Revs Topped By Late Crew Goal, Drop 8th Straight

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Matt LaPan, Go Local Sports Reporter

An 84th minute goal by Ethan Finlay of the Columbus Crew was the deciding factor as the New England Revolution dropped their 8th straight game, falling 2-1 to the Crew. The loss drops the Revs to 7-11-2. When asked about the loss following the match, Revolution forward Teal Bunbury said, "Right now we're not scoring like we have in the past. We have to be more clinical and just have that killer instinct and everyone has to take ownership when they have their opportunity to bury it, myself included. When I have an opportunity I have to finish. That's my job is to score goals and I haven't been doing it, so I take that responsibility."

The Revolution got off to a quick start, creating sustained pressure while getting the ball outside to Teal Bunbury. Bunbury created an early corner kick and scoring chance on good passes from Andrew Farrell and A.J. Soares. Although the Revolution did not score on these chances, it was their first "fast" start in quite some time.

Bunbury created another chance in the 12th minute as he got another good pass from Andrew Farrell. Bunbury made a break for the center of the field but then showed off some fancy footwork and crossed back over to his right and created an open shooting lane. Bunbury ripped a high shot but Crew goalkeeper Steve Clark tipped it over the net on a great save.

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The Revolution were forced to use an early substitution in the 21st minute as Chris Tierney left the game with an apparent leg injury. Tierney went down without sustaining contact and Darrius Barnes was subbed in for him. "Tierney is obviously a very important player for us, Bobby Shuttleworth said following the game. "His service, his positioning, everything."

Tierney was seen leaving the Revolution locker room under his own power following the game. He was walking with a noticeable limp, but without the assistance of crutches. 

The Revs continued to control the pace of play as they created another scoring chance in the 23rd minute. Off a clearance attempt by Columbus, Scott Caldwell gained possession and gave a short pass to Lee Nguyen. Nguyen fed Diego Fagundez on the outside and Diego took his first shot of the game. The shot was saved by Steve Clark.

The Crew got their first chance of the game in the 30th minute and missed a great open-net chance. The ball was lobbed up by Federico Higuain and controlled by Chad Barson. Barson put a great cross into the box for Bernardo Anor who missed an open net with a header. His header rolled wide of the net and the Revolution retook possession, but they almost conceded the first goal yet again.

The Revs were back on the attack in the 40th minute as once again Diego Fagundez got an opportunity. Fagundez and Kelyn Rowe had a nice give-and-go which freed up Fagundez for a great open lane up-top. Fagundez ripped the shot that sailed wide of the net.

The Crew answered right back with another great scoring chance, this time for Higuain. Higuain took a volley and put it on target, but Bobby Shuttleworth was there for the save.

The Revs could not keep Higuain from scoring, however. In the 43rd minute, he found the back of the net off an amazing free kick from just outside of the box. It was the 7th goal of the season for Higuain and the 8th consecutive game that the Revolution conceded the first goal of the game. The Crew took the 1-0 lead into the half.

At the half, the Crew had the advantage in possession 52.8% to 47.2%. The Revs had the advantage in shots, six to five, and shots on target, three to two, but still trailed 1-0.

The Revs had a great opportunity just moments into the 2nd half as Teal Bunbury made a great cross for Patrick Mullins in the box. Mullins was unable to control the ball as it bounced over his foot and the Crew regained possession.

The Revolution were again on the attack in the 50th minute as Patrick Mullins gave a great header which went to the feet of Kelyn Rowe. Rowe made an open break for goal and took a left footed shot which was tipped by Clark. The tip was just enough to send the shot just wide of the far post.

The Revs were not done, however, getting the equalizing goal just moments later in the 51st minute. The goal came off the head of A.J. Soares on a beautiful corner kick delivery by Rowe. The corner was the Revs' 10th of the night and it was the 2nd goal of the year for Soares, making the game 1-1. The goal was the 6th of Soares' career, all of which have come on set pieces.

"Our guys responded well at halftime," Jay Heaps said following the game. "We came out with the right energy, got the goal and then I thought there was time, two or three chances after that, that we need to make a play and we didn't."

The Crew nearly retook the lead in the 56th minute as Ethan Finlay hit the post on an open fun. Finlay was set up by Wil Trapp to get the open look.

The play was fast and furious throughout the next run of play when in the 63rd minute Lee Nguyen took a strong shot from up top. The shot was saved by Clark, but not saved cleanly. As Kelyn Rowe made a play for the rebound Clark swiped the ball away and clear, ending the scoring threat for the Revs.

The Crew again got a great opportunity in close as Chad Barson made a back-heel attempt on a ball that deflected off Darrius Barnes. The ball trickled past Bobby Shuttleworth but was cleared off the line on a great play by Lee Nguyen.

In the 67th minute the Revs made their 2nd substitution of the game as Dimitry Imbongo came on for Patrick Mullins. For Imbongo, it was his first appearance since the Revs home opener on March 22nd.

The Revs got another great scoring chance in the 70th minute, once again from Kelyn Rowe. The play was set up when Andrew Farrell fed Lee Nguyen, who delivered a great no-look pass to Rowe as he broke open. The shot was saved again by Clark, his 6th of the night.

Another great opportunity was created by the Revs in the 72nd minute when Scott Caldwell lobbed a great ball into the box and just missed a diving A.J. Soares, but Soares was called offsides.

The Crew then had not one, but two amazing chances on corner kicks in the 74th minute but both were saved by Diego Fagundez. Both times the Crew had headers that would have found the back of the net if not for the perfect placement of Fagundez.

In the 76th minute the Crew did find the net, but it was called back on a foul. Bernardo Anor got the ball at his feet but it was popped up by A.J. Soares. Anor and Shuttleworth both went for the ball, which squirted free and the Crew got possession and put it in the net. Anor, however, was called for a could after running into Bobby Shuttleworth and the goal was waived off.

The Crew took the lead back in the 84th minute as Ethan Finlay broke free behind the Revs defense. The goal was set up when Justin Meram, who entered the game only one minute prior, lobbed forward a pass and Finlay broke free behind the Revs central defenders. Darrius Barnes made a play for the ball, but missed and gave Finlay a 1-on-1 opportunity with Shuttleworth. Finlay converted the chance and gave the Crew a 2-1 lead. 

"At that point in just trying to kind of make myself big and kind of react to when it comes off of [Finlay]," Shuttleworth said following the game. "He struck it well. Low and hard."

The Crew were able to run out the clock, handing the Revs their 8th-straight loss. With the loss the Revs fall to 7-11-2 with 23 points. The Revolution will be back in action on Wednesday night, at Gillette Stadium, as they host the Colorado Rapids. When asked about the Revs current skid following the game, Heaps said, "What are you gonna do, complain about it? You gotta roll up your sleeves and keep going forward. It's awful, it's really tough, but at the same time you've gotta keep perspective and keep digging."

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Related Slideshow: New England Revolution vs. Columbus Crew - 7/26/2014

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