Commentary
Suddenly, New England has one of MLS's most dangerous and deepest attacks
- by Paul Kennedy @pkedit, Jul 18, 2019
And Bou delivered in his first game, scoring on a volley late in first-half stoppage time to send the Revs on their way to a 4-0 win over Vancouver that extended their unbeaten streak to nine games since a change of coaches in May.
It's their longest run since 2014 when they also recorded a nine-game undefeated streak that spanned the regular season and postseason leading into MLS Cup 2014.
No one is talking MLS Cup around Foxboro just yet. But the win, capped by three goals in six minutes at the end of the game, kept the Revs in eighth place in the Eastern Conference, one point below the playoff zone, as Toronto FC beat the New York Red Bulls, 3-1.
Bou's goal came after Carles Gil placed his corner kick to the top of the penalty area, where Bou ran on to it and fired a full volley past Vancouver goalkeeper Maxime Crepeau.
Bou said Gil, the New England playmaker, instructed him to be ready because no one was covering the area outside the penalty area on earlier corner kicks.
“In that specific moment, I wanted to go backwards a bit," he said afterwards. "Carles screamed to me, I screamed to him, and I think it’s a connection that had a lot of quality.”
Arena liked what he saw in his first signing since taking over for Brad Friedel as head coach and assuming the player personnel decisions as sporting director following the ouster of GM Mike Burns.
“You don’t see that often, players being able to take that ball out of the air like that and strike it as clean as he did,” Arena said. “So if you want to give me full credit for that, I would be glad to accept it. But I had nothing to do with that play.”
Arena said Gil and Bou showed a good understanding.
"We saw that in training," he said, "but it’s going to take some time. I think in another month, we’ll know a lot more about that combination.”
The Bou-Gil connection is only part of what is suddenly one of the deepest attacks in MLS with Diego Fagundez and Teal Bunbury, veterans from the MLS Cup 2014 team, plus Colombian Juan Fernando Caicedo and Ecuadoran Cristian Penilla.
Fagundez and Penilla came off the bench to record a goal and an assist and two assists, respectively.
"Both players would like to be playing 90 minutes every game," Arena said, "but to have that kind of mentality to come off the bench and contribute and get goals, it was great. I think they did an outstanding job.”
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10,000 in attendance in cavernous football stadium
40 miles from Boston. Pg 7 story in Boston Globe
Krafts have a long way to go
As a season ticket holder who has to drive over an hour to the game - I was a no show at the game and watched on TV. Weather had a big effect on attendance due to the sever storms going through the area.
Gil was a great find, and I am hoping that Bou is the real deal - He looked like it last night. I thought he needed to be pulled around the 60 to 65th minute due to his tired legs (quality of his 1st touch on the ball was my read).
Yes - Gillette is not a great place unless there is 30 to 40k fans minumum in the place. Can't wait for the Krafts to pull the tigger on a 20-25k seat SSS in greater Boston.
ron,
gustavo bou is the real deal. he was aquired from tijuana xolos where i watched him play for the last year and we will miss him dearly. you guys got a great player in bou, who can score goals and create them as well. i loved watching bou in TJ and i am bummed he is gone but we wish him good luck. enjoy bou!!!