New England Soccer Today

Revs Reserves fall 5-1 to Columbus

Junior Ntame (left) was one of three guest players for the Revs Reserves on Sunday. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Andrew Sousa gave the New England Revolution Reserves an early lead with a well taken free kick, but the same defensive miscues that have plagued the first team doomed the Reserves as the Columbus Crew stormed back to grab a 5-1 win on Sunday morning.

The loss sees the Revs Reserves (4-5-1, 13 points) finish the MLS Reserve League season with a losing record, while the Crew (8-1-0, 24 points) clinched first in the Eastern Division of the Reserve League.

Sousa’s goal came in the 26th minute after Kheli Dube was fouled about 25 yards out from goal on the left flank. Sousa, a rookie from Fall River, Mass., stepped up to take the free kick and curled it over the wall and goalkeeper Andy Gruenebaum for his second MLS Reserve League goal of the season.

Andrew Sousa celebrates scoring the game's opening goal with Kenny Mansally. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

That goal capped a span of action that saw both sides exchange chances. The Revs looked to strike first when Dube headed a Kenny Mansally free kick just high of the net only four minutes into the match.

Three minutes later it was the Crew with a chance when Tom Heinemann was played behind the defense, but weakly hit a shot that Revs goalkeeper Tim Murray easily saved.

The Revs dodged a pair of bullets just before the ten minute mark. First Heinemann beat Zak Boggs to Justin Meram cross, but headed just high of the net.

Then, in a sign of things to come, Meram broke into the box and went down under a challenge from Otto Loewy, but referee Juan Guzman questionably ruled in favor of the Revs, despite the Crew’s protests.

But the Revs would come close again down the other end in the 14th minute. This time Dube played Sousa through the defense, but the Providence College product saw his shot blocked at the last second by a sliding defender.

After Sousa gave the home team the lead in the 26th minute, Ryan Kinne looked to add to the Revs advantage on a run forward from his right back position five minutes later. Finding space, Kinne unleashed a shot from 35 yards that sailed just high of the net.

The Crew would equalize just before halftime after earning a free kick when Revs trialist Nicolas Dieuze committed a foul just outside the Revolution box. Bernardo Amor blasted a shot on frame, but Murray made an impressive save. Meram got to the rebound, sending a cross in front of goal that eventually deflected off a mess of players including Boggs, Loewy, and Heinemann and entered the net. Heinemann was credited for the goal, but it may have actually gone in off a Revs player.

Columbus would take the lead six minutes after halftime. Heinemann was taken down in the box, earning a penalty kick, which he would subsequently convert for his second credited goal of the night.

Mansally nearly equalized just a couple minutes later, but his chipped shot over Gruenebaum rolled just wide of the far post.

Another Revs defensive miscue would put the game out of reach. This time Loewy committed a foul in the box, earning the Crew their second penalty kick, which Kevin Burns converted off the left post in the 55th minute.

Dartmouth College product Andrew Olsen looked to make an impact as a guest play for the Revs reserves. (Photo by Art Donahue/artdonahue.com)

Revolution guest player Andrew Olsen, a halftime sub for Sainey Nyassi, looked to make an impact a little after the hour mark with an attempted bicycle kick, but the Dartmouth College product’s effort was blocked.

A rough night for Loewy continued in the 71st minute when he failed to control a long ball from the Crew, allowing Heinemann to steal it and dribble in on goal before slotting it past Murray to complete his hattrick.

The Crew would finish the scoring in the 79th minute when Santiago Primm played Meram behind the defense with a nice through ball and Meram calmly directed a shot past Murray to make it 5-1.

The Revs had one last chance to grab a late consolation goal, but Mansally’s well taken free kick from 22 yards was saved by Gruenebaum.

Sousa, Mansally, Alan Koger and Zack Schilawski all finish the MLS Reserve League season tied for the Revs team lead with two goals apiece. The first team finishes its season on Saturday at Toronto F.C.

MLS Reserve League
Columbus Crew Reserves at New England Revolution Reserves
October 16, 2011 – Upper Practice Field, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)

Columbus 5, New England 1

Scoring Summary:
NE – Andrew Sousa (unassisted) 26
CLB – Tommy Heinemann (unassisted) 45
CLB – Tommy Heinemann (penalty kick) 51
CLB – Kevin Burns (penalty kick) 55
CLB – Tommy Heinemann (unassisted) 71
CLB – Justin Meram (Santiago Primm) 79

New England Revolution (4-4-2, Right to Left): Tim Murray; Ryan Kinne, Junior Ntame*, Otto Loewy, Zak Boggs; Sainey Nyassi (Andrew Olsen* 46), Nicolas Dieuze*, Andrew Sousa, Kenny Mansally; Kheli Dube (Peguy Ngatcha** 58), Alan Koger

Substitutes Not Used: Tyler Zon**, Zack Schilawski, Pat Phelan, Ryan Cochrane

Columbus Crew: Andy Gruenebaum (Alex Riggs 86), Ricky Balchan (Ben Sippolan 70), Josh Williams, Eric Gehrigh, Shaun Francis, Kevin Burns, Dejan Rusmir, Bernardo Anor (Santiago Prim 74), Korey Veeder, Justin Meram, Tommy Heinemann (Johnny Owoeri* 72)

Substitutes Not Used: None

* Guest player
** Academy player

Misconduct Summary:
NE – Kenny Mansally (caution) 27
CLB – Tommy Heinemann (caution) 47

Team Records:
New England Revolution – 4-5-1 (13 pts.)
Columbus Crew – 8-1-0 (24 pts.)

Referee: Randall Kelley
Assistant Referees: Jason Pelletier, Doug Coutts
Fourth Official: Kara Honthumb
Weather: Sunny and 54 degrees

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