Same Old Story

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The opponent changed, but the match looked the same as so many others in this disastrous season for the New England Revolution. Defensive miscues and a lack of inventiveness in the final third assured the Revs (5-15-12, 27 points) would finish with a 2-1 loss to the San Jose Earthquakes (7-11-14, 35 points).

Benny Feilhaber's fourth goal of the season wasn't enough for the Revs on Saturday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Two goals from last year’s MLS Golden Boot winner Chris Wondolowski sandwiched Benny Feilhaber’s fourth goal of the season and left the Revs on pace for the worst regular season record in club history.

“Déjà vu: we make chances, we don’t take them and we give up bad goals,” said head coach Steve Nicol. “We’ve seen it too many times before.”

The Revs were forced to make two changes to their starting line-up from last weekend’s 2-1 loss to Seattle, both due to injury. Bobby Shuttleworth replaced veteran goalkeeper Matt Reis in net and Darrius Barnes filled in for A.J. Soares in the backline.

San Jose took the lead in the 8th minute when Wondolowski outpaced Ryan Cochrane to get on the end of a long pass from goalkeeper David Bingham. Wondolowski drew Shuttleworth out of the net and slotted it inside the far post for his 13th goal of the season.

“In the first half we give away one chance and they score a goal,” said Shuttleworth. “Obviously we’re all extremely frustrated right now.”

Feilhaber equalized for the Revs in the 55th minute after a scrum in front of the net following a Chris Tierney free kick. Tierney’s shot was blocked, but fell to Monsef Zerka who laid it off for Ryan Guy.

Guy blasted a shot on frame that David Bingham saved, but the rebound fell to Milton Caraglio, who sent a header off the cross bar. The ball bounced back into play where Feilhaber acrobatically volleyed it into the empty net.

It was the third goal in as many games that Guy has been directly involved in. The midseason signing has seen his playing time increase the past three weeks due to injuries.

“It’s frustrating to come in, I want to make a difference, and unfortunately things seem to be continuing down the road they’ve been going,” said Guy.

Caraglio had a chance to put the Revs on top with a header in the 63rd minute, but his effort off a Guy cross was right at Bingham.

Khari Stephenson nearly got one back for the ‘Quakes in the 81st minute, getting behind the defense off a pass from Rafael Baca. Stephenson blasted a shot on frame, but it was right at Shuttleworth who made the save.

Wondolowski would get his second goal of the night in the 82 minute, this time beating Kevin Alston to a Sam Cronin cross at the far post and heading it in past Shuttleworth from a tight angle.

“We did everything to fight back,” said Barnes. “From our perspective we outplayed them for the majority of the game and we just shoot ourselves in the foot. We can’t finish goals off, we give up soft goals and that’s what happens. We can’t play in this league if we’re going to give up goals like that and we can’t finish goals that we should.”

After bringing on Zack Schilawski and Kheli Dube to aid the Revs attack late in the second half, the home team had a fantastic opportunity to score an equalizer in stoppage time after a great give-and-go between Feilhaber and Diego Fagundez saw Feilhaber played behind the defense. Feilhaber sent a low cross in front of goal, but both Schilawski and Caraglio failed to get a foot on the ball.

“We give up soft goals, we’re not able to convert our chances, even when we create those half chances and against teams like that you’ve got to go up on them early,” said Revs captain Shalrie Joseph. “You can’t allow them to be up 1-0 or to be able to be in front of the game because then we’re chasing … we have to try to take the tempo to them or push the game a little bit

“You can’t do that, especially being at home,” Joseph added. “They don’t have anything to lose, we don’t have anything to lose, we’re both playing for pride and jobs tonight and tonight we didn’t do enough to be victorious.”

The Revs remain home for their last home match of the season, taking on the Columbus Crew on Saturday, October 15th, at 7:30 P.M.