The New England Revolution were away to Kansas City for a mid week clash against Sporting Kansas City. New England are looking to extend their unbeaten streak to 10 games. With a midweek game followed by another this Saturday against DC united, a tough match as DC is top in the East, manager Heaps decided to rest some players for tonight’s match. Biggest lineup change was at keeper as Brad Knighton started in net, getting his first match of the season. Another lineup change was defender Andrew Farrell, who up until tonight played every minute of this season. Instead Heaps paired Jermaine Jones and Jose Goncalves at center back. Diego also got the start, as Juan Agudelo moves to striker with Charlie Davies sitting on the bench.
Unfortunately for the Revs, their unbeaten streak came to an end at Kansas City…..
The first half of this match was very back and forth. A lot of action from both sides. It was New England who applied the early pressure. London Woodberry provided a good assist for Diego who headed the ball just wide of the net, great early chance. But minutes later Juan Agudelo had a good moment of individual brilliance when Kelyn Rowe intercepted a bad Benny Feilhaber pass and made a 30 yard pass down the middle to Juan, where he beat the keeper 1v1 and scored. With an early goal away, and a few other opportunities, things were looking up for New England…..
But after New England scored their goal, the game started to go down hill, big time. Kansas City would not only tie the game, but go up 3-1 at half time!!! First Jermaine Jones made the mistake of trying to play the ball and not the body on the first goal, where Dom Dywer controls the ball and has a turn around shot. On the 2nd goal Nemeth has a free header on a in swing free kick. If things couldn’t get worse as SKC is running over the Revolution, Jose Goncalves is called for one of the weakest penalty shot calls I have ever seen. Benny Feilhaber converted the penalty shot for 3-1.
The 2nd half immediately started off bad for the Revs as SKC would score for a 4th goal in under 1 minute to start the 2nd half. And New England would continue to get run over as SKC would almost score a 5th goal.
But in the 64th minute New England would grab one back, making it 4-2. Charlie Davies, who was subbed in early in the 2nd half, made a perfectly timed run behind SKC defense, receives the ball, and finds Scott Caldwell running down the middle near the pk spot area where Scott shots it passed SKC keeper Melia. After New England scored their 2nd goal, the momentum shifted for New England. They would have a few headers attempts on net uncontested, but not on target. They would keep putting pressure on SKC, but unable to find the net.
This game was a bad display for the defense. It was especially tough for Jermaine Jones. Tough to blame him for the goals against because he is not a central defender, he is a defensive midfielder. But some of the goals against was his fault, not because of his lack of abilities, but because him playing central defense cant be a permanent solution. He is a midfielder and needs to stay there. If the Revs are short on defense, they need to bring in a natural defender