Carles Gil scores absurd free kick in NE Revs win after hosting team dinner | OneFootball

Carles Gil may have unwittingly started a team superstition for the rest of the regular season.

According to Prost International's Caleb Pongratz, Gil hosted a team dinner late this week as an attempt to boost morale following a rough start.

Less than 48 hours, the Spaniard and former MLS MVP had scored his first brace since October 7 of 2023, and the Revs had finally removed themselves from the list of teams that had yet to win a game this season.

Both of Gil's goals came from restarts.

Firs there was an absolutely world-class free kick strike from roughly 30 yards, measured perfectly to evade the Red Bulls' five-man defensive wall and fly into the far top corner, leaving Carlos Coronel little chance.

Stunningly, it was only Gil's second direct free kick goal in MLS league play, following a strike from similar distance against Toronto FC on July 7, 2021.

The second was a much simpler finish from the penalty spot, coming on a penalty awarded by Sergii Demianchuk following a video review where he determined Sean Nealis had clattered late into Ignacius Ganago.

Still challenged up front

The desperately needed victory does not solve all the Revs' problems. Gil is still the only New England player to score this season, with the Revs' other goal coming via own-goal in a 2-1 loss at New York City FC on Matchday 4.

And striker Leo Campana, whom Revs manager Caleb Porter billed as a solution to his side's attacking problems from 2024, is still out with a hamstring injury.

But in Gil, the Revs still have one of the league's elite technicians, and maybe even more importantly one who is still bought into being the side's vocal leader and elder statesman.

Among other early season strugglers -- the LA Galaxy, Sporting Kansas City, Toronto FC, CF Montreal and the Houston Dynamo -- it's not entirely clear who would fill that role right now.