Buksa looking to give his “best performance” against the Union

Carles Gil and Gustavo Bou understandably grabbed the spotlight on Friday as both players scored in the New England Revolution’s 2-1 win over the Montreal Impact.

Meanwhile, the team’s other Designated Player, Adam Buksa, quietly had one of his best performances of the year. This is exactly what the team needs if they’ve going to make a run at the MLS Cup.

Buksa battled up top throughout the night, using his size to hold up the ball. He took three shots—all on target—and would’ve scored if not for Celement Diop and the woodwork.

“I thought tactically it was his best game of the year,” Bruce Arena told the media on Sunday. “On another day, he gets the goal.”

After a slow start to his MLS career, Buksa put in solid performances during the final six games of the regular season. This stretch saw him score three of his six goals. It now appears that his good run of form has carried over into the playoffs.

“That’s encouraging that he’s getting his chances,” Arena said. “He’s doing the things we need him to do for us to be a good team.”

Of course, the Revolution’s next opponent is a daunting one, as they’ve has gone 0-4-1 against the Union this year. The Union have have collected three shutouts versus the Revs while outscoring them seven to two.

Buksa is ready for the challenge, telling media, “I want to show my best performance in the game against Philly.” That said, he understands that beating this year’s Supporters’ Shield winners will require a full team effort.

“It’s important that everyone’s fit and focused on the game because it’s all about the team,” Buksa said. “I’ve been saying that all the time. It’s not about one or two players, it’s about the whole team. So we need to be ready and focused as a team together, and we will be.”

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