Red Hot Revolution Advance To Eastern Conference Finals With Big Win Over Crew

Sunday, November 09, 2014

Matt LaPan - Go Local Sports Reporter

The New England Revolution took the field at Gillette Stadium for the 2nd leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal matchup with the Columbus Crew with a 4-2 aggregate lead. They came home to the largest crowd in home, playoff history – 20,184. They did not disappoint the home crowd, taking the game 3-1 and the series 7-3 on aggregate, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2007. The Revs will take on the New York Red Bulls in the East Final.

The Crew got the first good chance of the game, coming off the foot of Tony Tchani in the 5th minute. Tchani made a nice run through the midfield before letting off a shot that was blocked by the Revolution defense. Tchani stayed with the play and put that rebound on target, but Bobby Shuttleworth was in good position to make the easy save.

The Revolution were obviously content to sit behind the ball in this leg of the series. They got their first good chance in the 19th minute when Teal Bunbury made a nice run up the right side of the Revs attack and into the 18-yard box of the Crew. Bunbury let off a strong shot, but it was easily saved by Steve Clark.

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The Revs got another chance in the 29th minute when Kelyn Rowe was almost able to take ad advantage of a collision between Charlie Davies and Steve Clark. Davies and Clark got tangled up on a challenge before Rowe attempted a chip, but Clark had recovered and made the easy save.

The Crew got a terrific chance in the 34th minute when Jairo Arrieta got behind the Revolution defense and let off a great low shot but Bobby Shuttleworth made a terrific diving save to his left – keeping the game level at 0-0.

"I thought Bobby was excellent tonight," Jay Heaps said following the game. "I think Bobby has been great the last half of the season, and makes big savves for us. I think in the 1st half, there was a couple throughand he was in great spots. The biggest save was right after we scored."

As the 1st half was winding down, the Revolution pounced on the Crew and got the crucial first goal of the match off the foot of MLS MVP candidate Lee Nguyen in the 43rd minute. The goal was set up on a terrific effort from Teal Bunbury, who got behind the Crew defense and possessed the ball. Bunbury made a cross attempt that was blocked, but he took the ball back and delivered a perfect cross past Charlie Davies and right to the foot of a cutting Nguyen who put in the go-ahead goal. The goal gave the Revolution a 5-2 lead in the series on aggregate goals.

'Teal did a great job being able to keep the play alive," Nguyen said when asked about the play. "I was able to make a run in behind, he saw me and picked out a great pass. Charlie did a great job to let it go -- most guys probably would have tried t back-flick that or shoot that, but no, he did a great job letting that go. Then I was able to run onto it.

The Crew nearly found the equalizer in stoppage time of the half when Jairo Arrieta got a header off from within the 6-yard box, but again Bobby Shuttleworth shut the door. Arrieta got a perfect cross from Justin Meram and got good strength on his header, but Shuttleworth was in perfect position and popped the ball over the crossbar and preserved the 5-1 aggregate lead. The assists went to both Bunbury and Davies on the goal.

"I thought the 1st half was not so good," midfielder Jermaine Jones said following the match. "So we sat back a little bit and elt them play and that is what they want. I think 2nd half we go and press higher and we got straight with a coouple of chances. I think the big point is that we win again."

The Revolution came out in the 2nd half looking to put the game, and the series, away early. The Revs got multiple attacking chances in the first five minutes. The first came from Lee Nguyen, who got a great pass into the middle of the box from Charlie Davies before firing a shot that was saved by Steve Clark on a great save. The Revs then got three straight shots – two from Teal Bunbury and one from Nguyen that forced Clark to think. The Revs nearly found the net seconds later on a tip from Kelyn Rowe, but again Clark came-up huge.

The Crew went for an attacking move, but their pressing up led to a three-on-two attack for the Revolution in the 55th minute. Charlie Davies, Lee Nguyen and Jose Goncalves made the run which was finished by, the captain, Jose Goncalves. The goal made the aggregate lead 6-2 and gave Goncalves his first career playoff goal. Both Davies and Nguyen were awarded the assist on the play. "I think every goal tonight was important. We are always happy when someone scores and I was able to make the counter with Lee [Nguyen] and Charlie [Davies]. I think he played a great ball in the right moment."

The Crew got a potential chance in the 65th minute when Ethan Finlay made a run behind the defense, but Bobby Shuttleworth came out to make the save. It was following the save, however, that had New England holding their collective breath. Shuttleworth slid on his save and the foot of Finlay made contact with the head of Shuttleworth – who appeared to be knocked out on the field. Shuttleworth lay motionless on the field as trainers gave him medical attention. Shuttleworth was able to recover and stay in the game, but Finlay was shown a red card – making the Crew play from behind with 10 men.

The Crew were able to get one back from the Revolution in the 69th minute off the head of Tony Tchani. Tchani received a great free kick from Justin Meram, allowing him to put in the header. The goal made the score 2-1 in the game and 6-3, Revolution, on aggregate.

The Revolution, however, were not done on offense. The Revs next goal came off the foot of Teal Bunbury in the 77th minute. Bunbury got a beautiful pass from substitute Diago Kobayashi before going high-corner past Clark to make the game 3-1 and the series 7-3 on aggregate.

 The Revolution sat behind the ball for the remainder of the match, advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals against the New York Red Bulls on a 7-3 aggregate win. The Revolution became the first team to ever score seven goals in a two-legged MLS playoff series. "I think it was huge," midfielder Teal Bunbury said when asked about the Revolution goal total. "It just showed the hard work we put in -- training this whole season. We didn't just want to go and sit back. We still wanted to go score goals and we were able to get the job done."

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Related Slideshow: New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew: Eastern Conference Semifinal - 11/9/2014

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