Don’t count out the New England Revolution just yet.
Winless in their last nine, the Revs are looking at Wednesday’s road clash with New York City FC (7 pm ET | TV & streaming info) as an opportunity to turn their season around, just in time for a late playoff push.
The challenge, of course, is finding a way to beat NYCFC at Yankee Stadium, where they own a sterling 10-0-3 mark this season.
“It doesn’t matter what their home record is, to be honest with you,” Revolution head coach Brad Friedel told reporters. “It is a must need for us. All the players know it. If we get it, we’re right back in the race — which is crazy because we haven’t won in so long and we can still match Montreal with the games in hand on them. We just have to put in a monumental effort.”
Indeed, despite their recent slide, the Revs are not out of the playoff race, currently sitting six points behind the sixth-place Impact with two games in hand. But in their quest for the playoff spot, the Revs will also likely have to deal with resurgent D.C. United and possibly defending champions Toronto FC.
All of which makes the chance to take three points midweek, while everyone else is idle, one they know they need to take advantage of if they want to be playing beyond the regular season.
“We get the win Wednesday night and it could turn the season around,” said Revolution midfielder Scott Caldwell, who scored in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Portland. “So we really have to get the three points and move on from there. Coach has said many times teams go on runs in this league and we have the ability to do so.”
Starting such a run Wednesday will certainly be difficult, in no small part because the Revs will be missing influential midfielder Luis Caicedo to suspension. But goalkeeper Matt Turner said the team has “plenty of guys to do the job in the midfield," adding that he has confidence in the whole group to help slow down NYC’s top offensive weapons, David Villa and Maxi Moralez.
“They’re great strikers, world-class, really tricky on the ball, tricky without the ball,” Turner said. “We’ve just got to know where they are at all times and snuff out danger before it happens.”
The tight dimensions of the field at Yankee Stadium could present a challenge, as it usually does for visiting teams. But Friedel hopes to use it to his advantage, calling it a “really good venue to press a team" — which he plans to do.
“It will be chaotic without a doubt,” the Revolution coach said. “It’s a game we’re going to throw everything we have at.”
