NE Revolution secure first point of 2024 season

New England Revolution picked up their first point of the 2024 Major League Soccer season with a 1-1 draw with Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium.

It's been a rough four weeks for the Revolution, but they finally managed to somewhat get off the mark in the new season after their draw with the Fire in front of their home supporters. The Revs have endured an abysmal start to the campaign with four losses in their first four games of the campaign.

In those four losses to DC United, Toronto FC, Atlanta United and FC Cincinnati, New England posted a goal differential of -10 with zero points. But with the 1-1 stalemate Saturday night, the Revs are officially on the board - with a draw - under their first-year head coach.

"I think it's a step forward. It's not the big step we wanted. Obviously, we're home and we wanted
to win," Revs head coach Caleb Porter said after the draw. "We play to win, and we're not satisfied with a draw, but it is a step forward in a lot of ways. I thought we showed a lot of fight today. I’m just disappointed to give up the first goal. We have to do better there."

After going down a goal inside the first half hour of play, the hosts stormed back to make it one apiece on the brink of halftime thanks to Nacho Gil's effort. Although the Revs weren't able to claim all three points at the final whistle, Porter was still pleased with the team's performance in the second half with six shots and 68% possession.

"But I liked our response after it and I liked, in the second half, that we were pushing to win. There was, in my mind, only one team that was going to win that game, and I really thought it'd be us. I really thought it would, and I thought we had enough control and enough chances to find that goal. But I do think it was a step forward, yes," he said.

Porter, who's lifted MLS Cups with Portland Timbers and Columbus Crew, hopes that this is the start of a new streak for his team that results in them climbing up off the floor of the Supporters' Shield table.

"I told them [the players] to leave the locker room encouraged and not satisfied, but definitely encouraged. I love the fight out of the group. I love that, again, we were pushing to win. Do I want to see a goal? Yes, and I think we will eventually punch through and find that game winner in that situation, but I thought our mentality was a lot better today and I was pleased with that."

New England aim to pick up their first league win of the season on April 6 at home against Charlotte FC. Prior to their clash with the Crown, the Revs take on Concacaf giants Club America in the first leg of the quarterfinals of the Champions Cup on April 2.

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