The partnership between Franco Coria and A.J. Soares formed the core of New England's resolute defensive efforts in Sunday night's 1-0 defeat at Houston.
Both center backs offered up assured performances in the face of significant pressure from the home side as the Dynamo consistently tested the Revolution defense with crosses and set pieces into the penalty area.
Coria and Soares competed with the Dynamo's physical front two of Will Bruin and Cam Weaver all night and thwarted most of the barrage with timely interventions.
“They seem to have a good understanding,” Revolution coach Steve Nicol told CSNNE.com/Revs Wrap after Sunday night's 1-0 defeat at Houston. “They cover each other's back well, which is always good.”
The understanding, though, did not develop overnight. Nicol took special care to develop his preferred central defensive duo after he identified Coria and Soares as the likely starters during the waning stages of training camp.
The duo played together on a couple of occasions in preseason matches to establish some common ground heading into the regular season.
“We have a good relationship on and off the field, which makes it good,” Soares told CSNNE.com/Revs Wrap. “We communicate really well and we definitely have a partnership.”
Two factors – Coria's left hamstring concerns and Soares' recent one-match ban – have limited the duo to just three matches together in the heart of the Revolution back four this season, but Coria and Soares revived their partnership against the Dynamo without a hitch.
Soares credited his rugged central defensive partner for his role in keeping the Dynamo at bay for most of the night before departing after 79 minutes with an apparent hamstring injury.
“I thought he was excellent [against Houston],” Soares said. “I thought he was the best player on the field for a lot of the game. It's tough to see him go off, but that goal had nothing to do with whether he was on or off the field.”
While Soares singled out his Argentine partner for plaudits, Nicol said he remained pleased with how the rookie center back has stepped into the starting XI so far this season.
“He reads the game well, he's a tough challenger, he competes well and he likes to try and play as well,” Nicol said of Coria. “He's coming along. There's a long way to go, but he's coming along nicely.”
Similar sentiments apply to the partnership as a whole, as Coria and Soares bring their individual strengths to a central defensive combination that has improved with each successive match.
“We have a good partnership,” Soares said. “He's an excellent player. He makes it easy [for me] to play next to [him], but I think I can help him out too a little bit.”
