Agudelo Debuts in Preseason Loss
- Updated: February 4, 2015
Photo credit: New England Revolution
Juan Agudelo made his preseason debut as the New England Revolution fell 2-0 to the Vancouver Whitecaps in Wednesday’s full 90 preseason scrimmage at Kino Sports Complex in Tucson, Ariz.
Agudelo, who returned to the Revolution on Friday after a 14-month absence, came off the bench to replace Charlie Davies at the 30th minute. The 22-year-old went the final 15 minutes of the first stanza before Sean Okoli spelled him at the half.
Octavio Rivero gave the Whitecaps the lead in the 57th minute when he raced onto a Matias Laba through ball and buried it past ex-Whitecaps keeper Brad Knighton. Rivero struck again in the 62nd minute after taking a Nicolas Mezquida pass and rounding Knighton to score.
The loss dropped the Revolution’s record to 1-1-0 while the Whitecaps secured their first win of the winter (1-0-0).
Revolution coach Jay Heaps used the same lineup from Saturday’s 2-1 win over Real Salt Lake.
The locals will return to Gillette Stadium on Feb. 7, and will train in the area through Feb. 14 before heading back to Arizona for the Desert Diamond Cup tournament.
Here are some quick-hit notes from the Revolution’s second preseason match of the winter.
Revolution first-half lineup: Bobby Shuttleworth; Chris Tierney, Jose Goncalves, Andrew Farrell, Jeremy Hall; Andy Dorman, Scott Caldwell; Kelyn Rowe, Daigo Kobayashi, Teal Bunbury; Charlie Davies (Juan Agudelo 30′)
Revolution second-half lineup: Brad Knighton; Donnie Smith, Jacob VanCompernolle, London Woodberry, Jeremy Hall (Darrius Barnes 59′); Marc Fenelus, Tyler Rudy; Timi Mulgrew, Steve Neumann, Yuzo Tashiro; Sean Okoli
Whitecaps first half lineup: David Ousted; Jackson Farmer, Pa-Modou Kah, Christian Dean, Sam Adekugbe, Gershon Koffie, Pedro Morales, Maruo Rosales, Marco Bustos, Kekuta Manneh; Darren Mattocks
Whitecaps second-half lineup: Paulo Tornaghi; Ethen Sampson, Tim Parker, Diego Rodríguez, Jordan Harvey; Matias Laba, Ben McKendry; Kalif Alhassan (Robert Earnshaw 76′), Nicolas Mezquida, Caleb Clarke (Dane Richards 76′); Octavio Rivero
Hall gets more time at right back: For the second straight match, newcomer Jeremy Hall got the start at right back. The former Toronto midfielder went 59 minutes before coming off for Darrius Barnes. To date, Hall has seen a total of 134 minutes on the right side of the defense.
Barnes debuts, gets look at CB: Speaking of defense, Barnes grabbed his first preseason minutes on Wednesday, but not where you’d normally expect to see him. After spending much of the last three seasons at left back, the veteran defender took over for London Woodbury at center back. Barnes spent the first two seasons in MLS as a center back.
Trialist watch: The non-roster contingent came on at the half for the second straight match. Jacob VanCompernolle and London Woobury partnered in the central defense before Woodbury slid to the right when Barnes came on. Once again, Marc Fenelus and Tyler Rudy partnered in the central midfield. Tim Mulgrew, who made a bid for goal in the 75th minute, was stationed at left midfield, while Yuzo Tashiro was stationed behind Okoli, who got the nod up top. Goalkeepers Trevor Spangenberg and Joe Nasco were the only non-rostered players who did not appear in Wednesday’s scrimmage.
Desert Diamond Cup awaits: The Revolution will return to the pitch on Feb. 18 against Real Salt Lake for the first match of the Desert Diamond Cup tournament in Tucson, Ariz. The annual preseason tourney will run through Feb. 28.
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