New England Soccer Today

Victory Denied By Late Orlando Strike

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Juan Agudelo came off the bench to score, but a last-gasp Carlos Rivas goal forced the Revolution to stomach a 2-2 draw to Orlando City before a season-high crowd of 25,203 on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

Rivas answered back in the 90th minute to rip a win away from the Revolution, who appeared to be in good position to secure their second win of the season when Agudelo grabbed his first goal of the season in the 71st minute.

Diego Fagundez opened the scoring inside of seven minutes before the Lions leveled it before the half from Kevin Molino in the 30th minute.

With the draw, the Revolution (1-2-7, 10 points) extended their winless streak to five while the Lions (2-2-4, 10 points) salvaged an important road point.

The Lions cause wasn’t helped by the absence of Brazilian international Kaka, who did not travel with Orlando for the trip to Norfolk County. He was replaced in the lineup by Antonio Nocerino.

Hollinger-Janzen earned his first pro start at striker over Agudelo. The eventual goal-scorer registered 56 minutes off the bench on Wednesday vs. Portland, his first action in nearly a month after battling a hamstring injury.

With the Revolution pressing early, Fagundez opened the scoring the seventh minute he played a give and go with Lee Nguyen inside the box before putting it in the back of the net.

At the half hour mark, Orlando responded when Adrian Winter crossed it for Cyle Larin before it deflected off of Je-Vaughn Watson and fell to Molino, who buried it at the far post with little issue.

Both side uncovered half-chances as the game progressed, but with just under 20 minutes to go, Rowe found Agudelo on a dangerous run into the box, where the Revolution forward coolly beat Joe Bendik.

Not to be outdone in the drama department, the Lions punched back before full time when Cyle Larin found Rivas inside the area, where the Orlando midfielder poked it through.

The Revolution return to action on Sunday, May 8 at The StubHub Center against the LA Galaxy. Kickoff is set for 3:30pm ET. Last year, the Revolution drew 2-2 to LA at Gillette Stadium.

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