New England Soccer Today

The Hangover

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution extended their MLS unbeaten run to five games and their shutout streak to 395 minutes, but their 0-0 draw in front of 14,163 at Gillette Stadium is unlikely to be one they are proud of, coming against last place D.C. United.

The draw kept the Revolution (5-4-5, 20 points) in sixth place, two points out of the fifth in final playoff spot, while United (1-10-3, 6 points) remained mired at the bottom of the Eastern  Conference.

“Yeah, I’m pissed off (that we didn’t get three points),” Revolution forward Juan Agudelo said after the game. “Can I say that? Yeah, I’m pretty pissed off.”

D.C. wasted little time in putting the Revolution defense on its heels when Carlos Ruiz harassed Jose Goncalves into a turnover during the 7th minute. The ball fell to Nick DeLeon who ran in on goal, but sent his shot just wide of the far post.

New England had a chance in the 18th minute after some nice build up play down the left flank. Diego Fagundez got the ball at the top of the box and laid it off for Lee Nguyen, but the 2012 Revolution MVP sent his shot high of the net.

A minute later the Revolution thought they had taken the lead through Saer Sene after the Frenchman blasted got the ball in the left side of the box off a headed clearance and blasted a shot that goalkeeper Bill Hamid could only tip into the net. The goal was disallowed however as the referee whistled a foul by Agudelo on Ethan White on the clearance.

“Ah, I mean, it was 50/50,” Agudelo said. “I think if I touched the ball, it should’ve been a foul, but I didn’t touch the ball, and I don’t think he was going to touch the ball. We went up for the ball together, but I didn’t feel like I pushed him off the back that hard. But, yeah, maybe it should’ve been a goal.”

D.C. first tested Bobby Shuttleworth in the 28th minute when DeLeon played Chris Pontius into the box. Pontius ran in under pressure from Jose Goncalves and powered a shot on frame from a tight angle that Shuttleworth could only tip wide.

The Revolution’s best opportunity came in the 31st minute when Juan Agudelo dribbled the ball through several defenders in the left side of the box then laid it off for Juan Toja, making a run towards the top of the box. Toja hammered an effort on target, but Hamid managed to tip it over the net.

“I think we had our chances to score,”  Shuttleworth said. “Credit to Bill (Hamid) and their defense.”

A second half devoid of great chance was sparked to life in the 66th minute when Fagundez found space and dribbled through several defender to the top of the box. The 18-year-old hit a shot on frame that Hamid could only tip high. Off the ensuing corner kick, Chris Tierney hit a shot towards goal that was only denied by the post.

“It’s definitely a collector’s item when I get a shot off on the right,” Tierney quipped. “Yeah, people start to overplay the left (foot) so you have to have a little something in the bag.”

The next chance for the Revolution didn’t come until the 88th minute when Andrew Farrell played into space on the right side of the box. Nguyen put a low, driven shot on frame, but Hamid was able to parry it wide.

Two minutes later it was Kelyn Rowe with a chance when Farrell played him into the box, but Hamid was again there to make the save.

“Obviously, we are disappointed (with the result),” Shuttleworth said. “We had the chances to get three (points). Credit to Bill (Hamid). I thought he played really well. Obviously (we’re) disappointed but we’ve got to keep moving on.”

With the scoreless draw, the resurgent Revolution offense was silenced for the first time in six weeks, which came in a 0-0 draw at Portland. D.C. earned its first point in league action since a 1-1 draw against Sporting K.C. on May 19.

The Revolution return to action for a fourth round U.S. Open Cup tie against the New York Red Bulls at 7:30pm on Jun. 12 at Harvard University’s Soldiers Field Soccer Stadium. After that, the Revolution travel to Vancouver for a Jun. 15 clash against the Whitecaps at 10pm ET at BC Place.

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