The New England Revolution opened the 2024 MLS season with a hard-luck 3-1 loss to D.C. United on Saturday night at Audi Field in the nation’s capital.

D.C. United dynamic striker Christian Benteke was the difference maker with three goals against an undermanned Revolution squad.

Revolution forward Giacomo Vrioni compromised the Revolution’s chances with a pair of costly first-half mistakes that caught the attention of referee Andrew Musashe.

Vrioni picked a yellow card for delaying the restart in the 13th minute and was issued a second for a hard takedown in the 25th to put the Revolution down a man for the remainder of the game.

“If we didn’t give up that red card, I think it is a different game,” said Revolution head coach Caleb Porter. “Everybody on the team has to learn from this as a lesson and the first yellow shouldn’t happen and I haven’t seen a replay on the second yellow.

“Knowing he was on a yellow he shouldn’t be leaving his feet. I am not sure he got him but I haven’t seen it. When you leave your feet on a yellow already you are putting yourself in a situation you shouldn’t be in.”

The Revolution opened the season with a 1-0 victory over CA Independiente on Wednesday night in round one of the Concacaf Champions Cup in Panama. The Revolution will resume their stretch of four games in 11 when they host CA Independiente in the second leg in their Champions Cup series at Gillette Stadium on Thursday night (8:15). The Revolution will face Toronto FC in the MLS home opener in a Sunday matinee (2) on March 3.

“It has been a long preseason and a long road trip up from Panama,” said Porter. “These guys need a break, take a day off and circle the wagons and reset and we go again next week with two home games.

“It will be nice to be home in front of our supporters and we need their support and their energy. We want to get that first home win on Thursday to advance in the Champions Cup and our first league win at home on Sunday.”

Porter made several changes to the Starting XI that blanked CA Independiente. Jonathan Mensah stated at center back alongside Dave Romney while homegrowns Noel Buck was inserted in the midfield and Esmir Bajraktarevic on the attack. Both Buck and Bajraktarevic were second half substitutes against CA Independiente.

Both of these original MLS franchises are under first-year field managers, but Porter was the only one calling the shots from the sidelines. D.C. United head coach Troy Lesesne, who was previously employed by the Red Bulls, was serving a suspension for drawing a red card in his final game with New York in 2023. Assistant coach Zach Prince was at the helm.

While Lesesne was off the grid, his fingerprints were all over the swarming single striker formation that had the Revolution on their heels from the onset.

D.C. United went up 1-0 in the 35th minute when Benteke headed the ball over the line. Ravas appeared to have made a spectacular save, but an official review showed the ball clearly crossed the line.

Benteke led the club with 14 goals last season. The Revs caught a break when midfielder Jared Stroud’s uncontested bid in stoppage time bounced off the crossbar.

“I can’t ask for much more from the group in that second half,” said Porter. “A lot of time 1-0 that long and we hung in and I thought we could claw out a point.”

The Revolution had opportunities to tie the game on three set pieces early in the second half but failed to score. Carles Gil tied the game 1-1 in the 68th minute with an amazing shot that curled inside the far post.

“What a tremendous goal by Carles, a world-class goal,” said Porter. “He and everyone worked hard and ran hard.”

Beneke put D.C, United up 2-1 when Benteke finished a set piece with a sliding kick in the 72nd minute. Benteke potted a header in the 93rd minute to complete the hat trick.