New England Revolution rainmaker Carles Gil scored a goal with two assists in a 3-1 victory over Inter Miami on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
The Revolution (8-3-6) snapped a five-game winless streak at the start of a three-game homestand. The Revs’ winless streak originated with a 2-1 loss at Inter Miami on May 13.
“He is always good,” said Revolution head coach Bruce Arena of Gil. “You can copy that for the next 17 games as well, it is going to be the same comment as well. He is always good.
“To get to the midway point with 30 points with the injuries we have had is very OK. The first half of the season wasn’t great, but it was good and we’ve got to get better at it.”
Arena made limited alterations and two personnel changes to the starters who battled New York City FC to a scoreless tie in the narrow confines on Yankee Stadium on June 3.
Arena went with a 2-5-3 scheme with Bobby Wood and Gustavo Bou at the top of the rotation. Bou has missed considerable time with a leg injury made his first start since April 15. Arena stayed with a three-back set with DeJuan Jones on the wing. Inter Miami interim coach Javier Morales countered with a 4-2-3-1 set.
Bou made his presence known off a set piece in the eighth minute. Bou got the ball unchallenged at the top of the box but his wheel and deal bid sliced inches wide of the right post.
“His (Bou) performance was good and it will get better and that is positive,” said Arena.
The Revolution went up 1-0 on a penalty kick by Gil in the 27th minute. The Revolution were awarded the PK when midfielder Matt Polster was undercut by defender DeAndre Yedelin in the penalty area.
Gil crossed up Inter Miami keeper Drake Callender and fired a low shot inside the right post for his team-high sixth of the season. Inter Miami suffered a huge setback when attacker Jean Corentin went down with a non-contact leg injury and was taken off the pitch on a stretcher.
The Revs went up 2-0 in the 34th minute when Matt Poster headed home a corner kick from Gil for his first of the season. Gil was credited with his sixth helper of the campaign.
“His (Polster) first 15 minutes weren’t good but the penalty kick penalty he drew was an excellent play,” said Arena. “Obviously the goal was big and it was good to see Matt step up.”
The Revolution went up 3-0 when Gil set up Wood in the 51st minute. Gil made rainbow feed to Wood in the penalty area. Wood collected the ball in traffic and fired near post for his sixth of the season.
“The third goal was big and we played after that like the game was over,” said Arena. “Then changes that we made didn’t work at all but the good part was we got Gustavo back on the field.”
IM attacker Josef Martinez scored on a penalty kick in the 84th minute to deny Petrovic his seventh clean sheet of the season. Petrovic will miss next Saturday’s match competing for the Serbian National team.
