Revolution Fight To Home Draw Following Bye Week

Saturday, August 16, 2014

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

The New England Revolution welcomed the Portland Timbers to Gillette Stadium as they got back to action off a Bye Week. The two teams fought to the finish, but the game ended in a 1-1 draw.

The Revs were the first team to get on the attack as Kelyn Rowe stepped in front of a Timbers clearance attempt in the 12th minute. The rebound off of Rowe landed at the feet of Teal Bunbury in the box. Bunbury made a shot attempt but Portland goalkeeper Donovan Ricketts stepped in front for the save.

The Revs were also the first time to find the back of the net, and it was Charlie Davies in the 27th minute. Davies got a perfect feed from Diego Fagundez as he snuck behind the defense. He turned and delivered a low shot off the far post and in the net, giving the Revolution the 1-0 lead.

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Following the play, Kevin Alston was attended to by the Revolution athletic training staff. Alston was unable to continue and was subbed off in the 28th minute. The injury was later announced as right hamstring tightness. Darrius Barnes came on for the injured Alston.

The Timbers nearly found an answer to the Revs goal off a free kick in the 31st minute. Diego Valeri delivered a very good free kick into the box which was put on target by Norberto Paparatto, but Bobby Shuttleworth was there for the save. 

The Revs came right back, looking to take a lead. The ball was crossed in by Andrew Farrell and right at the feet of Diego Fagundez. Fagundez let a bouncing shot off which was saved by Ricketts.

Portland had their best chance of the half in the 37th minute when Diego Valeri got behind the Revolution defense and was one-on-one with Bobby Shuttleworth off a beautiful feed form Gaston Fernandez. Valeri was able to sneak the ball past Shuttleworth but it rolled just wide of an open net.

The Revs went into the half with the 1-0 lead. Portland, however, had the lead in possession by a 51.9% to 48.1% margin. The Revs took seven shots with three on target to four for the Timbers with two on target.

The 2nd Half started with the Timbers nearly finding an equalizer off the foot of Valeri again. This time Valeri got a good feed on a cross from Will Johnson and ripped a low shot from just outside the box, but it rolled wide of the left of the net.

The Revs got their first chance of the 2nd half on a long shot from Kelyn Rowe in the 51st minute. Rowe saw an opening from way outside the box that appeared to catch Ricketts by surprise. The shot was wide of the net on the near side, but Ricketts reacted as if the shot was going on target.

The Revs got another long distance shot, this time in the 58th minute. The shot came from substitute Diago Kobayashi less than a minute after he subbed in. The shot once again made Ricketts work, forcing a diving save.

The Timbers did find the equalizer that they were looking for off the foot of Liam Ridgewell in the 65th minute. Ridgewell made a fantastic run right through the Revolution defense and found open space on the right ride of the box. He ripped the shot past Shuttleworth to draw the game even at 1-1.

Portland nearly got another goal in the 68th minute, but the Revs caught a break when the play was called offsides. They had a clear two-on-none break but the flag went up as Gaston Fernandez was called offsides.

The Revs had another very good opportunity from distance, and again it was from Rowe. Rowe got the ball from Diago Kobayashi off a failed pass from the Timbers. Rowe took the ball up the right side and blasted a shot from just outside the box, but again Ricketts was able to dive for a finger-tip save to keep the score level.

Portland once again put the pressure on the Revs, this time it was Maximiliano Urruti. Urruti put a strong shot low to the right of the net off a good feed from Darlington Nagby but Bobby Shuttleworth made an amazing dating save to his left to keep the score level.

Both teams fought through the rest of the game, but were unable to pull ahead. The game ended in a 1-1 draw as the Revs were able to grab a point coming off the Bye Week.

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Related Slideshow: New England Revolution vs. Portland Timbers - 8/16/2014

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