Injury-plagued New England Revolution face Kansas City Wizards in SuperLiga doubleheader

June 24, 12:45 AMBoston Pro Soccer ExaminerL.E. Eisenmenger

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Mike Videira
Photo: AP

Wednesday night at 7PM, the New England Revolution defend their 2008 SuperLiga title against Kansas City Wizards missing seven members of their starting eleven. Sunday night the Revolution lost players six and seven, captain Steve Ralston and Kevin Alston, by the second half of the Santos Laguna match. They beat the Mexican side 4-2 in a physical match.

Squad decimated by injuries

“Ralston’s out,” said head coach Steve Nicol, “he’s strained the bottom of his hamstring. He rolled his ankle on Friday and basically he’s been compensating for that and consequently he got a strain. Alston’s the same, but we’re hopeful he’ll be back for LA.”

Shalrie Joseph missed the Santos match with a knee injury and is expected out for a “a week or so,” and the injury could affect his call-up to the Gold Cup squad.

“If [Shalrie’s] not playing for us, he’s not playing for anyone else,” said Nicol, “let’s put it that way.”

Chris Albright is out for a month, there’s no timeline on Mauricio Castro, Taylor Twellman is day-to-day, week-to-week, but hasn’t been at practice for two weeks, and Gabriel Badilla recovered from back surgery but just returned to practice this week after an eight month absence.

Nicol was not optimistic.

“The fact is that we only have 16 players on the bench for tomorrow night,” said Nicol, “a squad of 16 and two of them being goalies, so we’ve got 14 outfield players for the next four games. Anybody who’s got an injury isn’t coming back before then so we can’t pick up anymore injuries or we’re in serious trouble. Well, we’re in serious trouble anyway.”

“There isn’t anything wrong with the condition of the team, the problem we have is numbers,” said Nicol. “We’ll have sixteen on the bench tomorrow night and Wells Thompson is suspended for the Open Cup game.”

Trialist Jankauskas is “interested”

The bright light on the horizon is that Steve Nicol is interested in recent trialist Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas and apparently Jankauskis is interested in the Revolution. Although the former FC Porto player flew back to Europe on Monday, Nicol seemed optimistic he will return.

“I hope so, we’re working away,” said Nicol. “As you know these things never happen in the time you want, so we’re working on it. The fact that he’s interested tells you that obviously he was quite happy with it. I think the fact he’s interested says it all.”

Videira steps into Joseph's big shoes

But meanwhile Nicol has to field a team Wednesday night and the man filling Shalrie Joseph’s shoes is Milford native and Duke graduate Mike Videira.

“Obviously they’re enormous shoes to fill,” said Videira after practice Tuesday, “but I’m trying to do the best I can do, play the way the coaches want me to play and do my part. I want to try to keep it simple and connect passes and keep the flow more than anything. Coming in off the bench into a role like those guys have, it’s important for me to play simple and keep the ball for the team.”

Santos Laguna was the first Mexican team Videira played against in 10 years. When he was 14, he traveled to Mexico with the national team and experienced the Mexican playing style there.

That experience might have helped him in the game on Sunday. Videira replaced Ralston in the 39th minute right after Jeff Larentowicz scored the first goal. Videira helped possess the ball at the top of the field, allowing the Revolution to score three more times before the night was over.

It was a heated match and midfielder Pat Phelan took something like a fist to the temple before the final whistle.

“I did not see it,” said Videira. “I was told before that there was one coming for me and missed. The next play was on Pat and there was a big scramble there, we were all in the box and I only looked over my shoulder and saw him down.”

How do you keep a cool head in a chippy situation like that?

“It’s easier when you’re up,” said Videira, “and we were up two goals at the time, pretty much when it started to get chippy. It’s a lot easier to keep your head and just be safe and cautious and take care of the ball more than anything. If guys get in your face it’s a lot easier to turn away when you know you’re going to win the game or at least on your way to winning.”

Kansas City/ Revolution rivalry is growing

The Revolution lead SuperLiga with the 4-2 Santos Laguna result, and Kansas CIty drew a 0-0 with San Luis. But the Wizards smoked the Revolution 3-1 two weeks ago and New England will have their hands full with striker Davy Arnoud and midfielders Hercules Gomez, Claudio Lopez, and Jack Jewsbury. Defender Jimmy Conrad has a hamstring injury and although he made the trip to Foxboro, may not take the field.

Steve Nicol will play what he has available.

“What happens tomorrow night,” said Nicol, “will have no bearing on what’s happened previously to be honest with you, absolutely zero.” 

The Revolution take the field at Gillette Stadium at 7PM and Santos Laguna plays Atlas at 9PM.

For tickets, click here.

For SuperLiga schedule, click here.

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