Revolution 2, Impact 1: Late goal gives Revs a playoff win

It took a late goal, but the New England Revolution beat the Montreal Impact 2-1 to advance in the MLS Playoffs. Here are three thoughts from the game.

1. Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou earn their money. Gil was excellent throughout the 90 minutes, creating eight of the Revs’ 17 chances. His crowning moment came in the 38th minute when he scored a beauty off a pass from Bou. Bou had a worldie of his own, beating Clement Diop from distance in stoppage time. In sum, the team’s premier players had a good night, which is exactly what you want during playoff soccer. Although he didn’t get on the scoresheet, it’s worth mentioning that Adam Buksa had several bids that looked destined for the back of the net.
2. Tajon Buchanan does a solid job filling in at right back. The winger was forced into an unfamiliar position with Brandon Bye and Alexander Buttner unavailable. Buchanan didn’t look out of place, especially on the attacking end. With the ball moving quickly from side to side, Buchanan frequently found himself in space. Here, he was able to torment defenders by sending in dangerous balls. Unfortunately, an undisclosed injury forced him to leave in the 50th minute.
3. Set pieces continue to cause the Revs problems. Romell Quioto created some drama when he scored in the 61st minute. It was a play we’ve seen before, as Montreal sent in a free kick that wasn’t properly dealt with. Quioto made good on the opportunity, bringing the game back to level terms. Playoff games are often cagey, making set piece defending all the more important. The Revs will need to be sharper if they hope to lift a trophy this year.