New England Revolution Striker Kei Kamara Gets First Hat Trick On “special day”

Revolution striker Kei Kamara’s 33rd birthday was on Friday. He celebrated a day later by scoring his first career hat trick in a decisive 4-0 win for the Revolution against Orlando City SC. “I’m 33. I think it just came at the right time.”Kamara said.”You know lucky threes, you’ve got to be at that age before you get that.”Kamara felt good about his and his team’s prospects before the game even started.”It was just one of those days, though. I just felt good from warm up. Not just me, I was scoring from the warm up, but the guys were [too]. Every ball was going in the back of the net and I was like, ‘Wow it just feels like a special day today.'”

Kamara felt motivation from the fans when he scored his third goal.”I’m not going to lie, I’ve played this game for awhile and to really be in that moment today, to get a hat trick there, scores those goals, it’s really special.”

During the night, Kamara surpassed 100 combined regular season and playoff goals which he was only made aware of recently.“To be honest with you I didn’t come into the season having that focus in my mind until one or two tweets went out and saying that I was close to 100. I had to go online myself to look it up.” Kamara joins a goal scoring club that includes current San Jose Earthquake Chris Wondolowski who Kamara used to play against in college. I’ve always just admired everything he’s been doing and I just wanted to be in the same club as him, but it doesn’t stop there. He’s at one hundred and thirty something, so I’ve got to play and catch up to him.”

Head coach Jay Heaps felt good after a winless 2 game road trip. “I thought we had a good week of training.” Heaps said. “I know I’ve said that before, but it really was. It was a good week after a disappointing performance on the road. I thought we came in and really had some good dialogue. The players stepped up tonight. This is a good win, an important win, and a must needed win.”

In the 43rd minute, Lee Nguyen scored a goal that was eventually called back by the newly implemented video assistant referee. “Obviously, I’m a fan of VAR.” Heaps said. “I’ve said it. I believe that I would rather lose on the right call than win on the wrong call. But it’s a gut punch. I didn’t realize when they actually take away a goal that was that long and we celebrated and we got back to position. Then it was a really quick, oh, goal didn’t count, and we’re on to the next play. So, there’s not a lot of time to digest that.

The Revolution seemed effected by the reversal, almost letting up a goal before the end of the half. But, during halftime, Heaps was able to reignite the team.”We had a really good talk at halftime. Guys were really engaged. So, when we came out second half, I had a good feeling that we were going to secure the game.” Heaps also thought a turning point was the substitution for defensive midfielder Xavier Kouassi.”I thought the substitution of [Xavier] Kouassi going into the game, obviously, he was in the mix to start, took a pretty good knock last week, but was ready to go. So, it was a tough call not starting him, but man, he brought so much to that game. For me, he went in, we changed formations and he closed out that game. What a difference maker when he goes in.”

New England Revolution vs Orlando City SC Preview

On Concussion Awareness Night at Gillette Stadium, the New England Revolution (8-12-5) take on Orlando City SC (8-11-7).

This is an opportunity for the Revolution to jump Orlando in the Eastern Conference Standings with the Revs currently sitting at 29 points and Orlando at 31 points.

Saturday’s match marks week 26 action for MLS with the game being broadcasted on CSNNE and on 98.5 the Sports Hub.

New England is looking to bounce back after last weeks disappointing 0-1 loss to DC United on the road. Maybe a return home is a nice change of pace for Jay Heaps and the New England Revolution. New England only played 1 home game in the entire month of August back on August 12th against the Vancouver Whitecaps, a game they won 1-0.

New England’s 2-match road trip was a disappointing one. In addition to their loss to DC, the Revs were handed a 1-2 defeat by New York City FC in Yankee Stadium. With 9 games left in their MLS campaign, this game against Orlando SC will not be an easy one for New England.

“They are very dangerous.” Said Coach Heaps.” You add someone like Dom Dwyer to your team – anytime – you’re going to be a good team. That’s what they are. They’re tough to break down at times as well. It’s going to be a big game for us.”

In part of the Concussion Awareness Night, the New England Revolution partnered with ESPN soccer analyst and former Rev Taylor Twellman. ThinkTaylor, Twellman’s charity is helping with the “Orange Out” at Gillette Stadium during the 20^th minute using posters featuring the #TTPledge.

This initiative encourages athletes and their families to be educated and vigilant about brain injuries. This event takes place ahead of Concussion Awareness Week in Massachusetts from Sept. 11-15. Approximately 90,000 Massachusetts student athletes will be taking the pledge.

