Player Ratings: New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City

Chris Tierney was one of the only Revs to put in a positive performance in the loss. (Photo: Kari Heistad/CapturedImages.biz)

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of the New England Revolution players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5 average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue and Brian O’Connell contributed ratings for the New England Revolution’s 1-0 loss to Sporting Kansas City.

Matt Reis – Average Rating: 5.25 (Brian 5, Sean 5.5)
Aside from getting stranded on Bunbury’s goal, it was a quiet night for the keeper. Stopped the KC striker on two other occasions to keep it close. (Brian) … Not much he could do against Bunbury, but positioning was good and allowed for Reis to make the saves he needed to against K.C. to keep the deficit at one. (Sean)

Chris Tierney – Average Rating: 5.5 (Brian 5.5, Sean 5.5)
One of the few players who actually showed some signs of life; set up Imbongo on a header in the 49th minute, and put a decent chance on frame late. (Brian) … Had a few problems with Kei Kamara, but looked the most likely of any Rev to make something happen going forward. Great cross – and should’ve had an assist – on Imbongo’s header and got forward for a late strike on goal. (Sean)

Stephen McCarthy – Average Rating: 5 (Brian 5, Sean 5)
Matched up well with Kamara and Bunbury; won the aerial battle inside the box, but hung out to dry on the sequence leading up to Bunbury’s strike. (Brian) … Solid performance as has been the norm the past few months. Perhaps should’ve reacted quicker to Clyde Simms’ weak header or to Teal Bunbury’s run, but the reality is Bunbury played the situation to perfection and there was little McCarthy could do. (Sean)

Darrius Barnes – Average Rating: 5 (Brian 5, Sean 5)
Generally OK performance; made a few runs in the final third, but struggled a bit with Kamara and Bunbury. (Brian) … Did a decent job filling in for AJ Soares. Avoided costly errors against KC’s speedy forwards. Long throws in the defensive third, however, are inexplicable. (Sean)

Flo Lechner – Average Rating: 4.5 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4.5)
Could’ve been a game that he could’ve helped shape with his vocal presence; instead, he wilted after the early cross to Sene and was subbed at the half. (Brian) … Solid cross to Saer Sene, but otherwise quiet performance, some sloppy passing and didn’t offer enough when the Revs desperately needed attacking help from the fullbacks, leading to his substitution. (Sean)

Lee Nguyen – Average Rating: 4.25 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4)
KC’s rough and tumble approach silenced him for much of the night; even so, wasn’t much urgency shown by the normally energetic winger. (Brian) … Head coach Jay Heaps blamed Nguyen’s ineffectiveness on the fouls, but the reality is he only suffered two of the 21 fouls called against Kansas City and actually committed four. For whatever reason, Sporting was very effective at keeping Nguyen quiet and his attempts on set pieces were as ineffective as the rest of his teammates. (Sean)

Benny Feilhaber – Average Rating: 4.25 (Brian 4.5, Sean 4)
Another player who fell into obscurity as the game progressed; sent a keen ball to Imbongo before the subsequent shot exited the stadium in haste. (Brian) … Picked up a deserved yellow, fouling after a turnover and was substituted soon after in what was a very quiet second half. Great set-up for a chance Imbongo wasted, but otherwise didn’t do nearly enough to break down SKC – much like the rest of the midfield. (Sean)

Clyde Simms – Average Rating: 4 (Brian 4, Sean 4)
Failed to put his footprint on the first game after Shalrie’s exit; poor pass back to McCarthy opened the door for Bunbury, and clearly didn’t do enough to rally his teammates in the second half. (Brian) … Bad header led to Bunbury’s goal. Typical simple passing, but not enough physical presence and doesn’t provide the same key passing in transition as the Revs departed captain. (Sean)

Ryan Guy – Average Rating: 4.25 (Brian 4, Sean 4.5)
Lackluster showing from the high-tempo winger – passing accuracy (67.3%) left something to be desired, and never seemed to get going with the rest of the attack snoozing. (Brian) … Couldn’t find anyone with his crosses in the first half, but did an adequate job when bizarrely stuck out of position at right back in the second half and found Tierney with a long ball for his late chance. (Sean)

Dimitry Imbongo – Average Rating: 3.25 (Brian 3, Sean 3.5)
Granted two gift passes to score, and failed to do anything with them. Barking at Cardenas after the second miss showed his immaturity. Needs to get it together. (Brian) … Blew two great chances, and yelled at a teammate after missing his second gilt-edged opportunity. Looked stronger and a bit faster than in his debut, earning several should’ve dangerous free kicks if the Revs had anyone who could take them, but never looked a threat to score and often got drawn out of the center, leaving the team with no one up top. (Sean)

Saer Sene – Average Rating: 4 (Brian 4, Sean 4)
Only opportunity came from Lechner’s early cross; without service from the midfield, it was easy for KC to put a lid on Sene. (Brian) … Very few chances, but Revs needed more of a presence from him in the middle. Put a weak free kick on Target. (Sean)

(sub) Fernando Cardenas – Average Rating: 4.75 (Brian 5, Sean 4.5)
A refreshing sub amid a lifeless game; made a couple of dangerous runs but, once again, his finishing let him down for the second straight week. (Brian) … Provided a spark off the bench, with some speed and good dribbling, but the end product still needs to improve. (Sean)

(sub) Diego Fagundez – 4 (Brian 4, Sean 4)
Copy and paste Rowe’s assessment; pushed off the ball and largely ineffective in a game he really had no business being in. (Brian) … Easy to forget he was on the field after entering as a late sub. (Sean)

(sub) Kelyn Rowe – Average Rating:  4.25 (Brian 4, Sean 4.5)
Minimal contributions, but can’t be faulted as it seemed the rest of his teammates had already called it a night when he came on in the 78th minute. (Brian) … Struggled to make an impact with limited touches off the bench. (Sean)

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