Revs Say Goodbye to Sporting Loanee Samba
- Updated: August 29, 2016
Photo credit: Chris Aduama/aduamaphotography.com
In a season plagued by defensive woes, the Revolution waived reserve center back Samba on Monday.
Samba, who joined the team on loan from Portuguese club Sporting Portugal during the preseason, only saw action two league matches during his time in New England. He earned one start vs. Dallas on May 21, a game in which the Revolution dropped a 4-2 home loss.
The 23-year-old was loaned to the Revolution in January 2016 following a season with Sporting’s B team. He served as the squad’s captain prior to his move to MLS.
Not long after joining the squad, Revolution assistant coach Tom Soehn told NESoccerToday.com in April that Samba was working his way through the adjustment to MLS.
“I think when you compare the style of play in Portugal, there’s not a lot of pressure on the backs as there is here in our league. There’s a lot of high pressure (in MLS),” Soehn said at the time. “That’s something that he even said to us as we talked to him and tried to work with him. It’s so different from what they’re used to in having to open up quick so when they get the ball they buy themselves more time.”
The club’s original hope was to have the young center back establish a rapport with the likes of fellow Portuguese defender Jose Goncalves and converted center back Andrew Farrell. But Samba struggled in league play, and often looked overmatched when opponents employed the high press.
Samba’s final appearance with the Revolution came in last month’s U.S. Open Cup quarterfinal win over Philadelphia, a game in which he went 120 minutes before the game was decided on penalties.
With Samba’s release, the Revolution currently have 25 players on their roster.
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