FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The number for Toronto FC (3-3-0, 6 GF) this season don’t tell the whole picture and the New England Revolution are well aware of that heading into their Saturday afternoon match at BMO Field.
Shuffling lineups in the face of injuries is something coach Jay Heaps is all too familiar with, and he knows that once Toronto’s new faces start getting more time together on the field, then the results will match the high profile transactions they’ve made over the last year.
“They have an ability to strike,” coach Jay Heaps told the media on Wednesday. “They have those players that can beat you, but to be realistic, they haven’t had all of those players together.”
With striker Jermain Defoe ready to return to action after missing the Reds last three games, the Revolution defense knows that they will have their hands full against s squad rife with World Cup level talent.
“They’ve got really talented players,” said Andrew Farrell to the media on Wednesday. “[Michael] Bradley in the middle, Defoe up top, [Julio] Cesar, just some of the few they have there. I’m excited to go against world class players…the team’s excited to take on another challenge.”
“They’ve obviously revamped their squad, brought in some really good, top-level players,” said Chris Tierney to MLSsoccer.com. “We’ll try to take away their strengths. It’s going to be a tough game for us.”
Going 2-0-1 in over last three, the Revs defense has helped to hold the opposition to just three shots and one goal in that stretch.
Keeping that pace up against the likes of Toronto, who are 2-1-0 with nine shots on target when Defoe has been in the lineup, won’t be easy, but current momentum puts New England up to the task.
“Our first point going into every game is to make sure we don’t give up anything,” said Tierney. “Then hopefully we take care of business going forward from there. We’re confident that if we play our game to the best of our abilities than we can take a good result”
“We’re on a three game unbeaten streak and we’re looking to continue that,” concluded Farrell.
