BRADENTON, Fla. – The New England Revolution closed out their second week of preseason training on Friday afternoon with a hard fought 1-1 draw against FC Cincinnati in a friendly match in Bradenton, Florida. The two teams played a total of 105 minutes, breaking the game into one 45-minute and one 60-minute half. Both sides fielded two different groups of players, with the first group playing for 55 minutes and much of the second group going until the final whistle.
Coming off last weekend’s 6-0 win against USL League One side Sarasota Paradise, New England was eager to face their first MLS opposition in Cincinnati. While the Revs were proud of the team’s ability to come back after going down 1-0 in the 53rd minute, they weren’t satisfied with anything but a win.
“As a team, we want to push no matter what the circumstances are and today you saw that from everyone within the group being relentless, in the sense of ‘okay, we’re going to go for the win.’ Whatever the score, we are going to keep pushing, keep scoring goals,” explained assistant coach Blair Gavin. “We saw a lot of good moments today. Now, it’s about building that consistency, building that familiarity with people on the field.”
While it was a strong effort from both groups of Revolution players as the team continues to develop under head coach Marko Mitrović’s system, forward Leo Campana and goalkeeper Matt Turner played decisive roles in securing Friday’s result.
Just about 15 minutes after a heroic save from Turner kept the score 1-0, Campana had the opportunity to tie the game, scoring his second goal of preseason in the 85th minute. With the game tilting in New England’s favor near the final whistle, it was Campana again whose headed attempt was saved by Cincinnati to keep the game level in the dying moments.
“It’s always important personally to score. I worked really hard in the offseason, and I think we’re getting the results we all wanted. In the first game, obviously we won against Sarasota. Now, it’s a tie that I think we’re not happy about,” said Campana. “I think the mentality has raised in this team this year, so we have to keep performing, keep getting better, keep working on the things we need to improve, and keep getting better every day.”
As an attacking player, Campana has felt supported under Mitrović’s style of play, which emphasizes attacking aggression. While the team is still learning every day about how the new coaching staff wants them to play, every member of this Revolution roster has said it’s been an enjoyable process implementing the system.
“It’s interesting. I like it, especially because it gives freedom to the players with the ball, without the ball, and the most important thing is that inside the pitch, we compete,” Campana said of Mitrović’s system. “I think we’re getting good results, and the most important thing is to win.”
Also feeling strong under Mitrović’s guidance is winger Griffin Yow, who logged his first preseason minutes with New England after officially joining earlier this week. Starting the match in the first group with about 55 minutes on the pitch, Yow is continuing to build relationships with his new teammates as he reunites with Mitrović.
“It always just gives me the feeling that I can be dangerous. I think he puts me in really dangerous situations and of course, there is defensive work as a winger that I need to do, and I don’t mind doing at all. Then on the flip side, it’s really nice to be able to do what wingers do and attack,” Yow explained. “I think it was a really good showing, and I think it’s a credit to the team that as soon as I went out there, I felt comfortable right away.”
After 11 straight days of work, the Revs will now take a well-deserved break before returning to the grind in Florida next Tuesday. They left the pitch with smiles, feeling excited and ready for what’s to come in 2026, getting stronger every day.
New England will play their next preseason game on Saturday, January 31 at 11:30 a.m. ET against Houston Dynamo FC in St. Petersburg, Florida.
