A Wild, Wild Start to the DDC

By Brian O'Connell
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Updated: February 18, 2016

Photo credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports

It was a wild beginning to the Desert Diamond Cup for the Revolution, who watched an early lead evaporate to a short-handed Real Salt Lake before recovering late to secure a 3-3 draw on Wednesday at Kino Veterans Stadium in Tucson, Ariz.

Unsigned 2016 second round pick Michael Gamble scored in the 13th minute to give the Revolution a lead that was briefly threatened before the half when a Joao Plata bid barely cleared the bar in the 32nd minute.

GOAL!
Michael Gamble creates space and drills one past the keeper to give the #NERevs a 1-0 lead!https://t.co/dj79qtfCUe

— NewEnglandRevolution (@NERevolution) February 18, 2016

A tame first half gave way to a nervy sequel as the Revolution advantage was doubled in the 47th minute by way of a Charlie Davies penalty that came from an Aaron Maund handball inside the box. Maund was sent off the the infraction, leaving Salt Lake shorthanded with a two-goal deficit to dig out of.

But all hope wasn’t lost for the Claret-and-Cobalt. Javier Morales brought one back from the spot in the 54th minute following a Darrius Barnes foul on Plata inside box, a goal that preceded a Jamison Olave header into the New England net in the 66th minute. Olmes Garcia put Salt Lake ahead in the 77th minute with a strike that beat Brad Knighton.

Not long after Garca’s blast, the Revolution went down to 10 men when London Woodberry was issued his second caution and sent off in 81st minute. Despite the dismissal, the Revolution responded when Davies netted his second goal of the game in the 83rd minute.

With the draw, the Revolution’s preseason mark goes to 1-2-1.

The locals will return to action at 9:30pm ET on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City at Kino North Stadium for the second round of the Desert Diamond Cup.

Notes:

*Midfielder Lee Nguyen, who was with the U.S. Men’s National Team earlier this winter, made his Revolution preseason debut. He got the start in the attacking midfielder’s spot, and went 45 minutes before he was subbed off at halftime.

*Third-round pick Femi Hollinger-Janzen suited up for the first time this winter at the left midfielder’s spot. The Indiana product had previously been sidelined with a non-disclosed “minor” injury during the club’s first three preseason games. He wore no. 41.

*Midfielder Gershon Koffie, who was acquired in a trade with Vancouver last week, got the start in the central midfield alongside Kelyn Rowe. The former Whitecap donned the no. 7, which was previously assigned to recently-waived forward Sean Okoli.

*The second half witnessed a double-barreled center back debut as Sporting loanee Sambinha was stationed alongside trialist David Addy.