A Curt Reply

Jose Goncalves and the Revolution defense couldn’t close out the victory in Saturday’s 1-1 draw to New York. (Photo: Kari Heistad/CapturedImages.biz)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Lloyd Sam’s 55th minute goal overshadowed Diego Fagundez’s best game as a pro in the Revolution’s 1-1 draw against the Red Bulls on Saturday.

Sam scored only 68 seconds after Fagundez scored the opening goal in the 54th minute in a game that saw the first-place Red Bulls muster few attacking opportunities.

“I think we did enough,” Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said. “We gave up one shot. Disappointing to give up the goal the way we did, right after we scored. We didn’t have any time to regroup. It was a momentary loss of concentration and boom they score. That kills us.”

After a listless first 45 that saw surprise starter Dimitry Imbongo hit the first shot on frame, the Revolution capitalized on their first opportunity of the second frame.

Chris Tierney launched a corner toward the near post, where Fagundez hit it right on frame before it was denied off the line. Not to be deterred, Fagundez followed up his own rebound and slid it through for the opening salvo in the 54th minute.

“They didn’t have anyone marked on me,” Fagundez said. “Chris played a good ball right to me and I had to kind of do a side-volley kind of thing. Then when they stopped it on the line, I was going to blast in it but I saw an open spot I could just place it in.”

The lead was short-lived, though, as the Red Bulls wasted no time filing their response. With the Revolution riding the high of the Fagundez goal, Andre Akpan sent their hopes crashing back down when he played a through ball to Sam, who easily beat Bobby Shuttleworth for the immediate equalizer.

“All I remember is Andre Akpan with the ball on the right and I made a run in and he found me,” Sam said. “Then I just hit it low and hard, it went in, hit the back of the net. One, one.”

Heaps, for his part, was none too pleased to see the lead vanish so quickly.

“Those situations where you score goals, you are elated and tired,” Heaps said. “I hate celebrations; I like one or two guys to celebrate. If you ever go back and watch my film, I didn’t run past half field, we tried to get back and defend. That’s a defender’s time to gather his breath. After you score goals, you have to turn on. It was poor.”

Although they weren’t happy that Sam was able to score so easily, the Revolution recommitted themselves to finding another goal in the hopes of getting the win.

Fagundez, who became more dangerous as the second half progressed, knocked on the door again in the 80th minute when he collected a cross from Tierney and fired a promising shot. But goalkeeper Luis Robles made a guess save with defenders in front of him and the shot from Fagundez hit him off the foot.

“Yes, (Luis Robles) even told me that it was just a reaction shot and it was just a good save by him (in the 80th minute),” Fagundez said. “Nothing I could have done (more).”

Even so, Fagundez found one more opportunity in stoppage time as the lethargic Red Bulls seemed content ride it out for the draw. Ryan Guy fed him inside the 18, but the teenager lifted his subsequent shot over the bar.

“As soon as that ball went to Ryan,” Fagundez said. “I did my little run up around and Ryan just played a little hard ball but, that’s the only way that I would have had it so I just put my foot on it thinking I could get it to the goal but it went over. It was just a good pass by Ryan, just need to be clinical for me.”

Heaps praised Fagundez after the game, and hopes to see more performances like Saturday’s as the season progresses.

“He’s hungry,” Heaps said. “I think the goals are going to come because of how he was creating. He’s going to create more by being more involved in the offense, I like that about Diego. His awareness tactically that’s natural, but it’s his two-way play that shows me he is ready for the next level.”