The New England Revolution ran out 3-1 winners over the Montreal Impact in their midweek match on Wednesday, moving themselves up to fifth place in the East temporarily.
The Revs had been a bit goal starved over their last few matches, but they managed to snap that streak vs. the Impct. Montreal, meanwhile, sorely missed Romell Quioto, and the club picked up its third straight loss.
Both teams sustained injuries in the first half. Montreal forward Orji Okwonkwo, last year's team MVP, limped off with a hamstring injury in the 27th minute, adding to a long list of injuries for the Impact. Lassi Lappalainen took his place. Just three minutes later, DeJuan Jones replaced Alexander Büttner in New England's backline.
As the first half drew to a close, New England, overwhelmingly leading in shots and possession, finally got the goal it were looking for. Off the Revs seventh corner, rookie center back Henry Kessler scored his first goal in MLS, slotting the ball in with his right foot. Shortly after, the whistle blew and New England headed into the locker room with a 1-0 lead.
Shortly after the second half began, the home side doubled its lead with a goal from Gustavo Bou. Despite scoring 9 goals in 14 appearances last season, the Argentine had netted just 3 in 12 this year, and hadn't scored for the last four games. La Pantera first tried to slip the ball through the crowded Montreal defense, but a fortunate rebound put it right back in front of him, allowing him to angle his shot from the side of the box and past Impact keeper Clement Diop.
Then, in the 65th minute, the Revs broke forward and Diego Fagundez, on for Nguyen just two minutes before, tore up the left side and headed the ball towards his own feet. After a back and forth with Bou, Diego sent it inside for Tajon Buchanan, who trapped it and sent it right back. He bypassed an onrushing Diop to make it 3-0 for New England.
Late in the match, substitute Lappalainen scored his second goal of the season, but by that time it mattered little for Montreal.
Goals
- 45+2' - NE - Henry Kessler | WATCH
- 49' - NE - Gustavo Bou | WATCH
- 65' - NE - Diego Fagundez | WATCH
- 86' - MTL - Lassi Lappalainen | WATCH
Three Things
- THE BIG PICTURE: With the win, New England moves up to fifth place. With a full slate of midweek games, the standings could well shift, but the side is now likely feeling much more confident about entering the playoffs directly. Montreal, on the other hand, are in seventh, but—for this week at least—are likely to stay tenth or above and thus in the playoff spots.
- MOMENT OF THE MATCH: While New England looked to be fully in control for most of the first half, the Revs just couldn't find the goal. When Kessler netted just before the halftime mark, it gave the Revs the confidence boost they needed to run out the winners.
- MAN OF THE MATCH: Tajon Buchanan. The midfielder assisted on the third and final Revs goal, the 21-year-old demonstrated impressive passing accuracy, and he was involved in each New England goal.
Next Up:
- NE: Sunday, September 27, at DC United (7pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, WJLA 24/7 News, NBC Sports Boston in USA, DAZN in Canada)
- MTL: Sunday, September 27, at New York Red Bulls (7pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+, MSG in USA, TVA in Canada
