New England Revolution Defeats Hartford in Final Preseason Match

New England wrapped up its preseason this Saturday (15) at Gillette Stadium against USL Championship side Hartford Athletic. The match ended 2-0, improving the club's preseason record to 4-1-1.

The Revs took the field with Ivacic; Brandon Bye, Mamadou Fofana, Bryan Ceballos, Will Sands; Jackson Yueill, Alhassan Yusuf, Carles Gil; Luca Langoni, Ignatius Ganago, and Leo Campana. Five of these players were signed this offseason and have yet to make their official competitive debut.

In a 3-5-1 formation, with Brandon Bye and Sands alternating, the Revolution had the best chances in the first half. Ganago on the right wing and Will Sands on the left were the main creators for a team that heavily relied on low crosses to create scoring opportunities. Campana, playing as the target man, was the reference up front, showcasing quality plays and strong positioning—something the team lacked last season.

The goal came from a corner kick on the left side, delivered by Jackson Yueill in the 39th minute, directly finding Campana’s head as he sent it into the back of the net.

In the second half, both teams made changes. While the Revolution maintained their strategy of using wide wingers, Hartford pushed their lines higher and created some opportunities off mistakes in the build-up by center-back Mamadou Fofana, who received a yellow card after bringing down an opponent at the edge of the box in the 68th minute.

In the 77th minute, Langoni found Noel Buck on the right side—who had just replaced Ganago—and Buck struck a first-time shot that forced a great save from Hartford’s goalkeeper. Then, in the 86th minute, Maxi Urruti, who had come on for Campana, was fouled at the edge of the area. He took the free kick himself and placed it perfectly into the top corner, scoring the team’s second goal of the match and his first for the Revolution.

A concern for Caleb Porter arose in the late 70s when Will Sands, holding his thigh, was subbed off. No update has been provided on his condition yet. Sands was the only natural left-back available for the match, as backup Payton Miller was also sidelined with an injury. The coach stated that there is no further information regarding Sands' availability for the season opener.

Additionally, Porter told the media that the starting lineup is unlikely to change much for the opener, though Matt Polster and Payton Miller could return to the starting XI if they recover in time.

Tactically, the team functioned well. Notably, Carles Gil played higher up the field and was not dropping deep to collect the ball in the defensive half—a specific request from his coach. The team’s main attacking approach seemed to be playing in behind the defense with the wingers, followed by low crosses into the box, which created dangerous opportunities.

Set pieces were a standout aspect. For the first time since Gustavo Bou’s departure, fans saw a player other than former MVP Carles Gil take more than half of the team’s corner kicks, with Maxi Urruti also stepping up and scoring from a free kick near the area. The team appears more diverse and flexible in its playing style—something that was sorely lacking in 2024.

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The Revolution will now kick off their regular season on February 22 against Nashville SC on the road, followed by their home opener against Columbus Crew SC.