Revs notch first home win over Montreal
Top Impact for second time this season
The New England Revolution’s first home victory of the season was a collective effort with quality finishes.
The Revolution recorded their season high for goals in a game with a 3-1 victory over the Montreal Impact on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.
The Revolution are 2-1 against Montreal this season and play for the final time at a neutral site on Oct. 14. The Revolution improved to 4-3-6 and leaped over Montreal (5-7-1) and New York City FC (5-5-2) into fifth place in the MLS Eastern standings. The Revolution play at D.C. United on Sunday night.
“I think we are fortunate we ran into a tired team in Montreal and they have had a few injuries but that’s all part of the game right now,” said Revolution sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena.
“Overall, I’m obviously pleased with the win. The goals are going to help our confidence.”
Rookie center back Henry Kessler put the Revs up 1-0 with his first MLS goal in stoppage time at the end of the first half. The Revs piled up the corner kicks in the half and their eighth paid off.
Midfielder Lee Nguyen lofted a shot into the penalty area that Kessler chested to the ground. Kessler got control and fired a low shot through a crowd that Montreal keeper Clement Diop never saw.
“We work on things in practice some of them being set pieces and areas that might be preferred,” said Kessler.
Forward Gustavo Bou had several scoring chances in the first half and eventually found the back of the net early in the second with a fine individual effort.
Bou intercepted a clearing attempt at the top of the penalty box. Bou slipped between two defenders and fired a low shot that found the far post in the 49th minute for his fourth of the season and second against Montreal. Despite being second in MLS with 17 shots on goal, Bou scored for the first time in 380 minutes.
“I want Gustavo to gets chances he can finish and the last couple of games I think he’s backed off a couple of chances,” said Arena. “This goal I think will give him confidence and if he’s aggressive he’ll score more goals.”
Arena replaced Nguyen with Diego Fagundez in the 65th minute and received immediate gratification. Fagundez finished a give and go with Tajon Buchanan in the 66th minute for his first of the season.
“We’ve pushed Lee really hard and these extended minutes in the early going of him coming back and not having played a whole lot this year is challenging,” said Arena.
The Impact denied Revs’ keeper Matt Turner his fifth clean sheet of the season when Lassi Lappalainen scored in the 86th minute.