3 takeaways from the Revolution’s 1-0 win in Atlanta

New England Revolution

New England got a hard-fought road win, and also marked the return of two important players from injury.

By Hayden Bird

April 12, 2025 | 6:07 PM

3 minutes to read

The Revolution got a vital 1-0 win on the road against Atlanta United on Saturday afternoon. Captain Carles Gil scored a 36th minute penalty kick, and New England spent much of the rest of the game holding on for dear life.

In the end, a revised tactical setup and a relentless commitment to defending (especially in the second half) proved to be just enough to achieve a win in a place that is not easy to collect all three points.

Atlanta, despite hitting the post multiple times, could not find a goal of its own. United’s Miguel Almiron appeared to score an exquisite first-half curler, but it was ruled out after a VAR concluded there had been an offside call. Atlanta had another goal in the second half quickly called back due to a second offside.

Here are a few takeaways:

A tactical tweak

New England opened the game in an unfamiliar formation, opting for a 3-5-2. Tanner Beason came into the Starting XI as the third center-back, with Ilay Feingold and Peyton Miller jumping enthusiastically into the wing-back roles.

The altered team shape periodically flummoxed Atlanta in the first half, with United center forward Emmanuel Latte Lath finding less space (expecting to exploit the gaps between the usual duo of center-backs instead of a trio).

The Revolution’s lack of punch in transition hampered this — and it appeared Atlanta had taken the lead through Almiron’s wonder-strike — but the game’s momentum swung violently in a short span when the home goal was ruled out in a VAR decision and Gil won the penalty only moments later. The New England captain stepped up and calmly tucked the ball perfectly into the upper right corner to give the visitors an unexpected lead.

#ATLvNE 0-1 • https://t.co/dWLEL96Mc5 pic.twitter.com/ZvCVlCNM1k

— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) April 12, 2025

Revolution grinded through the second half.

As has been a distinctive trait of the Caleb Porter era, the Revolution were content to drop off in defense during the second half. This was particularly true given that New England (with only one win in 2025 prior to Saturday) were holding an unfamiliar lead.

After being in the slight minority in terms of first half possession (52-48 in favor of Atlanta), the Revolution managed just 34 percent possession in the final 45 minutes.

Yet despite almost surrendering the equalizer within minutes of the restart, Porter’s team held firm.

It was far from convincing as a clock-killing strategy, but the ultra-defensiveness got the result in the end.

Two Designated Players made their return.

On top of the win, New England got some longer-term good news with the joint return of Designated Players Tomás Chancalay and Leo Campana, both subbing on during the second half after injury absences.

Chancalay, out 322 days after a torn ACL, managed a few touches and a late shot that was vaguely in the direction of goal.

Campana, coming back from a March hamstring injury, should have put the game out of reach when a late counterattack put him in a perfect position, charging at goal with no defenders in front of him. Yet the 24-year-old Ecuadorian’s fitness is clearly not all the way back, as he was caught from behind just before attempting his shot, and the opportune moment to put the game out of reach passed inconsequentially.

Still, it was a heartening development for Porter and New England fans to see all three of the team’s Designated Players on the field at the same time. As always in MLS, the status and form of a team’s Designated Player contingent goes a long way to determining a team’s playoff chances.