FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Few New England losses during this trying season packed the devastating punch of Saturday's 2-1 last-gasp defeat to Philadelphia.
Justin Mapp's second-half stoppage time winner condemned the Revs to a third straight defeat and sealed an improbable Union comeback started by Cory Gibbs' first-half dismissal.
The shocking collapse in the final 10 minutes left the Revolution lamenting their inability to consolidate their first-half superiority and rue Gibbs' ejection.
“I definitely feel like we played well enough to win,” New England defender Darrius Barnes told MLSsoccer.com after the match. “I just feel like we had a couple of mistakes that cost us. I have no doubt that if we played them 11 vs. 11, we would have won the game.”
WATCH: HIGHLIGHTS: NE 1, PHI 2
Those permutations – and the festering anger about Gibbs' red card – matter little at this point because the Revs must turn their focus quickly to Wednesday night's SuperLiga final against Monarcas Morelia, according to forward Ilija Stolica.
“That's football,” Stolica said. “We have to deal with it and we have to forget about it as soon as possible because we have an important game on Wednesday. [The game against Philadelphia] is already finished. It's finished bad for us, especially when you take a goal in the last minute.”
The final against Morelia represents perhaps the most important match remaining in a difficult campaign for a Revolution side currently on the outskirts of the playoff picture.
With the carrot of a second SuperLiga title in three years looming with a win on Wednesday night, the Revs will have ample motivation to place their weekend disappointment to the side in hopes of bringing home the title.
“Wednesday is an opportunity to put a trophy in the trophy case,” Barnes said. “It's something we want to win. We've taken it seriously all year long. We want to come in here and win this thing, especially in front of our home crowd to thank them for continuing to support us.
"Hopefully, we can come out, win on Wednesday in SuperLiga and try to get back on track in the league.”
