3 takeaways from the Revolution’s 1-0 win in Atlanta

New England Revolution

New England received a hard-fought street win, and likewise marked the return of two essential gamers from damage.

By Hayden Hen

April 12, 2025 | 6:07 PM

3 minutes to learn

The Revolution received an important 1-0 win on the street towards Atlanta United on Saturday afternoon. Captain Carles Gil scored a thirty sixth minute penalty kick, and New England spent a lot of the remainder of the sport holding on for expensive life.

In the long run, a revised tactical setup and a relentless dedication to defending (particularly within the second half) proved to be simply sufficient to realize a win in a spot that isn’t straightforward to gather all three factors.

Atlanta, regardless of hitting the put up a number of instances, couldn’t discover a purpose of its personal. United’s Miguel Almiron appeared to attain an beautiful first-half roller, however it was dominated out after a VAR concluded there had been an offside name. Atlanta had one other purpose within the second half rapidly referred to as again on account of a second offside.

Listed below are a number of takeaways:

A tactical tweak

New England opened the sport in an unfamiliar formation, choosing a 3-5-2. Tanner Beason got here into the Beginning XI because the third center-back, with Ilay Feingold and Peyton Miller leaping enthusiastically into the wing-back roles.

The altered workforce form periodically flummoxed Atlanta within the first half, with United middle ahead Emmanuel Latte Lath discovering much less house (anticipating to use the gaps between the standard duo of center-backs as a substitute of a trio).

The Revolution’s lack of punch in transition hampered this — and it appeared Atlanta had taken the lead by Almiron’s wonder-strike — however the recreation’s momentum swung violently in a brief span when the house purpose was dominated out in a VAR resolution and Gil gained the penalty solely moments later. The New England captain stepped up and calmly tucked the ball completely into the higher proper nook to offer the guests an sudden lead.

🕺😘#ATLvNE 0-1 • 📺 https://t.co/dWLEL96Mc5 pic.twitter.com/ZvCVlCNM1k

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 12, 2025

Revolution grinded by the second half.

As has been a particular trait of the Caleb Porter period, the Revolution have been content material to drop off in protection through the second half. This was significantly true provided that New England (with just one win in 2025 previous to Saturday) have been holding an unfamiliar lead.

After being within the slight minority by way of first half possession (52-48 in favor of Atlanta), the Revolution managed simply 34 p.c possession within the ultimate 45 minutes.

But regardless of nearly surrendering the equalizer inside minutes of the restart, Porter’s workforce held agency.

It was removed from convincing as a clock-killing technique, however the ultra-defensiveness received the end result in the long run.

Two Designated Gamers made their return.

On high of the win, New England received some longer-term excellent news with the joint return of Designated Gamers Tomás Chancalay and Leo Campana, each subbing on through the second half after damage absences.

Chancalay, out 322 days after a torn ACL, managed a number of touches and a late shot that was vaguely within the route of purpose.

Campana, getting back from a March hamstring damage, ought to have put the sport out of attain when a late counterattack put him in an ideal place, charging at purpose with no defenders in entrance of him. But the 24-year-old Ecuadorian’s health is clearly not all the best way again, as he was caught from behind simply earlier than trying his shot, and the opportune second to place the sport out of attain handed inconsequentially.

Nonetheless, it was a heartening improvement for Porter and New England followers to see all three of the workforce’s Designated Gamers on the sector on the similar time. As at all times in MLS, the standing and type of a workforce’s Designated Participant contingent goes an extended solution to figuring out a workforce’s playoff possibilities.