Toronto FC-Revolution Preview
If the New England Revolution's eight-match unbeaten streak makes them the hottest team in MLS, their last game at least took away from the sense of accomplishment.
It might have felt more like a loss after giving away a two-goal lead against an expansion team, and defensive lapses could prove more costly Saturday night against visiting Toronto FC.
"They're a team that's dangerous," New England forward Charlie Davies told the club's official website. "If we can stop them, I think we shouldn't have a problem stopping any team, because they're a team that can score goals in a variety of different ways."
The same isn't often said of Orlando City, but New England (5-2-3) conceded two goals in the final 15 minutes and settled for a 2-2 road draw May 8. Davies scored for a fourth straight game in the 19th minute and Kelyn Rowe extended the lead in the 71st.
The club put itself in position to match a nine-game unbeaten stretch that led into its MLS Cup loss, but that wasn't stopping coach Jay Heaps from addressing the letdown on the league-best run.
"We're going to have a couple conversations about what we need to do better in that game," Heaps said. "It was some of our best stuff and some of our worst stuff all in one."
Some of that might take care of itself with the potential return of Jose Goncalves. The defender hasn't started any of the last four matches because of a calf injury but has been cleared from the injury report, and Jermaine Jones could move back to midfield after spending the last four matches at center back.
Regardless of opposing personnel, Toronto (3-5-0) seems to be growing comfortable with its new attacking presence.
New England won all three meetings a season ago with Lee Nguyen scoring in each and the team keeping shutouts in the last two, but that Toronto team didn't have Jozy Altidore or Sebastian Giovinco.
Toronto was eliminated from the Canadian Championship semifinals on away goals after Wednesday's 3-2 home victory over Montreal, but Altidore had a goal and two assists and Giovinco had a goal and an assist.
In league play, Altidore has five goals in seven matches. Giovinco has all four of his in the last five games, and coach Greg Vanney says the recent success has as much to do with Michael Bradley having a more defined option to push forward in the central midfield.
"(Defensive midfielder) Benoit (Cheyrou) was a little bit deeper and his responsibility was to stay in front of the center backs, protect us from counterattacks and help build the game, which freed up Michael to play more advanced," Vanney told the club's official website. "We asked him to play higher up the field and see if he could work with Sebastian and Jozy."
Toronto preceded the win with Sunday's 2-1 loss to Houston. It was Toronto's MLS home opener after going 3-4-0 on the road while BMO Field underwent renovations.
While that away stretch was good enough to keep it above the Eastern Conference playoff cut line, New England hasn't lost at home since July 26. The 11-0-4 span that's followed is the best in team history and trails only Los Angeles (13-0-4) in that time.