Short-handed Revolution look for points from Atlas in SuperLiga, Twellman out for six weeks

June 28, 10:28 AMBoston Pro Soccer ExaminerL.E. Eisenmenger

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Assistant coach Paul Mariner, head coach Steve Nicol
Photo: Tony Biscaia/Revsnet

Sunday at 4:30, a short-handed New England Revolution squad rally against Atlas in defense of their 2008  SuperLiga title. The Revolution already nailed a 4-2 win over Santos Laguna and 1-1 draw against Kansas City. 

The Revolution is reeling with the news that star striker Taylor Twellman was put on the disabled list and will miss the next six league matches because of recurring concussion symptoms and also that veteran defender Jay Heaps was called up to the CONCACAF Gold Cup squad and will miss the Revolution's June 30 Open Cup match and the July 4 game at the LA Galaxy.

“It’s a double-edged sword,” said head coach Steve Nicol about Heaps’ call-up. “It’s fantastic for him but the timing couldn’t have been any worse for us.”

“It doesn’t get any more disappointing than to lose your top goal scorer,” said Nicol. The coach said he was looking for a replacement but a striker would have to fall under the salary cap with Twellman’s $420,000 salary still counting against it and with the heavy schedule the team is pressed for try-out times.

“Absolutely there will be some people coming in,” said Nicol, “but it depends when we get a free week and we don’t have any free weeks coming up very soon so that makes it difficult.”

The coach said the staff is “still working away” on a possible deal with Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas who trialed with the team last week.

Heaps describes the loss of Twellman as “devastating”

“It’s devastating,” said Heaps of Taylor’s absence. “Taylor is a player that people always knew was great, but to really see his impact on the last two games he played in, probably our two best games of the year, it’s tough not to have him out there. I’m glad that they see he’s going to be better and stronger when he gets back. For Taylor, it’s a matter of getting the right treatment and getting the confidence to come back out here and give everything he has like he has every night that he plays. It’s tough, he’s having some situations where he doesn’t feel comfortable after the games and that’s something that he really had to get to the bottom of and I think he’s doing that the right way.”

Heaps enthusiastic about SuperLiga, encourages rookies to battle it out

“To fight, fight through everything and make it a battle,” said Heaps. “I think that’s something we do well – when we compete and we did that the other night against Kansas City and we did that the night against Santos Laguna because it was a good battle and we fought hard. I think any time you do that you can get over a mistake, you can get over most anything if you’re in a fight with the other team.”

Last year the Revolution won the SuperLiga Championship but the heavy schedule drained the team for league play and there were conflicts about allocation of the prize money. Heaps sees those problems somewhat resolved.

“Yes, absolutely, as players we’re excited to be playing in [SuperLiga.] Last year there were issues with the way they paid it out, but this year there’s no issues. It’s a tournament now that every MLS team wants to be in and it’s very prestigious because you’re playing against top Mexican teams.

“[SuperLiga] is very important, especially the way it’s spaced out this year,” said Heaps. “Last year we got the experience but it took it’s toll on us, this year the timing is much better and we can actually use this as a platform.”

Revolution to play Atlas, Open Cup with a short roster

Mike Videira picked up a red card for throwing an elbow on an aerial challenge in the Kansas CIty draw and is suspended for the Sunday match against Atlas. Now Heaps will miss the June 30 Open Cup match at Veterans Stadium in Connecticut and the July 4th match at the Galaxy. Wells Thompson is suspended for the Open Cup match as well. And seven of the regular starters are out with injuries.

“By the time we get to the Open Cup we’ll have 14 players,” said Nicol, “and two of them are goalkeepers.”

“We’re in a position where we hold our fate in our own hands,” said Heaps, “and that’s good motivation in itself, but at the same time, these are times when you have to find who’s going to be there in a crunch time. We’re starting to develop guys and it’s tough to see Mike Vidiera go out in the other game but he opened the door for Nico [Colaluca] to get a good chance.”

Saturday night decided the fate of SuperLiga Group A, and although Tigres stepped up their game to defeat Chicago Fire (2-1) with two spectacular goals by young Armando Pulido, both teams advance in SuperLiga. San Luis tied Chivas USA (1-1) in more of a brawl than a game and both teams go home.

Gillette Stadium opens at 2:15 for viewing of the Confederations Cup match between the US Men’s National Team and Brazil on both Jumbotrons before the SuperLiga match.

Sunday, June 28, 4:30PM ET - SuperLiga: Atlas @ New England Revolution 
 

Group A           W L T   PTS
San Luis           2 1 0    6
Chicago            2 1 0    6
Tigres UANL   1 1 1    4
Chivas USA    0 2 1    1

Group B           W L T   PTS
New England  1 0 1     4
Kansas City   0 0 2     2
Atlas                0 0 2     2
San Laguna    0 1 1     1

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