Teenager Igwe making his mark with Revolution
FOXBOROUGH - The left back position did not figure to be a strength for the Revolution this season. Avery John and James Riley played the position last season, but both departed in the offseason, leaving the Revolution without anyone who had started at the position in a Major League Soccer match.
But as the Revolution (3-2-1, 10 points) prepare for tomorrow's game against the Chicago Fire (3-1-1, 10 points), they appear to have filled the position for now, as well as for any variations on their usual 3-5-2 alignment.
Amaechi Igwe, 19, became the youngest defender to perform for the Revolution when he started at left back at Kansas City (3-1 win) April 9, and Chase Hilgenbrinck made his MLS starting debut at FC Dallas (1-0 victory) April 24 as the Revolution switched to a 4-4-2 setup.
Igwe has emerged as possibly the best prospect of the Revolution's teenagers, rivaling forward Kenny Mansally and midfielder Sainey Nyassi, who started spectacularly but have leveled off. Igwe, though, has displayed an impressive combination of aggressiveness and composure, his size (6 feet) and strength adding an important dimension to the back line.
"[Igwe] went from hardly being in the 18 [game-day roster] two months ago to going on the field and now he's a contender for the position," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said yesterday. "His confidence has grown. When you play in the first team, as opposed to the reserves, it's not the same. In a reserve game, if you make a mistake, you can get away with it. When you are in the first team, you are playing in front of a crowd. And when you play well, your confidence grows and grows."
Igwe seemed comfortable in his debut, assured enough to carry the ball out of the defensive end and threaten in attack. But Igwe has also increased his assertiveness in confronting opposing attackers.
"As a young professional, you have to make your mark, or else they will run all over you," Igwe said. "Against New York, I noticed they were forcing everything over to my side, to see if I could do anything."
In fact, the Red Bulls took the lead as Jozy Altidore went past Igwe, but the Revolution rallied for 1-1 tie April 19. But that game might have been a turning point for Igwe, whose tough tackling became evident against Red Bull striker John Wolyniec and against FC Dallas, as he was cautioned in the final minutes. FC Dallas had changed to a four-forward setup late in the game. Igwe, playing right back, was yellow-carded for a cleats-up challenge on Brazilian Ricardinho.
"It's all about making your mark," Igwe said. "[Hard tackling] is not really my style. But, last year, I was told to watch Avery and what stuck in my mind was his tackles; a lot of people in the league didn't want to go at him because of that. It's good to be known for something like that because it takes a lot of teams out of their game. I always go for the ball, but what I want to do is tackle hard, be an enforcer on the field, disrupt the other team.
"We got to the 90th minute against Dallas and I was telling myself to take it easy and not get a card. But if there is an opportunity for a tackle, I'm going to take it."
This has become a role reversal for Igwe, who grew up playing forward and was a striker for a season at Santa Clara University before signing with the Generation Adidas program and joining the Revolution as a first-round draft pick last season.
But Hilgenbrinck and Igwe only gained a chance to start after right back Chris Albright injured his ankle at Chicago (4-0 loss) April 3.
Hilgenbrinck entered late in the first half as the Revolution, playing shorthanded, went to a four-man back line. The next week, Jay Heaps returned to his normal right back spot and the Revolution regained their three-man defensive set.
"It's great to have players competing for spots," Hilgenbrinck said. "It's great for the team and it makes players improve and fight to keep their spot."
Forward Taylor Twellman performed at full speed in shooting drills and could return when the Revolution visit Chivas USA May 11. Twellman underwent surgery for a damaged right medial meniscus April 2 and was expected to miss at least six weeks. "He has been doing the rehab and working really hard," Nicol said. "He has passed the checkups. Some guys are strong and they heal quicker than others."
