Red Bulls Romp

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 9^th in the East with the loss, while the Red Bulls (3-4-2, 11 points) moved into 4^th.

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 27^th 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 31^st 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 39^th 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 61^st 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 71^st 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 82^nd 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 89^th 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.

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