Revolution rue missed chances in 2-0 loss to NYCFC
By Julian Cardillo
NEW YORK, NY—The New England Revolution had plenty of chances to steal points on Sunday at Yankee Stadium in New York City FC’s first-ever home game, but squandered each opportunity, losing 2-0 and falling to 0-2-0 on the young season.
The Revolution out-shot the hosts 9-5 in the first half with nothing to show for their efforts, while David Villa finished a give-and-go with Ned Grabavoy in the 16th minute to put NYCFC up 1-0. The Revolution lost all of their might in the second half, firing only two and going down to 10-men following a red card to captain Jose Goncalves in the 67th minute, before Patrick Mullins, whom the Revolution lost in the off-season in the expansion draft, scored in the 84th minute to double New York’s lead.
“It was a tough result, Going down early was unfortunate,” said Revolution coach Jay Heaps. “We had chances to be ahead in this game. We didnt take the chances and you go home without any points when you don’t take [them].”
Lee Nguyen made his season debut, making his return to the starting lineup after being out injured (groin) and added some tact to the offense the eluded the Revolution in last weekend’s loss to Seattle. NYCFC gave Nguyen, as well as Chris Tierney, plenty of space to attack, which led to the high number of Revolution chances.
Kelyn Rowe volleyed a Tierney cross over the crossbar in the 8th minute, then Tierney had a bid from the right side of the penalty area denied by goalkeeper Josh Saunders in the 13th. David Villa made history moments later, going in alone on Bobby Shuttleworth and chipping into the back of the net to give NYCFC a lead they would not relinquish.
The Revolution responded immediately, as Tierney set up two good bids for a goal within a 10-minute span. First, he flashed a feed through the penalty area that Juan Agudelo nearly latched onto, the ball rolling through the box and out if play for a throw-in. Then, Tierney set-up nearly the same play in the 37th minute, though this time Agudelo’s toe-poke narrowly missing going inside the right post.
Saunders finished the game with only one recorded save, though it was on the Revolution’s best chance.
Diego Fagundez sent a ball into the box from the right flank in the 43rd minute, an unmarked Agudelo rising to meet the ball. But Saunders corralled Agudelo’s header—which was hit with pace—and hugged the rebound to his chest with the Revolution attackers looking on in disbelief.
“We had four or five clear chances,” said Heaps. “It would have been nice to finish those.”
“I did think we were going to get one,” added Tierney. “We should have scored a bunch of times–myself included–had a lot of good opportunities. Had a lot of the ball, created good chances, but couldn’t put the ball in the net, simple as that…we have to take chances if we want to win games. That’s how it happens in this league.”
The Revolution’s lackluster performance in the second half was magnified when Khiry Shelton came on for Sebastian Velasquez in the 67th minute. Shelton’s speed improved New York’s attack, while also also diminishing Tierney’s opportunities to cross into the box.
Less than a minute after coming on, Shelton drew the foul which led to Goncalves’ ejection. Shelton ran onto a loose pass behind the Revolution’s back line, going in on Shuttleworth quickly and forcing Goncalves to take him down just outside the penalty area. Referee Mark Geiger didn’t hesitate in giving Goncalves a straight red, though the Revolution appeared to protest that Shelton had dived.
With one less defender, Shuttleworth absorbed a brunt of the added pressure being put on his defense from David Villa and the New York offense. Shuttleworth, though allowing two goals, made seven saves, doing his best to keep the Revolution in the game. He stopped four point-blank chances from Villa, three of which came in the second half, as well as additional bids from Adam Nemec and Mix Diskerud.
“They got in a couple of times, but we did as well,” Said Shuttleworth. “We had chances in the first half, Saunders comes up with a couple of great saves. We had a couple of chances, obviously they take one early, then we’re trying to fight back, claw our way into the game, and unfortunately we couldn’t.”
Shuttleworth’s line of defense eventually broke as Mullins tallied New York’s insurance goal late in the game. David Villa started the play, working the ball into the box and drawing out two Revolution defenders before picking out Mullins in the center of the area for an easy put-away.
“At the end of day, we need luck and we didn’t have that tonight,” said Tierney. “There plenty of chances that six chances the other way, it’s a goal. We’ll keep trying to work on creating, and if we do so, it will come.”
NYCFC
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