FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Contrary to popular belief, practice makes permanent, not perfect.
That’s why Diego Fagundez, after spending this week working on direct free kicks in practice, opted to move onto another drill once he perfectly executed one during pregame warm-ups on Sunday night before playing the Los Angeles Galaxy.
That ritual worked perfectly. With his team down 2-1 near the end of the first half, Fagundez took advantage of a dead-ball situation after referee Alan Kelly called a foul at the top of the box for Omar Gonzalez dragging down Teal Bunbury. Fagundez—with a mixture of muscle memory and pure skill—struck the ensuing set piece perfectly as he curled the ball up and over the wall and past L.A. goalkeeper Jaime Penedo.
Fagundez scored the Revolution’s equalizer. Photo/Kari Heistad
The goal was Fagundez’s first of the season and his first since last September. It was also the first time since his playing days with the Revolution’s Academy that he’s taken a set piece.
“Yesterday I probably hit it 30 times right from that spot,” said Fagundez. “I stopped after I got the first one in warm-ups, too. But I got one in the game, so it’s perfect.”
Sunday was the first time since last December’s MLS Cup that the Revolution and Galaxy played. But Sunday’s game, which was attended by 17,569 fans that braved severe rain and flash flood warnings, lacked most of the star players that competed in the Cup final.
Reigning league MVP Robbie Keane, who scored the game winning goal against the Revolution in the Cup final, was out because he was still recovering from a groin strain. The Revolution were without Lee Nguyen (suspension) from the out-set, while Jermaine Jones exited the game early in the 32nd minute for a left groin strain.
That set the stage for Fagundez to come in and take the spotlight.
“We were down and we were trying to get another goal before half,” said Fagundez. “Once I had that chance I said I need to get this in to help out the team. That’s when you need players to step up and that’s when I had to step up.”
Not that the Revolution had too many other options. The Revolution’s preferred free kick taker, Chris Tierney (suspension), was also out, while Heaps favored Fagundez over Kelyn Rowe, another solid set piece taker, in the Revolution’s usual 4-2-3-1 formation. Fagundez’ strike ended up being the difference, too. While it extended the Revolution’s winless run to five, it kept the Revolution unbeaten at home on the season.
It appeared as though the Revolution were headed for another lackluster result when Charlie Davies lofted an opportunity off a breakaway 30 seconds into the game.
But Bunbury made good on the miss moments later, his fifth minute goal giving the Revolution a quick 1-0 lead. Scott Caldwell pushed the ball through Gonzalez’ legs after a give-and-go with Juan Agudelo, Bunbury wide open at the back post to slot away an easy finish.
The Galaxy equalized and later took the lead. Photo/ Kari Heistad
The Revolution’s fortunes quickly reversed as the Galaxy scored two goals back-to-back and Jones exited the game with an injury.
On offensive throw-in and a botched shot led to L.A. tying the game in stunning fashion in the 18th minute. Baggio Husidic tried volleying the remnants of a throw-in along the right side of the field at net, but scuffed his effort and instead pulled the ball just outside the center of the box for Ignacio Maganto. Then, with a swing of his right leg, Maganto blasted the floater around the Revolution’s back line and past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
Maganto helped the Galaxy take the lead in the 27th minute, his long pass into the attack finding Jose Villareal, whose back heel found an on-rushing Gyasi Zardes for an easy put-away.
“We kind of relaxed a little bit, too much I think,” said Jose Goncalves.” We made little mistakes and got punished…Instead of [us]pushing more, they scored again and that’s when we realized that the game was not finished.
“We’ve failed,” Goncalves added. “The last five games, we score first but we don’t manage to get three points.”
Goncalves got the captain’s arm band once Jones came off.
Jermaine Jones left the game early. Photo/Kari Heistad
Jones, who with Agudelo is scheduled to play in two friendlies for the U.S. national team against the Netherlands and Germany next week, pulled up short at the half hour mark and hit the turf, immediately calling for a substitute. Jones reportedly went down with a left groin strain. The injury could rule him out for the U.S. friendlies and, potentially, keep him out of MLS play.
Jones said after the game that he alerted U.S. head coach Jurgen Klinsmann of the situation and that he would get an x-ray.
Andy Dorman replaced Jones and helped the Revolution fight for possession and defend alongside Scott Caldwell. Dorman probably could have taken the pivotal free kick that Kelly called for the foul on Bunbury, too. But Fagundez asserted himself, confidently stepping up to try and mirror what he’d done in practice to help his team.
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
