New England Soccer Today

Seeing Red


Juan Agudelo and Kelyn Rowe gave the New England Revolution an early 2-0 lead in Vancouver, but a penalty kick and controversial red card to rookie defender Andrew Farrell in the 24th minute sparked a comeback for the Whitecaps who would go on to win the match 4-3.

New England (5-5-5, 20 points) who looked on track for an impressive road win that would’ve put them in third place in the East before collapsing after Farrell’s ejection, remained in sixth place with the loss. Vancouver (5-5-4, 19 points) jumped to seventh in the West.

The Revolution opened the scoring in the 10th minute through Agudelo. A long ball from by Chris Tierney from the Revolution half sent Agudelo behind the defense. Agudelo slotted a shot past former Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton to put the visitors ahead 1-0. The goal was Agudelo’s fifth in MLS this season and third for New England.

Rowe, who got the start over Juan Toja in midfield, wasted a chance created by some nice work by Farrell in the 19th with a poor shot well high of the target from 15 yards, but wouldn’t make the same mistake a minute later when Diego Fagundez set him up. Fagundez dribbled into the box and teed up Rowe who slotted it past Knighton to make it 2-0.

But in the 24th minute the game would change when Farrell clipped Kenny Miller from behind running into the box. Though it was unclear on replays how much contact the rookie defender actually made with Miller, Farrell saw red as the last man back and Camilo beat goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth with the ensuing penalty kick to make it 2-1.

Vancouver then equalized in the 39th minute after the Whitecaps headed forward a Revolution clearance. Kenny Miller got to the ball, chipped it over Stephen McCarthy and ran in alone on goal before beating Shuttleworth with a shot.

The Whitecaps then took the lead in the 44th minute when Russell Teibert got the ball on the right flank and was given far too much time by the Revolution defense to line up a cross.  Teibert delivered a perfect ball to Jordan Harvey at the far post who hammered it home to give Vancouver the 3-2 advantage.

Miller would put the game out of reach in the 68th minute after he brought down a long ball behind the defense. Miller slowed the ball, allowing McCarthy and Jose Goncalves to run past, before turning and volleying an incredible shot from 30 yards past Shuttleworth.

The Revolution would pull one back in the 84th minute through substitute Dimitry Imbongo. Fellow substitute Darrius Barnes played Imbongo into space and the French striker held off his defender before blasting shot past Knighton to cut the score to 4-3.

Despite seemingly gaining in confidence as the match went on, New England was unable to find an equalizer.

The Revolution has a bye week in MLS action, but return to U.S. Open Cup play next Wednesday, June 26 with a quarterfinal matchup at D.C. United. New England’s next league match is at Chivas USA on Saturday, June 29.

 

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