The Reds head to New England to take on the Revolution at Gillette Stadium. Here are the Benjamin Moore three keys to the match.
Pace of Play
The Revolution have had a Jekyll and Hyde type of season when it comes to their home and away form, remaining undefeated at Foxborough while failing to pick up a win on the road thus far. But with Saturday’s match taking place at Gillette Stadium, the Reds will surely be in for a battle.
Players like Diego Fagundez and Lee Nguyen can create problems off the dribble, breaking down defences with their movement and vision. The turf presents another obstacle to overcome as the ball will move quickly and bouncing balls could create problems for the Reds as was the case in Ottawa.
Look for TFC to keep the ball on the ground and move the ball quickly to unbalance New England.
Control the Space in Midfield
The absence of Michael Bradley will certainly create a different scenario for the Reds on Saturday night.
The captain covers a ton of ground on both sides of the ball, shielding the back three and linking the possession for his side. In his stead, the Reds will need to find a way fill the void by committee.
Benoit Cheyrou and Jonathan Osorio could likely have a part to play and will need to stay compact in order to get the job done on the road.
Lineup Decisions
It’s been a gruelling stretch for the Reds of late, and the tests just keep getting tougher.
Not only are the Revs a solid side at home, but TFC will be missing quite a few key pieces for the road trip.
Bradley and Jozy Altidore are away with the United States national team, Marky Delago misses out through red card suspension and Tosaint Ricketts is doubtful after picking up a hamstring injury in the second leg of the Canadian Championship semis vs. Ottawa.
That leaves plenty of questions for head coach Greg Vanney to answer. How many minutes will Sebastian Giovinco get on the turf after returning from injury? Is Victor Vazquez ready to go after playing 90 minutes midweek?
The depth of the squad has rose the occasion all season long, and they’ll have to do so once again on Saturday night.
