Two goal scorers square off: Kljestan scored one for the Red Bulls, too. Photo/Italo Alexander Photography
It’s all over, after 630 plus minutes of undefeated soccer the New York Red Bulls’ best start in their 20 year history comes to an end at the hands of the New England Revolution. In a well contested match at Gillette Stadium between the top two teams in the East, the Revs scored in both halves, and held on after the Red Bulls got one back in the second half, and pushed for the equalizer late in the game.
Playing their third game in a 7 day span, Jesse Marsch chose to test out the team’s depth, and promoted 4 debut starts, and 5 changes from their midweek clash against Colorado. Connor Lade, Karl Ouimette, Sean Davis and Dane Richards made their starting debuts, and Kemar Lawrence joined them as the fifth change from Wednesday’s match.
Jesse Marsch made a few changes to the personnel, while maintaining the same tactical disposition as a result of the squad rotation. Sean Davis lined up next to Dax McCarty, while Felipe moved up to play in the more advanced vertex of the midfield triangle. Sacha Kljestan moved to the left midfield position while Mike Grella took up the lone striker role.
The Revs came out of the gates fast, pressed New York’s midfield, took the early initiative, and control of the game. The pressure yielded results as the Revs caused a few turnovers early on, one of them allowing Woodberry space and time to find Charlie Davies getting away from Matt Miazga and heading a perfectly executed diving header past Luis Robles. 9 minutes had gone by, and New York, for the 3rd game in a row, found themselves down on the scoreboard.
New York was having a hard time settling into their game, partly because of the Revs pressure, and because of some of the nervousness some of the younger players exhibited. In the 20th minute Sean Davis gave away the ball in the midfield, and Charlie Davies found himself one on one with a New York defender, Davies couldn’t make more of the opportunity.
Just past the 30th minute and the Red Bulls looked to finally be taking control of the game, as the Revs pressure subsided. New York took the initiative, and Mike Grella had two good opportunities to put New York on the board. On the first one, Grella had his shot blocked, and on the second one Grella blasted the ball over the bar. It was the Red Bulls best period, as they controlled the flow of play, took control of the game, as they would finish the half much better than the Revs.
Charlie Davies nets the game’s first goal. Photo/Italo Alexander Photography
Coming out of the locker room the Red Bulls failed to continue their control of the game. Jay Heap made adjustments at the half, and ordered his team to step their lines up to avoid the Red Bulls from occupying their side of the field.
The Red Bulls again with their high lines, and high pressure opened themselves to the Rev’s counter, as Ouimette had to bring Bunbury down as he escaped down the the right side.
Jay Heaps introduced Lee Nguyen in play in the 52nd minute, and the addition of the Rev’s most creative player was noticeable, as the Revs were able to keep the ball in midfield and be more objective with what they did with the ball going forward.
Another turnover by the Red Bulls in the 60th minute allowed the Revs to come forward, and after a combination play on the left Nguyen found Bunbury in New York’s weak side for and easy crack on goal past Luis Robles.
Jesse Marsch had seen enough, and brought on Bradley Wright-Phillips for Sean Davis before the ensuing kick off. With one substitution, Marsch reset the Red Bulls to their familiar positions. Grella dropped to the left, Kljestan went to the top of the triangle, and Felipe dropped to McCarty’s side. 3 minutes later it was back to the Red Bulls all too familiar 11 with Sam making his way for Dane Richards.
The Red Bulls moved up their lines and were once again taking control of the game, but playing with a high defensive block can be a double edge sword, as Charlie Davies beat Connor Lade off a New England corner clearance, and almost got the Revs’ third on a breakaway. While escaping the Revs third, the Red Bulls would create a goal of their own. Mike Grella found a streaking Kljestan behind the Revs defense, Kljestan dribbled away from the keeper and put away his second goal of the season to pull back the Red Bulls within 1 with 17 minutes left to go in the game.
Jay Heaps responded by introducing Goncalves into the game. The clock was New York’s worst enemy as they were forced to abandon their patient build up, and resort to a more direct style, the Revs now with Goncalves in the back line dug in, and remained solid in the back to hold the Red Bulls, and see the 2-1 result out.
Jermaine Jones is held back after a post-game fight. Photo/Italo Alexander Photography
Following the final whistle Jermaine Jones and Sacha Kljestan were in the middle of an exchange of words that brought the two teams together. Both teams exchanged words, but some of the players kept cool heads, and were able to put an end to the brouhaha.
It’s hard to comprehend Jesse Marsch’s starting 11 choice. While the need to rotate the squad in the midst of a 3 game run in a 7 day span, is fully understandable, it would have made more sense to line up the 11 that played against the Revs against a weaker Colorado Rapids team.
To line up a clearly weaker 11, in a game against a conference rival, with a chance to take hold of first place doesn’t make much sense, but it does send an internal message that Marsch has plenty of confidence in their second line players.
For a team with no clear star Designated Player, which prides itself in team unity, and chemistry, this message may very well be the biggest thing the Red Bulls come away from Gillette Stadium with.
Alfredo Fumacas – @talkingtodadoll
