Bunbury, Kamara stock up in Revolution win vs. Galaxy

After losing four straight league matches, the Revolution took a step in the right direction with a 4-3 win over the LA Galaxy on Saturday. Here’s who stood out, and who didn’t, during the win.

Stock Up

Teal Bunbury

At the end of June, Bunbury had gone 20 straight appearances without a goal or an assist. For a player who scored 18 goals in his first three MLS seasons, that productivity served as an all-time low.

But when the calendar hit July, the veteran forward flipped the script. Three weeks ago, Bunbury scored a goal and took three on-target shots in a loss to the Red Bulls. On Saturday, he came into a wide-open match and scored a pair of goals: a header off a well-timed run at goal, and a finessed shot from the penalty spot. The latter held up as the game-winner.

Bunbury’s ability to contribute off the bench will play a significant role in the Revs’ second-half playoff push.

Kei Kamara

It’s not news that Kamara has underachieved in a Revolution uniform (he admitted this himself following the Revs’ weekend win). But he showed glimpses of his peak form on Saturday.

After missing a close-range shot early in the first half, Kamara looked dangerous on both sides of the ball. He worked hard in possession down the right channel (one of his runs set up Bunbury’s game-winner), whipped dangerous crosses into the box and kept LA’s back line honest with eager runs at goal. He’s still at his best when others set him up, as evidenced by his finish off a Diego Fagundez through ball. But his overall performance—which included five aerial wins—proved he offers more than a physical presence in the box.

Diego Fagundez

Diego’s stock just keeps rising. And for the first time this season, his stats support his breakout campaign. His two assists against the Galaxy brought his season total to seven, tying his career high. And his 64 touches prove he was one of the most active players on the field (only Romain Alessandrini possessed the ball more).

Bursting with confidence and creativity, Diego looks poised to victimize opposing defenses for years to come.

Stock Down

Revolution Back Line

The Revolution back line, which has searched for consistency all season long, endured an off night on Saturday. The unit picked up three yellow cards, committed fouls in dangerous spots and, on a few different occasions, crossed wires with goalkeeper Brad Knighton. Marking on set pieces also left room for improvement.

The unit did show some bright spots, including Andrew Farrell’s game-winning assist on a trailing pass to Bunbury. But overall, the unit must clean up its play if the Revs want to turn Saturday’s win into a late-summer winning streak.