Union Come to New England without Kai Wagner

11/8/23

Coming into Game 1 it was New England that had the media buzzing about their on and off-field actions, after a dominant win by the Union in Game 1, now it’s their club that is facing the music with tough questions thanks in part to Kai Wagner and his racist comments toward Bobby Wood of the Revolution during Game 1 of the series.

The Revolution are in a must-win situation, a loss and they’re out of the MLS Playoffs. One can only hope that game 2 features a solid hard-fought game without the racist comments smearing the game or any type of retaliation by the Revolution for Wagner’s actions.

It is unfortunate to hear about the racist comments made by Kai Wagner towards Bobby Wood during Game 1 of the series. Racism has no place in sports or any other aspect of society. It is important for the league and the clubs involved to address this issue seriously and take appropriate action. Wagner will miss Game 2 and possibly an additional two matches which is far less than what MLS handed down to Dante Vanzeir of the New York Red Bulls who got 6 games.

In Game 2, both teams must focus on the game itself and play with sportsmanship and respect. Retaliation or further negative actions would only escalate the situation and detract from the spirit of the game. It is hoped that the players and teams can rise above this incident and deliver a competitive and fair match.

The first 45 minutes of the match went scoreless but not eventless, The Revolution lost Mark-Anthony Kaye to a very questionable red card in the 45′ of the first half. We all saw him step on Gazdag but there didn’t appear to be any malice to the action by the player. Even the near side AR stayed flag down and didn’t call for a foul on the play. Yet good old VAR stepped in and said go take a look and to the amazement of everyone in the stadium a red card was issued for the play. You have to hand it to Gazdag for his acting classes and rolling into the space the player needs to step over him cleanly. He drew that card with his Academy award-winning rolling lessons. **(Gazdag did a wonderful job making sure he drew the contact, post-game an angle was released that showed Kaye, stomping on Gazdag. What looked like a player trying to get his foot planted to the ground without injury, appears to have been more sinister in nature than at first appearance and via the replays shown by Apple in the press room).**

The Apple crew has been going at the officials for the “soft” red card, throughout the halftime show recap. It was a crucial moment in the match and one that drastically changed how the Revolution could play the second half in a must-win match for them.

Despite playing a man down since the 45′ the Revolution continued to be dangerous at the start of the second half, they’ve hit a few posts and sailed some within inches of the goal. The Union is playing more like the team down a man than the Revolution early in the second half of play.

In the 79′ Philadelphia finally breaks through and takes the lead late in the match, it is none other than the Queens, NY Native Jack McGlynn who found Donovan making a perfectly timed move to the post to flick the cross from 8 yards to the left of the goal into the net for the game’s first goal and possibly the nail in the coffin to the New England Revolutions season. The goal was sent toward the second post low, after a run down the middle of the box by Donovan.

Damien Lowe is definitely public enemy number one tonight in New England as he keeps avoiding a second yellow card somehow. The fans want the second yellow to even out the red card issued earlier in the match to their guy. The center referee seems to think warnings on warnings is a better route.

The Union managed to hold on to the slim 1 – 0 lead and take the series 2 – 0. New England will head back to the drawing board to try and avoid a similar fate next season, for the Union they will get 17 days off from match play before clashing in a single-match elimination match with FC Cincinnati. Both teams will be without big players on the back line, Philadelphia is without Kai Wagner who was suspended for 3 matches, and for FCC they will be without Matt Miazga for at least one match. He however could miss the remainder of the playoffs if MLS decides to give him a multi-game suspension for entering the official’s locker room post-game in Harrison, NJ in their match against the New York Red Bulls.

Photo Credit: Sean McCaffery Soccer LI Magazine