Revs rookie Kizza off to a good start
At 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, Revolution rookie Edward Kizza brings a different skill set and body type than Adam Buksa, the Revolution’s starting 6-foot-3, 185pound striker.
Buksa effectively served as the point man in sporting director and head coach Bruce Arena’s 4-2-3-1 scheme in 24 appearances with 16 starts last season.
Kizza, drafted out of Pittsburgh in January with the 24th pick in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft, saw his first professional action Saturday in the Revolution’s 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy in a preseason friendly at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, Calif.
Kizza entered the game in the 60th minute and was one of 22 players that took the pitch against LA. The Revolution resume the preseason with a rematch against the Galaxy on Wednesday night.
“We are going to watch him throughout preseason but we think he’s a player that can help us and he’s shown to date to be a goalscorer in our training sessions,” said Arena.
“We didn’t give him a long run the other day, he got 30 minutes in the first preseason game. He’ll get a little bit more time on Wednesday and we’ll watch him in the preseason.
“But we are very pleased with Edward, he’s had a good start with our club.”
Kizza has taken his early cues from established veterans Teal Bunbury and Gustavo Bou.
“It’s been good just getting to learn from some of the guys who have been playing for awhile and just transitioning from college to the MLS,” said Kizza. “The game is so fast and for me it is just learning from them and trying so see what I do best and trying to improve every single day.”
Kizza played three seasons for the Panthers and was a two time All-ACC first team performer. Kizza scored a career high 15 goals as a sophomore in 2018 and came back the next season with 12 goals and four assists.
Kizza, who scored 31 career goals, is the first Pitt player to be selected in the first round. MLS rosters are littered with players that made their bones in the ACC.
“Being in the ACC you play against the best teams day in and day out and with that comes greater responsibility,” said Kizza. “For my journey it has been very preparing playing in the ACC.”
The Hunt Club
The Revolution will have their eyes on a prestigious prize once their season starts April 17 against the Chicago Fire FC at Soldier Field.
MLS and U.S. Soccer announced Monday the club qualification procedure for the 2021 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup. Last year’s event was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Eight U.S.-based MLS clubs will be invited to compete in the tournament based on team performance through the first three weeks of the season, with tiebreakers in place.
“I think it is important for every club and our club in particular,” said Arena. “If we qualify for the Open Cup we are going to try and win it.”
The Hunt Cup is the first of three trophies up for grabs in the calendar year. The MLS Cup Supporter’s Shield and the MLS Cup are the other two.
The U.S. Open Cup first invited MLS teams to compete in 1996. The 2021 tournament structure features 16 teams that are pooled on a geographic basis into four rounds with the draw to be held May 4.
The Revolution won the U.S. Cup in 2007 and made the final in 2016. Atlanta United FC is the reigning Open Cup champion.
Homeward bound
Center back Henry Kessler and right wing Tajon Buchanan have returned to the team after their brief introduction to soccer’s international arena.
Kessler, who grew up in New York City, competed for the U.S. National U-23 team while Buchanan, who is from Ontario, competed for the Canadian U-23 squad in their respective Olympic Qualifying events.
“Henry was pretty solid throughout and I was impressed with both of them because it was their first experiences at the international level,” said Arena.
“They both did well there and they are now in camp with us here and they will follow the COVID protocols as established by the league.
“I would think that they are prepared to start up with this weekend.”
A.J. DeLaGarza made his Revolution debut in Kessler’s place alongside Andrew Farrell and played 60 minutes. Buchanan played right back in the latter stages of the 2020 regular season and the four playoff games. Buchanan will likely be on the right wing of the midfield, his more natural position, when he is allowed to return to the pitch.