Penilla who fed Teal Bunbury for the opening goal in the 15th minute, capping off a 4-on-1 break after Bunbury won possession in the defensive half, and it was again the Ecuadoran who got in behind to draw a game-changing red card to DaMarcus Beasley in the 35th minute.
“Their transition play when they’re defending into attack is exceptional. It’s amongst the best in MLS, and that’s why they were so difficult to defend even when they went down a man,” said Friedel. “But in saying that, our counterattack is pretty good, as well, and very explosive, and their transition from attack to defense is a little slower than when they go the other way.
“We were hoping that we’d be able to catch them on one or two breaks, and we did.”
Young goalkeeper Matt Turner made six saves, several of the spectacular variety, to keep New England in front into the late stages, before Penilla sealed the three points with his first MLS goal, a blistering drive under the crossbar after shimmying past Dynamo defender Adolfo Machado.
It was another reminder of what Penilla can do as the 26-year-old winger now has one goal and three assists during the Revs’ three-game unbeaten run.
“He’s a difference maker,” Bunbury said of Penilla. “He’s got speed, he’s good on the ball, he can go at guys. He got a goal, he got an assist, he created the red card. There’s a lot of attributes that he’s bringing that you just can’t teach. He’s going to be crucial for us for the entire season.”
Penilla and Turner played key roles – both earned rave reviews from their teammates – but Saturday night’s victory belonged to the entire squad, and now they’ll look to keep building momentum towards Friday night’s meeting with the Montreal Impact at Gillette Stadium.
New England will no doubt be happy to return home, where they’ve gone 17-2-4 in their last 23 games, but for one night at least, they’ll savor a critical road win.
“We talk about it all the time; in this league, every team is pretty decent at home. On the road is where you make it or break it,” said Bunbury. “There are still a lot of things we’ve got to work on, but we’ve got to take this win and be happy with it, and it’s a shutout, so it’s very important.”
