It looked like VAR was going to finally go in New England’s favor! Then, because of VAR, the game went not in New England’s favor. Quick thoughts!
It was too good to be true when Andrew Farrell wasn’t called for a penalty as the clock ticked into stoppage time during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the Columbus Crew. Farrell’s arm definitely made contact with the ball, and in the reverse situation I would have been hootin’ and hollerin’ at my computer screen (let the wife take the TV for the night) about how robbed we were.
So as the clock continued ticking and the announcing crew kept reminding me that we’d go past the five added minutes the assistant referee showed on his board, it felt like something bad was coming. The moment Dylan Borrero went off in the 65th minute for his second yellow card—a dumb fouler, a stupid reaction, but we’ll get to that—it felt like walking out of Lower.com Field—worst field name in the MLS?—with all three points was going to be hard, but doable. Then…yeah. Sean Zawadzki’s header was absolutely gorgeous. What placement on it. But what poppycock it even got to that point. There’s gotta be a time limit on VAR.
Onto the talking points:
- Dylan Borrero reminded us he’s a youthful player with a ton of promise—that needs to be realized. Getting the goal last night was smart, heads-up play by the Colombian winger. Sometimes it doesn’t matter who is in the six-yard box, it just matters that someone is, and Borrero capitalized on that fact by pinging in a low cross that Milos Degenek had no chance of redirecting anywhere other than the back of his own net. Brilliant thinking by Borrero. Why’d it have to stop there? His first yellow card shouldn’t have given Bruce Arena much thought about anything, it’s a winger after all. Then that second tackle…yeah, yellow card any way you slice it. Then the reaction? Dylan…nothing was saving you, why take parting shots on the way out? And the optics of standing over a dude yelling at him as he rolls around inured…Just not great! Set up the frantic end. Not a night Borrero will think back on fondly.
- When Borrero went off, the defense showed off how good it can be by going into lockdown mode. Dave Romney is proving his worth as a signing (trade I know whatever) and is rapidly becoming everyone’s favorite Romney to ply his trade in the Baystate. Andrew Farrell is our iron man, and isn’t it nice we don’t need him to be? As the third CB option, Farrell gives the back line a veteran presence that isn’t just there on a favor to help an old friend (sorry, Omar, really don’t want you to play this year). He definitely handled the ball as the clock hit 90′ last night but I digress. No pen given so no knock from me. And Dorde…Going to appreciate him while he’s still here. This time next summer we’ll be discussing how the new goalie looks between the pipes.
- Vrioni continues to baffle me. Felt like he had a great game last night minus the final product, but because he didn’t get the final product, was it a great game? It feels weird clamoring for Bobby Wood so I’m not going to yet, but having four strikers isn’t going to hurt this team, it’s going to help it find someone that can contribute on any given night. Down to the two backups last night, Revs made it work for the most part.
- Good to see more of the Kids last night. Esmir didn’t have a night to write home about but he also didn’t fuck anything up, so that’s a win. Any time Noel gets on the field, just going to appreciate it. I’m tipping him for something much bigger than this if he can just keep his head down and keep working.
- Lower.com Field is such a weird name for a field and every time the announcers said it last night, I kept thinking “this is such a weird stadium name.”
- As much as it sucked not getting all 3 points last night, Matchweek 8 wasn’t kind to a lot of the East’s top teams. Cincy dropped all three (and got freakin’ smoked…shocked when I woke up and saw that final), Atlanta split points, Nashville lost all three (although NYCFC gained the 3 points, but someone had to), and Chicago/Philly ended in a draw. Of course I turned that one on at 2-2 thinking I’d see the winner. LAME.
“Well, he is a young player and there’s been too many peaks and valleys. I actually talked to him about that today – he needs to elevate his game where he’s a little more steady game-in-and-game-out. And that takes a little time, he’s still young, the league is new to him, and playing the sport at this level is new to him. So, it’s going to take a little time.”
Bruce Arena discussing Dylan Borrero after the game
A Whately Devil 