Reserves crushed by D.C.

Ilija Stolica gave the Revs reserves the lead in the first minute of the match, but New England fell 4-1. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Ilija Stolica got the New England Revolution reserves off to a dream start, scoring just under a minute into the match, but D.C. United powered back with four unanswered tallies to hand the Revs reserves a 4-1 loss in their season opener.

The Revs were on the back foot right off the kick-off, but a quick counter attack gave the home side an early lead. Stolica got the ball just outside the 6-yard box off a Chris Tierney cross from the left flank and redirected it inside the near post past D.C. goalkeeper Bill Hamid from close range.

New England looked a bit more positive going forward after taking the lead and Nigerian newcomer Michael Augustine created a chance cutting inside and combining with Tierney and Stolica. Augustine eventually got the ball back at the top of the box, but his shot was wide of the net.

D.C. took over after that and Branko Boskovic, United’s Designated Player, powered a shot past Revs ‘keeper Bobby Shuttleworth after receiving a pass from Stephen King in the 18^th minute.

Boskovic was key in the next goal as well, sliding a ball through to Blake Brettschneider, who slotted it into the net from close range to give D.C. the 2-1 lead in the 34^th minute.

Nine minutes later it was Brettschneider again finding the back of the net and Boskovic with another setup.

D.C. put the game out of reach in the 69^th minute when academy player Marcus Salandy-Defour finished off a pass from Brettschneider to make it 4-1 after D.C. tore apart the Revs defense with some crisp passing in the box.

The Revs line-up featured an interesting mix of newcomers and established veterans. Shuttleworth got the start in goal, while Ryan Cochrane was joined by Mitchell Taintor, a 16-year old Revs academy player, in the center of the defense. Darrius Barnes and Seth Sinovic played on the outside of the backline. The midfield was a bit more makeshift with Augustine and Tierney on the wings joined by Ryan Kinne and Kheli Dube in the center. Stolica was pared up top with rookie Alan Koger.

Sixteen-year-old homegrown talent Diego Fagundez entered for Dube in the 24^th minute and showed a bit of his talent playing at left midfield as he combined well in the attack on several occasions for the Revs and rarely lost possession. Academy stars Yannick Kabala and Dominik Machad also saw time off the bench in the match.

New England (0-1-0, 0 pts.) next travels to Columbus to face the Crew’s reserves on May 9.