FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Playing for the second time in just four days and in the midst of a hectic stretch of summer matches, Bruce Arena made six changes to the New England Revolution’s starting lineup for Saturday night’s meeting with the Houston Dynamo.
Two of the players moved to the substitute’s bench after starting midweek were Teal Bunbury and Cristian Penilla, and it wasn’t just because the duo needed a rest. No, it was partly strategic.
Playing against a banged up Dynamo side – which traveled just 17 players to New England after playing in San Jose midweek and traveling cross-country on Thursday – Arena wanted that duo available off the bench to take advantage of Houston’s tired legs in the late stages.