The New England Revolution returned to action mid week for the 102nd edition of the US Open cup against The Charlotte Independence from the USL (3rd tier in usa soccer pyramid). A yearly tournament held in every country in the world, this competition involves all the club teams in all the level of soccer. For many of these small teams in the lower leagues, their biggest hope is to make it past the 1st round or 2, far enough to at least face a MLS team or even to host one. The top teams don’t play until the 3 or 4th round, as the smaller teams knock each other out first.

For some of the Revs who don’t get much minutes during the regular season, this is a good chance to make their cases for time. Players Jeremy Hall, Sean Okoli, Steve Neumann who don’t get many minutes, these Open Cups games are welcomed. It is a chance to shake the rust off, or prove their worth. This also gives the regulars a chance to get some rest.

Games like these are also a good opportunity for young guys to get their first playing minutes with the main squad. One of these players was Zachary Herivaux. Zack, 19, from Brookline, got his first minutes these season with the main squad. Unfortunately for him, it was only 3 minutes left in the game, in what was a losing effort by the Revs against Charlotte.

New England would lose 1-0, and was eliminated in the US Open cup. “Credit them they did a great job tonight, and not just their defense, but it was a wondrous strike as well” Heaps after the game. Charlotte’s goal was a wondrous goal, scored in the 54th minute as Charlotte came out in the 2nd half attacking and pressing the Revs goal. After the 60th minute Charlotte took their foot of the gas and started to defend more as New England would press harder for an equalizer that never came. “At the end our chemistry was lacking and theirs was really strong.” Chemistry is always an issue when you start players not used to playing with some of the starters, and it showed. Despite the amount of attacks New England had tonight, they were unable to really get a good clean shot off on Charlotte’s keeper.

I credit the fans that did come out and supported the Independence. There were maybe 2-3 dozen of them but they were loud and cheered on their team after the final whistle.

The golazo scored by Jorge Herrera: