Schilawski’s Stoppage Time Stunner

Zack Schilawski rounds goalkeeper Angelo Cavaluzzo before slotting in the game-winning goal. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution first team has struggled mightily over the past month to hold on to leads and the reserves looked destined to follow suit on Friday morning against Toronto FC after the visitors erased the Revs 1-0, 67th minute lead just seven minutes later.

Unlike the struggling first team, however, the Revs Reserves would have the last say in this match when Zack Schilawski netted an impressive stoppage time winner to give New England a 2-1 victory. The win moves the Revs Reserves (4-3-1, 13 points) into second place in the six-team East Division, while Toronto (0-4-2, 2 points) stays rooted in the cellar.

Angelo Cavaluzzo looks down in despair after getting beat by Zack Schilawski for the game-winning goal. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Schilawski found some space in the Toronto FC defense and was perfectly found by a pass from Benny Feilhaber, allowing the second-year striker to dribble in alone on goal. Schilawski took a touch around goalkeeper Angelo Cavaluzzo and slotted it into the empty net with his left foot to give the Revs a 2-1 lead in the 91st minute.

The goal was Schilawski’s second reserve league goal of the season. The Wake Forest product also has one goal in 20 MLS appearances this season.

The Revs reserves started a makeshift lineup with nearly half the starting eleven playing out of their favored positions. Back-up ‘keeper Bobby Shuttleworth started in goal, but the defense in front of him was made up of two natural midfielders on the outsides, Ryan Guy and Zak Boggs, and a rookie striker, Alan Koger, at center back alongside veteran Ryan Cochrane.

Monsef Zerka, who joined the Revs earlier this week, started at right midfield and the right-footed Ryan Kinne started on the left, while rookie Andrew Sousa patrolled the center along with Kheli Dube, typically a forward. Sixteen-year-old Diego Fagundez partnered Schilawski up top.

New England appeared the stronger side early and nearly took the lead in the second minute. Boggs, who served in several dangerous crosses in his ventures forward throughout the match, nearly got lucky with an early cross. His service was out of reach for the Revolution strikers, but poorly handled by a shaky Toronto defense. In the Canadian club’s hectic scramble to clear the ball, the team nearly scored an own goal, seeing the deflected cross hit the crossbar and the post before finally being collected by Cavaluzzo.

Shuttleworth, who outside of organizing his inexperienced backline didn’t have much to do in the first half, was called into action in the 23rd minute, denying a long shot Leandre Griffit with a comfortable diving save.

The Revs two best chances of the half came through Schilawski. His first came in the 30th minute when he met a Zerka cross with a header at the near post, but sent his shot wide under pressure.

Ten minutes later Schilawski should’ve put the Revs in the lead after a nice combination with Dube left the striker in space in front of goal.  Despite having time, Schilawski’s shot was poorly placed and was easily collected by Cavaluzzo.

Looking to keep some of its first team players sharp, the Revs brought on Feilhaber and Darrius Barnes for Dube and Cochrane, respectively, at halftime. The two players would prove instrumental on the Revs two goals.

Fagundez, the Revs first home grown player, had an active night in the attack and could’ve put his team in the lead in the 57th minute. The diminutive striker weaved his way through two Toronto defenders to get through on goal, but was let down by his final shot which was weakly hit at Cavaluzzo.

Toronto’s porous defense finally caught up to them in the 67th minute as a long throw-in by Barnes towards the near post found Schilawski challenging Eddy Viator. Viator mishit his header, sending the ball just inside the near post to give New England the lead on an own goal.

But it wasn’t just Toronto suffering from defensive issues. The Revs improvised backline led to TFC’s equalizer in the 74th minute. Rather than heading a Toronto cross clear, Guy headed it back into the box where Mikael Yourassawsky volleyed a powerful shot from just inside the area past Shuttleworth at the far post to knot the score at 1-1.

The goal seemed to energize Toronto, who looked to take the lead from there. The visitors had a few chances in the final 15 minutes, but none as good as Fagundez’s opportunity on a counter attack six minutes from full time.

This time the young striker was played behind the defense on a great pass from Schilawski, but took one touch too many, allowing Cavaluzzo to knock the ball away. Schilawski got to the rebound, but couldn’t put his effort from the top of the box on target with Cavaluzzo out of position.

That miss nearly allowed Toronto to grab the winner in the 90th minute, but Gianluca Zavarise was denied by the crossbar giving the Revs the chance to take the lead through Schilawski on the ensuing counter attack.

The New England Revolution will return to MLS action against the Philadelphia Union in Pennsylvania on Wednesday night after a 17 day break in the schedule. That game will be followed with an MLS Reserve League match between the two teams on Thursday morning.

MLS Reserve League
Toronto FC Reserves at New England Revolution Reserves

September 2, 2011 – Upper Practice Field, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)

New England 2, Toronto FC 1

Scoring Summary:
NE – Own Goal (Eddy Viator) 67
TFC – Mikael Yourassawski (unassisted) 74
NE – Zack Schilawski (Benny Feilhaber) 91+

New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth, Zak Boggs, Ryan Cochrane (Darrius Barnes 46), Alan Koger, Ryan Guy, Monsef Zerka (Charlie Romeiro* 73 [Editor’s note: Likely Charles Romero of Williams College]), Andrew Sousa, Kheli Dube (Benny Feilhaber 46), Diego Fagundez, Ryan Kinne, Zack Schilawski

Substitutes Not Used: Tim Murray (GK), Mitchell Taintor**

STATS^: Shots: 13; Shots on Goal: 8; Saves: 3; Corner Kicks: 6; Offside: 3; Fouls Committed: 9

Toronto FC: Angelo Cavaluzzo**, Doneil Henry, Eddy Viator, Dasan Robinson, Tyler Pasher**, Jay Shapman*, Oscar Cordon (Gianluca Zavarise* 53), Leandre Griffit, Mikael Yourassawsky, Nick Soolsma, Stefan Vukovic** (Matt Gold 60)

Substitutes Not Used: Chad Bush**

STATS^: Shots: 5; Shots on Goal: 4; Saves: 7; Corner Kicks: 3; Offside: 2; Fouls Committed: 8

^ Note that all statistics are unofficial
* Guest player
** Academy player

Misconduct Summary:
NE – Benny Feilhaber (caution) 57

Team Records:
New England Revolution – 4-3-1 (13 pts.)
Toronto FC – 0-4-2 (2 pts.)

Referee: Guido Gonzalez
Assistant Referees: Russ Wolf, Douglas Coutts
Fourth Official: Randall Kelley
Weather: Sunny and 82 degrees