The Revolution clinched a playoff berth a week and a half ago, but they trailed Inter Miami for second place in the East, which assures home-field advantage until the conference final. Good luck playing catch-up to Lionel Messi & Co.
That situation changed on Saturday night, as the Revolution improved their winning streak to three games with a 2-1 victory over the Philadelphia Union, surpassing Inter Miami, which lost, 2-0, to Red Bull New York. Holding tiebreaker edges over Miami, the Revolution control their fate.
Their ability to hold second place could come down to a showdown between the teams at Gillette Stadium next Sunday. The Revolution (17-10-4, 55 points) also must manage Wednesday’s home game against the Red Bulls and their season capper Nov. 7 at Orlando City. Miami (15-6-10, 55) plays host to Cincinnati on Wednesday and Charlotte on Nov. 7.
The Revolution appear capable of pulling it off, a remarkable turnaround for a team eliminated from postseason contention with four games remaining last year. Snapping the Union’s 15-game unbeaten run confirmed their competitive edge against possible Eastern postseason opponents. Since Aug. 30, the Revolution have defeated the Columbus Crew, the Chicago Fire twice, and Orlando. (Early in the season, they tied Inter Miami.)
Not as encouraging are recent losses to the Western Conference’s Los Angeles Galaxy, Real Salt Lake, and Seattle Sounders — the latter two each 3-0 losses. A strong finish to the season could still lead to a dead end, since Nashville likely will be awaiting in the conference final. Nashville (21-3-7, 70 points) is on a record pace (2.26 points per game) and has defeated the Revolution twice, 4-1 and 3-0.
The best hope for challengers such as the Revolution is a Supporters’ Shield jinx — only nine Shield winners have gone on to the MLS Cup final, winning eight, and only Los Angeles FC (2022) has done so since 2017. The 2021 Revolution were among those falling short, eliminated by New York City FC after setting a points record. In 2023, Inter Miami broke it, then was ousted by Atlanta United.
The Revolution’s rally has been led by captain Carles Gil and 18-year-old Peyton Miller. Gil (13 goals, 12 assists) has compiled a three-game assist streak, and Miller has been involved in setting up all six Revolution goals in the last three contests.
Gil and Miller combined on both goals against the Union, Dor Turgeman scoring in first-half stoppage time, and Gil on a late penalty kick.
The opening scoring sequence started after Luca Langoni earned a free kick off a Nathan Harriel foul, Miller heading Gil’s cross back post for Turgeman’s 10th goal — the team’s first forward to reach double figures since 2021. Then, with the Union going all-out forward, the Revolution counterattacked. In the 86th minute, Miller found Gil on a run that started at the halfway line, Gil earning a penalty kick on a Neil Pierre foul.
It took more than five minutes and a VAR review before Gil upped the lead with his team-record 26th penalty kick. Pierre, who could have been red-carded for taking down Gil, remained on the field to cut the deficit with a header off a Kai Wagner cross in the 12th of 15-plus added minutes, the latest goal ever scored in the Revolution’s 31-year history and the end of a shutout streak clocked at 203 minutes (including 21-plus minutes of stoppage against the Union).
With the Union fighting for a postseason spot, the match reflected a playoff atmosphere.
“I actually love these kind of challenges, because they really help us to grow,” Revolution coach Marko Mitrovic said. “Philly is also good on the ball, but when it comes to physicality, they are a very tough team. For us to grow, we need this type of opponent.”
A similar battle against the Red Bulls awaits, but self-preservation also counts. The Revolution are expecting more than 50,000 for Miami’s third visit of the Messi era.
“I think we’ve shown throughout this season that we’re a team that has no problem with being tested,” defender Ethan Kohler said. “Just the mentality from everyone going in is people are ready to fight and ready to go all together into the test or into the challenge.”