Imbongo, Fagundez lead Revolution comeback

Diego Fagundez and Dimitry Imbongo each scored as the Revolution came back to beat D.C. United 2-1. (Photo: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz)

A disastrous start to the match saw the New England Revolution trailing 1-0 inside of eight minutes at D.C. United, but after some halftime adjustments the Revolution were able to turn things around behind goals from Dimitry Imbongo and Diego Fagundez.

As the Revolution (8-7-6, 30 points) came out of the gates extremely flat, D.C. (2-15-4, 10 points) pounced and Luis Silva put the home side ahead with a long distance shot that eluded Bobby Shuttleworth in the eight minute. The match would shift after halftime and Imbongo scored an easy tap-up off of a Chris Tierney cross in the 54^th minute to equalize. Fagundez would have the winner in the 63^rd minute, heading in a rebound off a Saer Sene shot that hit the crossbar.

New England also got a boost in the 84^th minute as Kevin Alston entered the match for his first appearance since being diagnosed with leukemia. Alston hadn’t played since March.

The Revolution made four changes to the team that won 2-0 at the Columbus Crew last weekend. Defender Stephen McCarthy and forward Saer Sene returned from injury to replace AJ Soares and Chad Barrett, respectively.  Kelyn Rowe and Lee Nguyen replaced Scott Caldwell and Darrius Barnes as the team switched to a more offensive line-up.

Much like last weekend in Columbus, the Revolution came out of the gates flat and looked second best. D.C. had a great opportunity in just the 7^th minute when Kyle Porter got forward and took a shot from outside the box. His effort was blocked by a Revolution defender, but he picked the ball up again, weaved through the defense and sent a shot towards the far post that rolled just wide.

A minute later D.C. would grab the lead through Luis Silva. D.C. got the ball off a poor pass from Stephen McCarthy and John Thorrington found Silva with a pass. Silva dribbled forward and hit what looked like a relatively tame lony shot on target, but goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was still beaten, given D.C.  a 1-0 advantage.

D.C. nearly added a second goal in the 10^th minute when Silva found Daniel Woolard on a corner kick. Woolard powered a header on frame that beat Shuttleworth, but Diego Fagundez was able to head it off the line.

New England finally had a chance in the 20^th minute when Saer Sene outmuscled James Riley in the box after a brief moment of sustained offensive pressure from the visitors. Sene hit a low shot on frame, but it was saved by ‘keeper Joe Willis and Tierney’s attempted cross off the rebound went out of play off the post.

The Revolution then had their best chance of the half in the 36^th minute when Imbongo broke free in the left side of the box. Imbongo dribbled to the end line then sent a pass back to Rowe near the penalty spot. Rowe tried to slot a shot inside the far post, but Willis was able to make the.

With the Revolution’s struggles in the first half, head coach Jay Heaps opted to make a change at the break, bringing on rookie Scott Caldwell for Simms.

The visitors looked better out of the break and were denied a penalty in the 51^st minute when Nguyen was cleared out by Willis on a run towards goal. Referee David Gantar would have none of it, however, calling for a goal kick.

Four minutes later New England found their equalizer when Goncalves found Tierney on the left flank. Tierney delivered a cross into the box that was out of the reach of Rowe, but fell to Imbongo for an easy tap-in with Willis out of position.

Fagundez gave the Revolution the lead in the 63^rd minute after some great work by Imbongo. Imbongo found Saer Sene at the top of the box and the French striker cut inside and curled a shot off the crossbar that fell to Fagundez, who headed it into the empty net to put the visitors up 2-1. The goal was Fagundez’s team leading 7th of the season.

D.C. nearly equalized in the 81^st when substitute Lionard Pajoy was played behind the Revolution defense by Silva. Pajoy ran in on goal, but saw his shot denied by an onrushing Shuttleworth.

Former Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi then had another great chance for D.C. in the 86^th minute after Nick DeLeon outmuscled Kelyn Rowe to the endline. DeLeon sent a pass back to Nyassi about 15 yards from goal with Shuttleworth out of position, but Nyassi sent his shot wide of the target.

D.C. continued to put the pressure on the Revolution and earned a last minute corner kick, sending all 11 men – including Willis – forward. With an empty net for D.C., the Revolution cleared the ball and sent Sene on a breakaway towards the open goal. Bizarrely, however, Gantar waited to blow the whistle to end the match just as Sene was entering the box, denying the Revolution a third goal.

The Revolution return home on Sunday, August 4^th, to face a struggling Toronto FC.