Fagundez Provides Spark in Revs Win

Diego Fagundez got his third start of the season on Wednesday. (Photo: Chris Aduama/aduama.com)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Injuries and international absences may have decimated the New England Revolution’s attack, but Diego Fagundez picked up the slack on Wednesday, helping spark the offense in a 2-0 upset win over the Columbus Crew at Gillette Stadium.

With Saer Sene, the Revolution’s leading scorer, out for the season due to an AC tear, and Designated Player Jerry Bengtson away with the Honduran National Team for World Cup Qualifiers, the big question on Wednesday night was where the goals would come from. Head coach Jay Heaps turned to 17-year-old Fagundez and 22-year-old Dimitry Imbongo to lead the charge as the Revolution looked to end their 10-game winless streak.

While Fagundez was held quiet in Saturday’s scoreless draw with the Philadelphia Union — his first start since June — when paired with Bengtson, the Leominister, Mass. native came alive against the Crew.

“I think me and Dimitry [Imbongo] both came onto the field thinking that we needed to do something,” said Fagundez. “We have both our main forwards out … So me and Dimitry got together and we were like ‘we need to do something right now. This is our game to show that we can help out the team.’”

Fagundez certainly did just that, playing a key role in the Revolution’s opening goal in the 53rd minute. The 5-foot-8 forward got on the ball inside the box after Imbongo flicked on a long throw-in from Florian Lechner. Fagundez tapped a shot around goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum and was denied only by the post, but had the presence of mind to collect his own rebound under pressure and tap it just far enough so an onrushing Imbongo could slot it into the net.

Just like that, 1-0 Revolution.

“It was such a quick play,” said Fagundez. “It was a good throw-in by Flo [Lechner] and Dimitry was holding a man very well. Of course I just followed behind him and tried volleying it in. As soon as it hit the post I saw Dimitry coming in, so I barely touched it with my toe and he followed through and it was his first goal, so it was exciting.”

The diminutive striker nearly opened the scoring earlier in the 29th minute after Gruenebaum punched a long throw-in from Lechner towards the penalty spot. Fagundez volleyed a shot off the rebound on frame with an impressive scissor kick that forced Gruenebaum into a difficult save.

He also tested Gruenebaum with a low shot after a nice run to the top of the box in the 11th minute.

But, even with all his offensive efforts, Fagundez also put the effort in to pressure defensively.

“Diego played very well,” said Heaps. “A lot of what he does — that we’ve asked him to do — is pick up his game defensively and work. He was all over the field doing that tonight. He created the goal and was a handful all game.”

Whether Fagundez’s impressive performance leads to more starts could be another difficult question for Heaps. With Bengtson soon to return and Imbongo also putting in a good outing, Heaps will have some options soon.

Still the recent influx of minutes will surely have helped the young forward’s confidence going forward.

“These two starts have been perfect for me — even getting a lot of minutes in,” said Fagundez. “My body feels good right now, so I hope I keep starting.”

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