Real Salt Lake Seek to Reignite Offense Against Resurgent New England Revolution
Real Salt Lake is gearing up to reignite their offense as they host the New England Revolution this Saturday night in Salt Lake City. Both teams have something to prove, but their challenges and motivations are different as they approach this crucial match.
Real Salt Lake’s Offensive Struggles
Real Salt Lake (12-6-8, 44 points) has hit a rough patch when it comes to finding the back of the net. They’ve been shut out in two of their last four MLS matches, managing to score just three goals during that stretch. This scoring slump followed their Leagues Cup exit, where they also struggled to get past the Houston Dynamo’s defense.
Despite these challenges, head coach Pablo Mastroeni remains optimistic about his team’s resilience.
“What I know about this group is that they’re resilient and they’re strong-willed,” Mastroeni said.
The recent addition of newcomers Lachlan Brook, Diogo Goncalves, and Javain Brown to the lineup during last week’s 2-0 loss to San Jose has brought new energy to the team. However, the key for Real Salt Lake will be finding a way to turn opportunities into goals if they want to get back on track.
“Goals change games, not only the storyline, but it changes the psyche,” Mastroeni emphasized.
New England Revolution’s Renewed Confidence
On the other hand, the New England Revolution (8-14-2, 26 points) is in a different phase of their season, struggling with consistency but riding high on a wave of newfound confidence. Their recent 5-0 thrashing of CF Montreal marked their return to MLS play last week and was their first multi-goal victory of the season, showcasing their offensive potential.
Head coach Caleb Porter recognizes the importance of this win but remains cautious about getting too carried away.
“We’re just scratching the surface,” Porter said. “We have to keep pushing and stay really hungry.”
Despite being tied for the second-most losses in MLS, New England’s recent performance suggests they might be finding their rhythm. Luca Langoni, who made an immediate impact with a goal and an assist in his club debut, has added a fresh spark to the Revolution’s attack.
“He’s good for us to have, a new player and a star like this,” midfielder Carles Gil said. “He gives us confidence for what is coming.”
Game Outlook and Tactical Focus
Coach Porter is laser-focused on maintaining his team’s aggressive style, particularly by emphasizing the importance of scoring early to set the tone.
“I want early goals. In a lot of ways, when you look at some of the wins we’ve had, we scored two goals in the first half in a lot of those games,” Porter explained. “I don’t want to see my team bunker up one goal or two goals. I want to see us go for the jugular.”
This aggressive approach will be put to the test against a Real Salt Lake team that, despite their recent struggles, remains a tough opponent, especially at home.
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Conclusion
As Real Salt Lake aims to shake off their recent offensive struggles and the New England Revolution looks to build on their newfound momentum, Saturday’s match is set to be a pivotal encounter for both teams. Real Salt Lake will need to rediscover their scoring touch to secure a crucial home win, while New England seeks to prove that last week’s triumph was the start of a late-season surge rather than just a one-off success.