Revs Fall To Red Bulls Behind 2nd Half Collapse

Saturday, August 02, 2014

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

The New England Revolution appeared to be on their way to a second-straight victory. They led the New York Red Bulls 1-0 at the half and would play the 2nd Half up a man. The Revs, however, could not keep the lead and fell 2-1 to the Red Bulls on the road.

The Revs appeared to get things started early as Charlie Davies made a great run into the box and was clipped in the 2nd minute. Although Davies was looking for the foul, it was not called. Davies was, however, shown a yellow card for simulation.

The Revs continued to be on the early attack off a Kelyn Rowe corner kick in the 4th minute. Rowe made a great delivery in to A.J. Soares but he was denied on a great save by New York goalkeeper Luis Robles. Off the Robles save Andrew Farrell had an opportunity for a shot on target, but again Robles made a great save. This kept the game scoreless despite the Revs getting two amazing opportunities.

The Red Bulls got their first good opportunity in the 10th minute from the leading scorer in MLS, Bradley Wright-Phillips. Wright-Phillips made a good run into an area left wide open by the Revs defense. A.J. Soares was able to recover in time and step in front of the shot and knock it away.

The Revs got on the board first, coming off the head of Charlie Davies. The goal was set up on a terrific run by Teal Bunbury up the right side of the field. Bunbury made a nifty move and blew by the defense and crossed a perfect ball into Davies who put it into the open net. The goal was his first as a member of the Revolution and his first since scoring a hat trick on September 10, 2011 as a member of D.C. United.

The Revs continued to stay on the attack in the 27th minute. This time it was Teal Bunbury being set up by Davies, but Robles made a nice save on Bunbury.

The game got increasingly physical as time continued, as expected when the Revolution and Red Bulls play in this "I-95 Rivalry".

The Red Bulls got a good chance in the 40th minute from Thierry Henry. Henry made a great first touch to control the ball before working on two Revs defenders before pushing a shot out on the near post.

In the 42nd minute, the Revs tested Robles again. This shot came from Kevin Alston, but it was from outside the box and easily saved.

The Red Bulls nearly found the equalizer in the 43rd minute as, once again, Wright-Phillips made a good run. Wright-Phillips got the ball at his feet and got the ball past Bobby Shuttleworth, who had come off his line. The ball bounced in the air behind Shuttleworth but Revs captain Jose Goncalves made a great recovery to clear the ball past the end line and save the lead.

The half ended with the Red Bulls losing a man as Matt Miazga was shown a red card. The card came when Miazga made a challenge on Lee Nguyen and sent him tumbling head-over-heals. Both Nguyen and Miazga were slow to get up following the play.

At the half the Revolution led 1-0. The Revs out-shot the Red Bulls nine to five. The Revs took five shots on target with the Red Bulls taking zero shots on target. The Revs scored first for the second consecutive game and are 7-0-0 when scoring first.

The Red Bulls started the 2nd half down a man, but still found the net first. The goal came after Kevin Alston was unable to clear a cross into the box. The ball ended up at the feet of Dax McCarty who delivered a beautiful chip over the head of Shuttleworth. Half time substitute Eric Alexander assisted on the goal.

The Red Bulls almost pulled ahead of the Revs in the 54th minute off a nice cross by Lloyd Sam. Sam made a good run up the right side and delivered a high cross to Wright-Phillips, but his header went just over the net. Moments later, the Red Bulls almost took the lead again. This time it was Scott Caldwell that saved the possible goal. The play started on an Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo shot that was saved by Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth left a juicy rebound in the box, however, and Caldwell knocked the ball out just before Thierry Henry could pounce on the rebound.

The Revs nearly caught a break in the 60th minute when Luis Robles appeared to take his eye off a long-distance Kelyn Rowe shot, allowing it to slip through his hands. Robles made a nice recovery by tipping the ball up and over the net.

The Red Bulls continued to control the game, despite being down a man, when they pulled ahead of the Revs in the 63rd minute. The goal came from the leading goal scorer in MLS, Bradley Wright-Phillips. He made a nice run before cutting back and hammering a shot just inside the far post. The goal was Wright-Phillips' 18th of the season.

The Revs were unable to create any good chances throughout the remainder of the half, only getting a couple long-distance shots off. The Revolution have an off-week next week for the MLS All Star break before welcoming the Portland Timbers into Gillette Stadium on August 16. With the loss the Revs fall to 8-12-2. The Revs have lost nine of their last 10 games and find themselves clinging to the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They do, however, play five of their next six at home.