New England’s Revolution are a surprise contender: MLS weekend wrap

There are points up for grabs in the East. Inter Miami tooled up to defend their MLS Cup title with uneven results. The Philadelphia Union have dropped them from the top of the heap to the cellar. The Ohio duopoly of Columbus and Cincinnati are below their previous standard, while Orlando City played the long game, conducting minimal business before Antoine Griezmann’s summer arrival.

Nashville SC have been the greatest beneficiary of The Great Points Migration in 2026, storming to the top of the East. But right behind them after a gritty 2-1 win over Philadelphia this week are the surprising New England Revolution, led by Marko Mitrović in his first MLS head coaching role after four years with the US youth national teams.

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While Mitrović inherited a squad which had missed the previous two postseasons, he wasn’t short on top-end talent. Carles Gil remains among MLS’s best playmakers, assisting this weekend’s equalizer against Philadelphia – maximizing the second cycle of a corner kick with an excellent first touch and pass to rising second fiddle Luca Langoni.

Gil then won the game himself late in the second half, his third winning goal of the season.

Mitrović’s game model is still being installed, but it’s allowing several players to thrive. Gil has returned to the free-roaming role he fulfilled during his peak years under Bruce Arena. Matt Turner remains in fine form. Center-back Mamadou Fofana is a worthy early consideration for this year’s Best XI. The goal scoring has largely come by committee, but Langoni has looked like a worthy second option next to Gil.

The underlying numbers suggest that there’s work to be done, though. The Revs’ 13 xG through 11 games, per American Soccer Analysis, ranks last in the East and fourth-worst leaguewide. They are sixth-to-last in expected goal difference. The team must become more dependable minute-to-minute before presumably bolstering the squad in the summer window.

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But for now, there’s more than enough fight. No team have reclaimed more points from losing positions than the Revs’ 12. There still isn’t a formula for xDawg – at least not yet – but second-place is a fine way to close the season’s opening trimester and restore hope among the Gillette Stadium faithful.

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