With MLS returning to home markets this past week the New England Revolution players earned MLS honors. When the league’s Team of the Week was announced New England’s goalkeeper Matt Turner and center-back Henry Kessler were named.
For Matt Turner, this is really just another week. The 26-year-old had a five-save shutout last Thursday against the Philadelphia Union, barely breaking a sweat. Turner in five starts this season has three clean sheets. According to StatsBomb, Turner was expected to give up 0/7 goals against the Union, the second-lowest goals expected Turner has had this season. Again, didn’t break a sweat.
As for the rookie Henry Kessler, this is his first appearance on the MLS Team of the Week. This was only Kesslers’ fourth start of his MLS career, his sixth appearance. The University of Virginia product went the full 90 minutes against the Union and had a total of 55 touches, two tackles, one block, and completed 35 of his 41 pass attempts (85.4%). Kessler was credited with eight pressures of opponents was successful three of those times (37.5%). In addition, Kessler had a total of 10 clearances.
Kessler also showcased additional chemistry with his goalkeeper Matt Turner. Turner hit Kessler a team-high 12 times, the closest defender to that was Andrew Farrell who turner hit just six times.
Adam Buksa To Play For Poland During Nations League Matches
On Monday the Polish national team officially announced that Revolution striker Adam Buksa would participate in their upcoming Nation’s League games that place in September. The 24-year-old came to the Revs this off-season via a transfer in which New England paid Pogon Szczecin upwards of $2M. Prior to coming to MLS, Buksa played in parts of seven Ekstraklasa seasons for three different clubs.
Thru six league matches Buksa has scored two goals on 18 shots, seven on target. While the lengthy Polish international has left a lot to be desired thus far his expected goals of two per StatsBomb actually matches his actual goal total. From a passing perspective he hasn’t been that crisp with a 73.9% passing accuracy. That accuracy was very poor at close range (1-for-5). That being said the effort has been there, five tackles, four of which won. 113 pressures in which 27.4% were successful.
While Buksa can certainly be better the service has to be a tad better and secondary scoring options need to appear. After all, New England hasn’t scored a single goal in over 300 minutes. Last Thursday against the Union, Buksa had just 39 touches, the fewest amongst Revolution starters who went the full 90 minutes. And with the ball he wasn’t great with all four shots being off-target and a sub-par 72.2% passing accuracy.
Poland’s first Nations League match will take place on September 4th against the Netherlands at 2:45 p.m. in Amsterdam. Super unclear of how all of this will work in a global pandemic in terms of timing of Buksa potentially leaving and returning to the Revolution for a match that takes place in 11 days. More details will come out in the near future on the matter. For the moment the last match on New England’s docket is September 12th with MLS having yet to announce the second phase of their return to market schedule.
