TUCSON, Ariz. — This season is shaping up to be a massive on for Benny Feilhaber. The New England Revolution midfielder is a vital part of the club’s hopes to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2009, and he has aims at becoming a regular for Jurgen Klinsmann’s US side.
A bicycle-kick goal in the second minute of the opening match of the Desert Diamond Cup is a great start.
“I feel good,” he said after the 3-2 win over the LA Galaxy on Wednesday. “I’m getting back into it after all the travel.”
Feilhaber lined up on the left side of the Revs midfield for the first half, but spent much of the first stanza pinching into the middle.
“Obviously, I prefer to play in the middle,” he said. “I think that’s my best position, but with me and Kelyn [Rowe], we give width. When I was on the left side in the first half, I floated into the middle a lot, and they didn’t pick me up.”
In the second half, Feilhaber moved into the middle permanently alongside Shalrie Joseph. But Joseph is perfectly happy to have him out wide.
“It makes it a lot easier for me to have guys that talented and that good with the ball like Benny and Kelyn [on the flanks],” he said. “You just have to get the ball to their feet and they're going to create chances.”
Both Rowe and Joseph played roles in setting Feilhaber up for his goal. Rowe played the cross in, Joseph flicked it on, and eventually Feilhaber put it away with the bicycle kick.
“We’ve been begging Benny to try one and finally he tried one,” Joseph said. “It was just a great finish.”
WATCH: Benny Feilhaber bicycle-kick goal
Watch the New England Revolution take on the New York Red Bulls LIVE on Saturday, February 25, at 10 pm ET, on MLSsoccer.com Channel 1.
