Wow. Scoring has been the key ingredient missing from the Revs game this season. Their defense has been marginally better than their offense, though without scoring support New England has succumbed to the pressure of other teams scoring threats. Coach Steve Nicol has lately been more vocal in proclaiming that luck has turned its favor on our opponents more often than on our efforts. This game against Real Salt Lake had a bit of everything, some luck and plenty of goals.
Sometimes you have to manufacture your own luck. The Revolution had only scored 13 goals through their first 17 games, they were finally able to rack up multiple goals against RSL. Three goals! An amazing offensive output for this team. The first was the result of a tricky little combination between Matt Reis and Benny Feilhaber. Benny wasn’t offsides because you can’t be offsides on a goal kick. Lekic put away the resulting penalty kick after Benny was taken down from behind. Tierney put through a low blast on a free kick for the second goal. He also found Shalrie open for the third to put the Revs ahead late in the game. Taylor Twellman, who played for Nicol, called their three goals from set plays evidence of good coaching.
Both Nicol and RSL Coach, Jason Kreis expressed varied opinions of the referee decisions at points during the game. There were several cards, none more influential than the card on Benny’s breakaway in the third minute. RSL center back Borchers ran down Benny from behind. From the referee’s perspective it was a take down from behind which, in the penalty box, typically means a card. The ref showed a red and RSL played with 10 men for the rest of the game. For New England, Cochrane earned his two yellow cards on plays that suggest to me he is already losing the quickness to effectively defend in MLS. Shalrie also picked up a yellow card, both he and Cochrane will miss the game against Philadelphia on the 17th. However, that means that both them are more likely to play against Manchester United on July 13th. Here, we’ll leave aside the debate about the referee decisions and simply state that the impact on the game was noticeable.
Given that they lost a player to a red card in the third minute and had three goals scored against them, RSL’s result was good. They battled back from a two goal deficit and again after Shalrie’s fantastic headed goal to tie the game at three a piece. They will be frustrated to not have won against New England at home. While New England was able to score early and often, something they haven’t been able to do much this year, they may have revealed the extent of their capacity in their current form.
That New England took the lead was a great start to the game. Their inability to maintain possession against a 10-man RSL team suggests, however, that the Revs lack adequate technical skills to compete in MLS. Lekic was again largely unable to receive passes out of the midfield. Pat Phelan worked hard all game, but also had several mis-steps including the give away that lead to RSL’s second score. Our defense was constantly pushed into frantic long ball clearances that needlessly gave the ball away.
While RSL should be disappointed with the circumstances and happy with their perseverance, New England’s demonstration contained fewer positives. Set pieces could keep the Revs in more games. Their give aways and poor passing point to likely more disappointing efforts in the future. Next up, Manchester United in a friendly followed by a game against the Eastern Conference topping Union. We’ll watch for more positives to come out of both games for the Revs.
(image courtesy of revolutionsoccer.net)
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