Red Bulls Romp
- Updated: April 21, 2013
The New England Revolution’s poor form continued on Saturday with a 4-1 loss to the New York Red Bulls at Red Bull Arena. New England (1-3-2, 5 points) fell to 9th in the East with the loss, while the Red Bulls (3-4-2, 11 points) moved into 4th.
New York opened the scoring through Dax McCarty in just the fourth minute, though they gave the lead back through an own goal just two minutes later. Fabian Espindola put the Red Bulls on top, 2-1, for good in just the eighth minute and New York would hold on until Thierry Henry and Jonathan Steele put the game out of reach with two late goals to give the home team its final 4-1 margin of victory.
New England entered the match with heavy hearts due to the events in Boston over the past week which directly impacted multiple members of the team, including leaving goalkeeper Matt Reis’ father-in-law hospitalized.
Heaps made two changes to the line-up that drew 0-0 with the Seattle Sounders last weekend. Diego Fagundez replaced Juan Toja up front, while Andy Dorman took over for Clyde Simms in the center of the midfield.
The moves were seemingly designed to aid the Revolution in the attack and the game immediately appeared more open than the Revolution’s other matches this season.
The Red Bulls would open the scoring in just the fourth minute off a Henry corner kick. New England failed to properly clear the ball and the Red Bulls eventually found McCarty, who – after quickly combining with Tim Cahill – blasted a low shot on frame from the top of the box that beat a diving Bobby Shuttleworth.
The home side would give the lead back just two minutes after the Revolution earned a free kick on the left flank. Lee Nguyen curled in a cross and, amid a cluster of Revolution players, New York defender Brandon Barklage headed it past his own goalkeeper Luis Robles to knot the score at 1-1. The goal ended the Revolution’s scoreless streak at 394 minutes.
Another two minutes later Fabian Espindola would put the Red Bulls back in the lead. A long ball from Barklage sent Espindola behind the defense about 60 yards downfield. Espindola cut around A.J. Soares before hitting a low shot past Shuttleworth to make it 2-1.
New England nearly found the equalizer in the 27th minute when Chris Tierney sent a dangerous cross into the box. The ball skipped past Fagundez, but fell to Jerry Bengtson, though he was unable to convert, hitting his shot high from close range.
Bengtson had another chance in the 31st minute after being played behind the defense by Kelyn Rowe. Bengtson dribbled around Robles, but his touch was too heavy, cutting down his angle. The Honduran international then launched a cross over everyone in the box.
Tim Cahill perhaps should’ve doubled the Red Bulls advantage in the 39th minute when Henry found him with a free kick from the right flank. Cahill got a head to the ball at the far post, but his effort skimmed the top of the bar and went out for a goal kick.
Four minutes later it was Shuttleworth with a huge save to deny the Red Bulls off another Henry corner. Barklage rose up to power a header on frame from close range, but Shuttleworth was well positioned and punched the shot out before the Revolution cleared.
With the early goings of the second half devoid of many chances, the Revolution looked to inject some life into the attack in the 61st minute bringing on Saer Sene and Juan Toja for Fagundez and Dorman. Just seconds later New England finally tested Robles when a Revolution corner found José Gonçalves in the box. Gonçalves headed the ball down and then poked it towards goal from close range, but Robles made the save. The shot ended a 161 minute period in which the Revolution failed to register a shot on frame.
The visitors had another chance off a corner in the 71st minute, but Bengtson couldn’t direct his header off a Nguyen cross on frame from close range.
Henry added to the lead for the Red Bulls in the 82nd minute. New York broke forward quickly on a counterattack and Jonathan Steele played a through ball to Henry, who broke in alone on goal. Henry ran in and slotted a low shot past Shuttleworth to make it 3-1.
New York would add another on an 89th minute counterattack when Eric Alexander got behind the defense and sent a pass across goal to Steele for an easy tap-in to put the Red Bulls up 4-1.
The Revolution pushed forward late, but saw their best chance denied when Robles blocked Sene’s shot from close range in stoppage time.
The Revolution return home to face the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, April 27, at Gillette Stadium.
4 Comments
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wpeterjones
April 21, 2013 at 7:14 pm
The REVS need to change the team around for next week home game –Soffner–Barnes-Goncalves-Soars (if fit)-Mc Carthy-Farrell-Dorman-Simms-Tierney-Fagundez- Bengston-Imbongo (Sene) Rowe Lee Toja Shuttleworth to the bench– Fagundez & Tierney to play on the wings????
bg
April 21, 2013 at 8:45 pm
It is time to end the heaps experiment. The revs haven’t looked good since mid June 2012, no players are playing to their potential, regressing instead of progressing. They have abandoned all of their credos that heaps professed. As Rick often points out as a team they do not perform even fundamentals well. The list can go on and on and many of those can be attributed to coaching. Heaps may be a good coach someday. That day is not now however. He needs time as an assistant somewhere and proper training and mentoring. He was destined to fail as the cheap alternative.
RISAPRES
April 22, 2013 at 7:00 am
Jay Heaps was destined to fail. Despite his aggressive attitude and desire to succeed, he had simply no experience at any level. What alternatives exist? The MLS has certainly been a place in which the right former players and College coaches have succeeded. Experience is the key however. “Cheap” doesn’t work. Proper assistants are a requirement as well. Who would fit the bill? 1. Steve Ralston, 2 Ray Reid, 3 Paul Mariner. The change should happen immediately before the season is lost.Additionally we need players! All of these items can only happen from the top down. Query does the REVS FO have the guts,savy and wallet to make the needed changes? No offense but a lineup change is not enough
wpeterjones
April 22, 2013 at 7:19 pm
If we are going to sack the coach maybe other heads should go as well ie Mr Burns ?? How about Steve Nichol in Mr Burns job and Paul Mariner as the coach of the Revolution????????