Revolution salvage tie on Carles Gil’s stoppage-time goal in Atlanta

Revolution midfielder Carles Gil scored in the first minute of the game, then again in second-half stoppage time.Mark Stockwell/Associated Press

Carles Gil rescued the Revolution from a shocking collapse, converting in the first and 93rd minutes of a 3-3 tie with Atlanta United at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Wednesday night.

The Revolution (7-3-5, 26 points) took a two-goal lead in the first half but went on the defensive for long periods, falling behind, 3-2, before Gil’s right-footer in the third minute of added time.

Gil opened the scoring from point-blank range 21 seconds in, following a turnover. With Bobby Wood pressing, goalkeeper Brad Guzan struggled to control Miles Robinson’s back pass, then poked a pass in front intended for Franco Ibarra. Instead, the pass went directly to Gil, who took two touches and finished left-footed for the second-fastest score in Revolution history.

Wood upped the lead to 2-0 with his fifth goal of the season, a back-post finish off an Emmanuel Boateng cross in the 37th minute.

"OH MY LORD, BOBBY WOOD!" pic.twitter.com/BQhRw1dqz3

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) June 1, 2023

But Atlanta (6-4-6, 24 points) began to control the pace, the Revolution struggling mightily with possession.

Giorgos Giakoumakis cut the deficit in the 56th minute. The score was set up as Matt Polster blocked a shot, then Andrew Gutman’s scuffed follow glanced off Polster, Giakoumakis darting in to finish off the outside of his right foot for his eighth goal of the season. Thiago Almada equalized with a deflected shot (74th minute), and substitute Miguel Berry’s half-volley broke the deadlock (87th).

But the Revolution rallied as Andrew Farrell’s cross was headed by Juan Jose Purata directly to Gil, who faked left and fired just inside the right post for his fifth goal of the season and second-fastest score in team history.

Jose Cancela’s 19-second goal is the Revolution’s earliest, in a 4-2 home win over the New York/New Jersey MetroStars in 2005.

Observations from Wednesday’s game:

▪ Defining moment: Gil’s finishes demonstrated the almost effortless offense he can generate. The first goal seemed simple, but he noted he had to fake Guzan, his teammate at Aston Villa from 2014-16, to set it up. The tying goal was a precise placement, not easy to pull off after a long night of chasing defensively and being hacked down.

THAT'S MY CAPTAIN!

(It's the commentary for me.) pic.twitter.com/I0Plly5WeW

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) June 1, 2023

▪ Difference-maker: Gil was targeted by Atlanta — he officially drew five fouls, including a caution on Giakoumakis. Gil absorbed some hard hits, and he is going to need the Revolution to take pressure off him, possibly with reinforcements. Seven Revolution players were listed as out, and Damian Rivera missed the game on international duty with Costa Rica’s Under-23 national team.

▪ Tactical: The Revolution’s 4-2-3-1 alignment provided security in the first half. But the team was off target with passes and seldom attempted to play out of the back, goalkeeper Djordje Petrovic launching long clearances and goal kicks. The defense included Farrell at right back for the first time since 2019 and Omar Gonzalez in his first start since Aug. 17.

▪ Statistical analysis: The Revolution got off only four shots. Defensively, the Revolution remained composed, committing six fouls and surrendering zero corner kicks. Atlanta committed 14 fouls (four cautions), but could have been whistled for more — Revolution midfielder Latif Blessing was sidelined (calf cut) following a non-call on Purata late in the first half. Atlanta had difficulty with final passes skidding on the hybrid turf but had little problem connecting through the midfield (72 percent possession). The Revolution were seldom able to play out of trouble.

▪ Road ahead: The Revolution will take a three-game road winless streak to New York City FC Saturday. The Revolution, in first place in the Eastern Conference before hitting the skids with a five-game winless streak (0-3-2), will then have three home games to conclude the month.

▪ What they said: “We probably didn’t deserve the point, to be honest with you. We were dominated in the second half. Our inability to get around the ball and our passing was very poor. Hopefully, this is one of these games that probably every team has. Hopefully, we can learn from tonight and be a better team on Saturday when we go to New York.” — Revolution coach Bruce Arena.