The New England Revolution were home this weekend as they played the San Jose Earthquakes at snowy Gillette Stadium. The touchlines were painted yellow, and the ball was also yellow as winter wasn’t ready to let go if its grasp here. But if there is something Revs fans want to see more of, it’s goals. Zero goals in their first three games of the season, just like last seasons slow start. In an attempt to spark some offense, Jay Heaps inserted Charlie Davies as forward, and stuck Juan Agudelo, who started as forward in their first 3 games, out in the wing. For this move Heaps had to bench Diego Fagundez. Other line up changes, Darius Barnes at right back for Kevin Alston (injured), and Jose Goncalves returned to the lineup after serving a 1 game suspension (red card).
It was a well earned, hard fought win for the Revs. They not only scored goals today, they managed to hang on for the win after the Quakes drew one back on a PK. The first half was mostly New England. Kelyn Rowe scored both goals for the Revs today, both in the first half. “We got a fortunate deflection, you take it anyway you can for the first one” said Jay Heaps after the game. “I knew it was going to be on target, that was my goal. I’m on top of the 18, right side, put that ball on target you got Charlie, Juan, Lee, other guys pouncing on the ball. Its one of those if it goes in, it goes in. But if not we’re gonna get a good rebound and theirs you chance there” said Kelyn Rowe. Rowe could of had a hat trick in the first half, if not for a diving Bingham save, who had to dive to his right to stop a Rowe deflection off his belly. Rowe would finish with 7 shots total, 5 on target.
The Revs started the 2nd half much like how the first half went. But it turned around in the 61st minute when Scott Caldwell was called for a tripping foul on San Jose’s Clarence Goodson inside the box. In my opinion, not a foul. Don’t even think contact was ever made. But that was the call that was made. After Chris Wondolowski converted the pk shot, San Jose began to play with more confidence, more offense. Didn’t help the Revs that they were getting pressed by San Jose and turning the ball over. “We were excited with our first half display and the way we went out, and even the start of the second half. But unfortunately it became a real game. It was a good job to hold on. Probably shouldn’t been as close but it was.” said Jay Heaps. “Good. We started well, and when you start well then you get more confident, and when you get more confident you play better. I think from the first minute we won the challenge, play the ball very fast, set the tone. Everyone saw we were the dominate team, that’s why we could score first” said team captain Jose Goncalves after the game. Jose would continue to add “We saw that they attacked, wanted to win the game. They put some big guys, played some long balls, we had a few counters, a few good chances against them, but we could do better and I think we will work on that. I like to win when it’s tight. When you win 5-0 its ok, its always good. But when you win 1-0 or 2-1 it’s difficult and you see the progression of the team. You see how strong and how well you defended. That for me its the most important.”
At the end it wasn’t a clean win. Both goals took fortunate deflections for goals. But this game isn’t won by how pretty you played. The Revs needed goals and a win, and they got both. Rack up the 3 points. Revs were able to defend enough to preserve the win. Kelyn Rowe was great today and a constant threat. Scott Caldwell bossed the midfield, stopping multiple San Jose attacks, and getting physical when necessary to win back to the ball. Tierney was a constant threat with his set pieces and crosses. Other positives, Charlie Davies and how the Revs passed the ball to him, passing into open spaces allowing Charlie to use his speed and stretch the defense. This is good to see because it shows that this team can play different ways/styles. Where Juan is more comfortable holding up the ball, playing out towards the wing and using his size against smaller wing backs, Charlie is smaller and can use his speed. Some games like today we will se both out there used the same way we saw. Other times it will depend on what Jay Heaps thinks will help them win, which may require one of them to be on the bench to start.