The New England Revolution looked like a team that were playing their third game in six nights. Having beaten Toronto last Sunday in Toronto, and the Redbulls on Wednesday at home, New England were on the road again, this time in Montreal. But in the pouring Canadian rain at Saputo Stadium, the Revs failed to win three out of three and extend their winning streak to nine games by losing 3-0.
It just wasn’t a good day at the office for anyone. Between the 3 games in 6 nights, 2 of them on the road, the heavy rain that feel, there were some tired legs for sure. But a Jay Heaps managed team doesn’t point fingers or lay blame. They win as a team, or lose as a team. Despite the loss, New England is looking good for a playoff spot, hopefully for a third year in a row.
Montreal went up early in the game. In the fifth minutes, Johan Venegas had an effort on net from outside the Revs penalty area, and unfortunately Rev’s Steve Neumann, who was trying to block the shot, Johan’s shot took a deflection that went over Rev’s keeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Even after going up 1-0, Montreal were not settling for a 1-0 lead and sitting back. Montreal would have several more attempts on net, forcing Rev’s keeper Bobby Shuttleworth to tip a shot over the bar on a Didier Drogba shot. The Impact had other shots on net, but would go wide.
New England’s offense failed to impress, or even get a shot off during the first half. Their real main threat on goal would come during set pieces. New England would get two quality chances on net off of corner kicks. First one was a short corner when Steve Neumann would shot from the edge of the box before getting blocked, never reaching goal, but a tricky way to sometimes trick the defense. Another corner kick later in the first half would almost lead to a goal as Charlie Davies header was cleared off the line by Montreal’s Ciman who was Johnny on the spot, who headed the shot away.
New England started the 2nd half with some more offensive creativity and attacks, however no efforts on net looked threatening to score.
At the 60th minute, Montreal doubled their lead. A free kick, taken by a legend of the game, Didier Drogba, saw his right footed in swing pass take a deflection off of Rev’s defender Andrew Farrell and in. Once again nothing Bobby Shuttleworth could do.
But Didier wasn’t done. And 15 minutes later, a moment of class by the Ivorian striker as he settled a long over head pass from his keeper with one touch, dribble down the middle, attracting the attention of three Revs marking him, before slipping a pass into space for Dilly Duka to run onto and blast a shot passed Bobby Shuttleworth.