New England Revolution Lineup:

Cody Cropper

Andrew Farrell

Claude Dielna

Benjamin Angoua

Scott Caldwell

Gershon Koffie

Chris Tierney

Juan Agudelo

Lee Nguyen

Kei Kamara

Teal Bunbury

Substitutes:

Femi Hollinger-Janzen

London Woodberry

Kristian Nemeth

Brad Knighton

Xavier Kouassi

Donald Smith

Daigo Kobayashi

Can the Revolution Revive their 2014 Magic?

With only 10 games to play, the future looks bleak in New England. The Revolution currently sit seven points beneath the red line and behind the sixth-place Montreal Impact after 24 games played each. Equally worrisome is the six points they trail behind seventh-place Atlanta United FC and their one game in hand.

With only one Western Conference match left on the docket, the Revs do have an opportunity for some six-point swings. And an under-performing Revolution team did turn a summer swoon into a barnstorming run to the MLS Cup final not long ago. Could they do it again?

Comparing 2014 & 2017

Both squads found themselves in a similar place with 10 games remaining. Both were below the red line. Both were playing like a whole less than the sum of their parts. Both had a pretty similar set of results overall- 30 points in 2014 with a negative-five goal differential, compared to the 29 points and negative-one goal differential today.

The 2014 Revolution picked up a staggering 25 of the final 30 points up for grabs (going 8-1-1) and cruised to second place in the Eastern Conference- a comfortable 13 points above the red line. Their form carried them through the playoffs past D.C. United and the New York Red Bulls until LA Galaxy denied the Revolution an MLS Cup Final victory for the third time.

So why not a cup run again in 2017? A few of the pieces are in place already. Summer drought? Check. Recent return to form? Taken three wins from their last five matches. Summer DP signing? A DP and a TAM-level signing! Hey, maybe it’s possible! Even the pesky Galaxy are out of the picture this time around!

Why it’s… not possible

First of all, they have more ground to make up. In 2014 the Revs were outside looking in at a playoff spot, but just barely. Take a look-

They sat only one point under the red line set by the New York Red Bulls after 24 games a piece. The competition around them wasn’t much to shout about either. The Philadelphia Union weren’t terrible in 2014, but none of those squads on the bottom four deserved a playoff spot.

The Eastern Conference is better in 2017. The East has come up 41-29-25 against Western opponents so far this year. At this point in 2014, the East was a less impressive 21-33-25. It will take more to make the playoffs in the East in 2017. I wouldn’t count on much help from the other side of the country either.

The Revs themselves face stiffer competition as well. Their remaining opponents currently average 1.50 points per game, (more than the Revolution themselves at 1.21). Compare this to the average of their last 10 opponents in 2014 at 1.24 points per game. Measured by this season’s averages- that’s the difference between a 10-match run against a FC Dallas (1.5) or Montreal Impact (1.5), instead of an Orlando City (1.24), San Jose Earthquakes (1.27) or Real Salt Lake (1.19).

Jermaine Jones isn’t walking through that door. Claude Dielna looked the part on Sunday and Krisztian Nemeth is an excellent player, but I don’t anticipate these new signings providing the momentum or leadership Jones did in the second half of 2014. His immediate impact has only rarely been replicated by a summer signing in MLS (see: Nico Lodeiro, 2016).

This year’s squad has a steeper hill to climb in a tougher conference against more considerable competition with less impactful reinforcements. A run to the top of the table and deep into the playoffs is likely not in the cards. That said, a playoff appearance isn’t out of the question just yet.

So you’re saying there’s a chance?

Blowing another late lead and failing to win yet again against NYC FC on the weekend doesn’t fill anyone with optimism. Yet, Dielna may solve their problems at center back. Teal Bunbury continues to score, Kei Kamara has finally started to look the part in recent weeks and a proven attacker in Nemeth should be ready to contribute soon. Key players Lee Nguyen, Xavier Kouassi and Diego Fagundez are expected back in the squad after injury scares in the Bronx. The Revolution next face a woeful DC United side on short rest with an opportunity to build confidence.

Even so I would temper expectations. I don’t know exactly how, where or when Nemeth fits in, no one in the league knows what’s going on at left back for New England and losing Kelyn Rowe for 6-8 weeks is massive.

There are reasons for concern and glimmers of optimism aplenty, but one thing is certain- three points on Saturday make the Revs playoffs hopes look a whole lot brighter.