Arena: I don’t think anyone expects us to be in MLS Cup, or win it.
The New England Revolution are the lowest seeded team in the Conference Semifinals of the MLS Cup Playoffs, but they aren’t playing like underdogs.
After overpowering the Montreal Impact in round one, upsetting the first-seeded Philadelphia Union in round two, and ousting Orlando City SC on the road for the first time in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals last weekend, the eighth-seeded Revolution have momentum on their side heading into Sunday’s game at Columbus Crew SC.
But neither New England’s stellar post-season form nor the prospect of reaching the MLS Cup final and winning its first-ever title have caused the team distractions, according to head coach/sporting director Bruce Arena.
“We’re just taking on the next game. That’s been our attitude. I don’t think anyone expects us to be in the MLS Cup, let alone win it,” Arena said in a conference call Friday. “We’re not walking around thinking that we’ve made it now that we’ve won three playoff games.
“We’re simply trying to get our team better every week, trying to prepare them for the next game, and that’s the way we’re looking at this game on Sunday.”
Columbus and New England haven’t played since last spring because the pandemic forced the league to adjust its schedule. After more than a year between meetings, the stakes have rarely been so high for both sides.
That said, the Revolution have faced Columbus in four prior elimination situations and have succeeded in every one. First came the 2002 Eastern Conference final, a best of three series the Revolution won on away goals, then came aggregate goal victories in the 2004 and 2014 Eastern Conference semifinals.
In 2009, the Revolution also defeated the Crew, 1–0, in the final game of the season to clinch a playoff berth.
“We know first and foremost it’s a final. We have to be ready all 90 minutes, both mentally and physically,” said Gustavo Bou, who leads Revolution scoring in the playoffs with three goals.
“It’s our last step in getting our team to the MLS Cup,” Arena added. “We look forward to the game, we know it’s going to be a difficult match, and hopefully we’re positioned to play well.”
Both sides share similarities this year, starting in attack. New England’s offense runs largely through Carles Gil, who has two goals and three assists so far in the playoffs, while Columbus does the same with Lucas Zelarayan. The two teams have experienced goal scorers as well — Bou, Adam Buksa, and Teal Bunbury for New England, and Gyasi Zardes and Pedro Santos for the Crew.
At the other end of the field, the Revolution are riding the hot play of goalkeeper Matt Turner, while Columbus, which is 11–1–0 in home games this year, boasts the second-best defensive record in MLS.
A key to New England’s success has been scoring first in each of its three playoff games so far.
“We have to be focused from the very first minute, regardless of whether we score first or we fall behind,” Bou said. “That’s going to be key for us getting the victory in a game like this.”
