Revs Return to MLS Action, Fall 3-1 to Union
Saturday, June 28, 2014
The New England Revolution were back into their MLS schedule and home against the Philadelphia Union, looking to end a two-game MLS losing streak. The confines of Gillette Stadium were not good to the Revs, however, as they fell 3-1 to the Union.
The Revs were the first to get a good look on net. The Revs had a great build-up when Diego Fagundez fed Patrick Mullins who took a strong show but was turned away by Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath. MacMath left the rebound right in front of the net as both Teal Bunbury and Diego Fagundez and other Revolution players took their swipes at it but they were unable to connect on the opportunity.
Well... Kinda speaks for itself. https://t.co/ZJDcQj3TP8
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— NE Revolution (@NERevolution) June 28, 2014
The Revs got another good chance in the 20th minute as the Union lost possession of the ball and it ended up at the feet of Lee Nguyen. Nguyen gave a great feed to Diego Fagundez and he had an open run down the left side of the field but Fagundez's chip attempt was not enough as MacMath grabbed it and kept the game scoreless.
The Union get their first good chance of the night in the 26th minute off of a broken free kick by Conor Casey. Off the Casey free kick, the Revs were unable to clear the ball which led to a great chance by Maurice Edu, but Edu's shot sailed high of the net.
The Union were at it again just moments later as Sebastien Le Toux hit the far post on a strong kick. The shot bounced wide and the score remained 0-0 but the Union started stringing together multiple opportunities for the first time in the match.
The Revs got their next opportunity when Lee Nguyen created a free kick opportunity in the attacking third of the field. With good position, Chris Tierney took the shot right off the free kick but it went right into the grasp of MacMath.
The Union had a great opportunity in the 39th minute but were denied by Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton. The shot came off the foot of Amboi Okugo and was a low, strong shot but Knighton turned it away with a diving save, he then gathered the rebound to end the threat and keep it 0-0.
The Union were the first to get on the board and it came on a Revolution mistake in the 42nd minute. The play started with a MacMath goal kick which went off the head of xxx and deflected towards the Revolution net. From there Jose Goncalves tried a back header to Brad Knighton but did not put enough pace on it and left an easy opportunity for Sebastian Le Toux who put it past Knighton for the 1-0 lead. "I was a little bit late to react and the ball was right into his feet," Goncalves said following the game. "So Brad [Knighton] had nothing to do with this goal. It's my mistake and I take the responsibility." The lead stayed 1-0 into halftime.
The Revs got the first real chance of the second half off of a great cross by defender Andrew Farrell. Farrell's cross went right to Teal Bunbury but Bunbury put it just wide of the net.
Philadelphia took command of the game in the 69th minute when Danny Cruz put in a shot from outside the box. Cruz made an open run up the middle of the field and hammered home a long goal to make it 2-0.
The Revs almost answered in the 71st minute when Chris Tierney delivered a great cross into the box but it went wide of the net. It appeared that Tierney was looking for Saer Sene, who had just entered the game but Sene was unable to get a head onto it.
The Revs answered and made it 2-1 just minutes later as Saer Sene finished a great cross by Kelyn Rowe. Rowe made a good run and delivered a strong cross into Sene and Sene finished with his left foot. "I thought Saer was very good," Revolution coach Jay Heaps said following the game. "I thought our two subs [Sene and Kelyn Rowe] did a nice job."
You finish, you pick the ball up, and then you do it again. Let's go #NERevs! https://t.co/mNROJgcB0c
— NE Revolution (@NERevolution) June 29, 2014
The Revs almost got the equalizer less than a minute later as A.J. Soares put a blast on target but Zac MacMath made an amazing save, diving to his right and knocking the shot down with one hand.
The Revs momentum was killed in the 78th minute as Sebastian Le Toux got his second of the game and made it 3-1. Le Toux was left open and put a shot in the far corner of the net past Knighton.
With the loss the Revs have 23 points on a 7-6-2 record. They will travel to Real Salt Lake on July 4 and play at 10 pm.
