New England Weekly Review: July 8, 2024

The New England clubs have experienced a turning point in history in recent weeks, but last weekend all New England clubs dropped points.

The Revolution looked dangerous despite a heavy rotation due to injuries, but lost 2-0 to the Seattle Sounders.

Rhode Island FC grabbed a point in the final minutes of injury time when Isaac Angking became the first Rhode Island native to score for Rhode Island FC in the club’s 3-3 draw against Indy Eleven.

Hartford Athletic lost 3-0 to Loudoun United FC, which now puts them three points behind Rhode Island FC.

New England Revolution II lost to Philadelphia Union II, with Cavan Sullivan making the difference in the 2-1 defeat.

Somewhere in the memory of every US national team fan lives the memory of Uruguay beating Berhalter’s team 1-0 to eliminate them in the group stage.

In USL League 2, the Seacoast United Phantoms defeated Vermont Green FC 2-1. Western Mass Pioneers defeated Boston City FC 5-0 to secure playoff qualification.

As we review this weekend’s results, here are some talking points:

As the USL League 2 season draws to a close, the match between Seacoast United and Vermont Green defined the final two weeks of the season.

With Seacoast facing Pathfinder and Albany Rush in their final two games, this game puts them as favorites to finish in first place. Vermont will play the Boston Bolts and Western Mass Pioneers in an attempt to reach the playoffs.

After the game ended, Seacoast United and Boston College winger Marco dos Santos posted a clip of his winning goal on Instagram with the caption “Social Media FC” and three broom emojis.

Such a message reflected the heated intensity of the match. Dos Santos’ jab seemed to mock The Green’s online presence. The Green has one of the largest media presences of any USL League 2 club.

Vermont’s Green supporters group, Green Mountain Bhoys, responded via X by emphasizing that the club reaches beyond online: the club counted 2,500 spectators at a USL League 2 match.

While missing the playoffs would be disappointing for the Green, the club’s growth over the past three years shows Vermont’s soccer potential. In three years, Vermont Green FC has built strong ties with the community around Burlington, Vermont. With an audience of 2,500 and 20,000 followers on Instagram, the Green is well on its way to making the leap to the professional side of the pyramid.

That’s not to say Vermont is the only well-run club in the Northeast Division. Seacoast United, on the other hand, is an example of good talent development through a strong youth system. Their USL League 2 team is made up of mostly college players like Dos Santos, Mitch Varely and Taig Healy, along with others who came through Seacoast’s youth teams.

The Pioneers approach the game from a much more local perspective, holding on to the club’s Portuguese roots. In recent years the club has also grown to expand its youth system and female affiliates.

All three clubs are rewarded for their different approaches and demonstrate the need to support local soccer in the United States. Not only are these clubs developing talent and growing close to their local areas, but they are also shaping the soccer identity of New England.

While dos Santos’ Instagram story reflects a limited perspective on a rivalry in the game, the formation of this rivalry shows how divisions are growing.

By calling Vermont Green FC a social media club, you ignore the thousands of fans who attended the club’s games this season.

Vermont Green FC’s Playoff Path Shrinks After 2-1 Loss to Seacoast United

In the off-season, Rhode Island FC sought out hometown talent for its first season. Despite missing Cranston-born Damien Rivera, the club signed Kevin Vang, Nathan Silveira and Isaac Angking. Angking has returned from international duty with Puerto Rico in recent weeks and has been on the bench more often.

This weekend, Angking became the first Rhode Islander to score for the club in a competitive match, netting the equalizer in the 95th minute.

Jojea Kwizera shot down the left flank and slid a pass to Albert Dikwa. When Dikwa received the ball in the penalty area, he swung it towards the penalty spot. Angking came into the penalty area late and slammed the ball into the roof of the net.

While Rhode Island FC are finally finding their stride, the secret is the players coming off the bench and their ability to score from anywhere on the pitch. This weekend, center back Frank Nodarse scored from two corner kicks with similar routines.

Against the team in third place in the Eastern Conference, Rhode Island came back twice to find themselves in ninth place — just two points out of the playoffs.

RIFC fight back and secure a hard-won draw

This week Esmir Bajraktarevic missed the call-up to the Olympic team, and as reported by The flaming musket, He would not hesitate to represent Bosnia.

That leaves DeJuan Jones and 16-year-old Peyton Miller as the only professional players from the New England Revolution in the USMNT lineup.

It also shows the latest trend among the Revs’ young talent. Noel Buck plays for England at U-20 level, Olger Escobar plays for Guatemala’s first team and it’s been two years since Jack Panayotou played for the U-19 team.

Although several players from the club’s younger age groups play for the national youth teams, there appears to be a disconnect between the first team and the national set-up.

The gap isn’t a matter of talent. Buck could have played for the U.S. U-20 team at last year’s FIFA U-20 World Cup. Bajraktarevic could also have landed on the alternate list over Johan Gomez. Jones and former Revs goalie Matt Turner are testaments to the talent in the system, but they’re the only players on the American Revs roster that Gregg Berhalter is considering.

Overall, the Olympic roster looks pretty good with a solid midfield and a promising attack. The call-ups for Arlington, Massachusetts, native Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman should provide a stable backbone on defense.

For Bajraktarevic, playing for Bosnia might not be a bad decision, since the squad is not as strong as the US national team. He would be an important player from the start.