Doesn’t winning feel great? The New England Revolution have demonstrated that our firepower will overwhelm any weakened or inexperienced defenses. Our own defense is settling into their roles. Also, a bit more time in practice this week did seem to clean up our defense of set pieces. Vancouver has a lot of games on their schedule right now, between MLS and the Amway Cup. Managing their players’ minutes is probably wise for them, though, there is a case to be made that the Revs exploited the absence of some Whitecaps starters. Along with our earlier win in Los Angeles this game is certainly a milestone that has helped me understand how our Revolution fit into the league right now.
Vancouver and New England both started this game in a more relaxed mode than seemed appropriate. Sure enough, with players jogging when they should have been running, hanging out near a shoulder instead of decisively establishing defensive position between attackers and Matt Reis’s goal, the Whitecaps used some nifty passing to crack us open for the first goal. Starting from a center back the clearance went to their target forward, Hassli. Hassli passed to Chumiento, who passed it into space for LeToux. Le Toux cut it back to the middle, splitting Tierney and MCarthy, where Hassli ran on to the ball and struck for the game’s opening goal.The Whitecaps made it look easy.
The Revs had conceded the first goal, arguably starting the game slow, and playing against a team with a reputation for defense. New England’s response would show our club’s intent and character. The Revolution went on the attack. Quickly the play shifted to Vancouver’s end. The Revs were pushing their passing and pressing the Whitecaps to win turnovers. Nguyen’s first goal was a rebound from a Brettschnieder shot that bounced off of a defender. In the sixth minute of the game it was already 1-1.
The Revs pressure caused turnovers and Vancouver’s ball watching opened space. Clyde Simms took a few long range shots. Simms first shot was the product of Tierney, our left back pressuring in the top left corner of the field. Shalrie Joseph got the third goal on a rebound shot similar to Lee Nguyen’s first. Lee wasn’t done with that rebound goal, he dribbled in and put a pass right in stride for Saer Sene to us his preferred left foot for the second goal. And still Nguyen had more to bring along with his sixth minute goal and 24th minute assist. Almost 30 minutes into the second half Lee Nguyen collected a Tierney throw in, let the ball bounce, and then volleyed a dipping rocket across the field. That ball flew into the opposite side netting of the goal, tucked just under the crossbar, and it felt like the finale of a fireworks display.
The Revs attacked but Vancouver’s passive defense was missing it’s center. Both Jay DeMerit and Martin Bonjour are regular starters who did not even travel to New England. Not every team in MLS will provide us with second string and easily bowled over central defenders. In fact, the team we play next, Houston, has fewer points than us but more points per game and their steady defense is often credited. Vancouver’s defense was also characterized as consistently strong. New England’s attack showed plenty of its potential with this 4-1 win over Vancouver. We can win games. Our Revs do best when we start competing early in games. We had four unanswered goals, clearly New England’s attack stunned the Whitecaps.
(images courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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