Last season, the Revolution lost to the LA Galaxy in the MLS Cup finals. The Revs would get the chance to get some revenge against LA this weekend at home. I don’t agree with the whole “revenge” thing. As professionals, they want to win every game they play, regardless of the history. But the media loves to hype up the “revenge” factor. Even if the Revs win 5-0 tonight over LA, the Galaxy still have the cup.
It was a cold and rainy night at Foxboro. With the Revs down two starters due to suspensions (red cards last game to Tierney and Nguyen), Kevin Alston replaced Chris Tierney and Diego Fagundez replaced Lee Nguyen. With Diego needing to get his career back on track, tonight’s game would be a good chance to take that step. I don’t think he had a good game overall, but a late first half goal from a close range free kick to tie it at the time 2-2 sure helped out. It would be his first goal of the 2015 season.
But LA were without some of their stars also. Their leading scorer from last season, Robbie Keane, didn’t play. He doesn’t play on turf
Game started good enough for the Revs. In the 5th minute Teal Bunbury scored after Scott Caldwell provided the assist. Scott and Juan Agudelo combined on a give and go passing, and credit Caldwell for continuing his run. Caldwell’s cross to Teal wasn’t the prettiest, but it was enough for Teal’s shot to get in. But then the game went down hill for the Revs after that. In a 10 minute span, LA tied and took the lead. Hard to fault Bobby Shuttleworth on the second goal. With his back to the Revs goal, LA’s Jose Villareal handled a pass, and back heeled it to Gyasi Zardes, and beats Bobby on a 1v1. Revs defender Jose Goncalves had applied the pressure on Villareal, but in doing so allowed the space for Gyasi to calmly receive the pass, and shot it passed Bobby. Don’t know about LA’s first goal. Ball takes 2 deflections before Ignacio Maganto from 20 yards shots it passed Bobby. Don’t know if Bobby didn’t see it or not, but didn’t really try to make the save, making it seem like he didn’t see it until it was too late.
This tie is the Revs 4th tie in 5 games, with a 4-2 loss in between. Manager Jay Heaps was not happy at the end of the game. In the last 5 games, the Revs have scored first in all the games, but failed to hold the lead in any of them. To make things worse, star player Jermaine Jones left the game early with a left groin injury. The players were clearly not happy. Last 3 home games have been ties. They have given away too many point at home. And now the Revs have a short week with a game away in Portland, this Saturday.