Revs Fall To 0-2 With 2-0 Loss At Yankee Stadium

Monday, March 16, 2015

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Sports Reporter

Kelyn Rowe was an important part of the Revs attack

The New England Revolution took part in a historic event as New York City FC hosted the Revs in their inaugural home game at Yankee Stadium, Sunday. The Revs were playing their second Sunday matchup in a row. For the second consecutive week, they came up short as they fell to NYCFC 2-0.

NYCFC got action under way in the 5th minute as they forced a turnover on the Revolution half of the field. The ball was quickly played to David Villa who held possession before getting the ball to Adam Nemec. He let off a low shot without a defender in front of him but Bobby Shuttleworth made a terrific diving save with his feet to keep NYCFC off the board.

Early Chance For Rowe

The Revolution got their first chance in the 8th minute off a great cross from Chris Tierney. Tierney played a ball across the small playing surface to Kelyn Rowe. Rowe had a look at net but hit the ball over the cross bar from inside the box.

The Revs stayed on the attack when they got a corner kick in the 13th minute. Tierney took the corner and left it short for Lee Nguyen, who played the ball back to Tierney. Tierney ripped a cross into the box and nearly found the net but Josh Saunders made a diving save with his leg. The ball stayed in the Revs’ possession, but Jose Conclaves could not connect on a floating shot. The game stayed level at 0-0.

Villa Makes History

NYCFC nearly found their first home goal in the 16th minute when David Villa created the attack again. Villa went around Andrew Farrell and had a near-angle shot but Shuttleworth was huge again as he made another diving save to his right. The ball sat out in front of the net, but Kevin Alston came over for the clear to end the threat.

It was just three minutes later, however, that Villa and NYCFC found their first home goal in franchise history. David Villa knifed through the Revolution defense before roofing a shot over Shuttleworth for his first MLS goal and the first home goal for NYCFC. The assist went to Ned Grabavoy, giving NYCFC a 1-0 lead.

Revs Take Control

The Revolution had a great chance to answer in the 25th minute when Chris Tierney got a steal and was free in the box. He could not get his shot off clear, however, and the Revs possession was squandered. They continued to trail 1-0.

New England had another chance in the 29th minute, this time off a Kelyn Rowe corner. Rowe delivered a low cross that Tierney got a touch on. The touch sent the ball across the face of goal and through the defense, but Lee Nguyen could not connect on the far side of net and the ball rolled through.

The Revs continued to control the pace of play when they nearly found their first goal of 2015 in the 37th minute. Chris Tierney again possessed the ball just inside the box and let a low shot off. The shot was deflected by Juan Agudelo, but rolled just inches wide of the far post. The Revs continued to come up short on their attack and continued to trail 1-0.

Agudelo Active

The attack continued for the Revs, but it was an unbelievable save from Saunders that kept them off the board. The play started with a strong entry ball from Diego Fagundez. The ball went right to a streaking Agudelo who hammered a header on net, but Saunders made a great save. The ball fell to the goal line but Saunders fell on it. Agudelo showed clear frustration as the Revs continued to struggle to score.

Less than a minute later Agudelo created another chance. This time by finding Kelyn Rowe behind the defense. Rowe made his play to net but could not lift the ball above Saunders and into the net. Despite controlling the game following the David Villa goal, the Revs went into the half trailing 1-0.

The Revolution outshot NYCFC 9-5 and held the possession advantage 53.1% to 46.9%. NYCFC did have a 3-1 advantage in shots on goal. The Revs held an advantage in nearly every other category, but could not find the final touch.

NYCFC Controls Action

NYCFC got the action started in the 2nd half, and again it was David Villa. Villa got behind the Revs defense and was delivered the ball one-on-one with Bobby Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth came up with another huge save for the Revs, keeping the game at 1-0, NYCFC.

Villa was on the attack again, this time in the 49th minute. He made a move that took Jose Goncalves off his feet. Villa then had another one-on-one opportunity against Shuttleworth, but once again Shuttleworth came up with a huge save to keep the deficit at 1-0.

After a long stretch of game without action, NYCFC nearly got another goal from David Villa in the 63rd minute. Mix Diskerud got deep into the Revs zone and lofted a pass to David Villa who ripped a shot at the near corner. The shot appeared destined for goal, but Shuttleworth made another terrific save.

The Revs found more trouble in the 66th minute when NYCFC substitute Khiry Shelton got past the Revs defense and was brought down by Goncalves. The could was an immediate red for Goncalves, giving NYCFC a great free kick and putting the Revs a man down for the remainder of the game. The ensuing free kick was a screamer for the far post by David Villa, but it floated high.

Shuttleworth again came up huge for the Revs in the 72nd minute when Grabavoy let off a strong shot that was saved.

Mullins Nets Goal Against Revs

In the 84th minute, former Revolution forward Patrick Mullins entered the game for NYCFC. On his first touch of the game he got a goal past his old team. The goal was assisted by David Villa and put an end to the Revs chance of a comeback.

The Revolution fall to 0-2-0 with the loss while NYCFC moves to 1-0-1. The Revs will play their home-opener this Saturday when they welcome Montreal to Gillette Stadium.

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