Photo: Diego Muya (Prost Amerika)
by John Bancroft
The Union showed a lot of fight against in a real battle with NYCFC in last week’s away game. On the narrow field at the world famous Yankee Stadium they worked to create chances coming away with a tie and a point. BUT against the division leading New England Revolution at PPL Park the match needed to be played with execution and deliverance.
New England came into today’s game with 4 wins under their belt and was be looking for number 5. This Eastern Conference game had meaning for both clubs.
The Union started C.J. Sapong, Chaco Maidana and Zach Pfeffer. Pfeffer off to the U-20 National Team was playing an inside midfield position in place of the banged up Vincent Noguiera. Noguiera did not even dress for the game.
The Union won the toss and kicked off. Raymond Gaddis quickly overlapped down the wing but found no one moving with him and lost possession. The pace of the game was active with both teams seeking opportunity.
The play of Lahoud and Maidana at midfield was solid and kept the Revolution from control of the midfield and tipping the game in their direction early on.
Maidana made his presence felt early in the half continuing to build the attack using wing and crossing balls into central play with authority.
With about 16:00 expired in the half Aristeguieta drove hard into the box and rocketed a shot off the hands of Bobby Shuttleworth which went up and off the crossbar. The Union won a corner off his blocked shot but Williams was not effective hooking up with a Union player on the other end.
The Revolution tried to take advantage of several opportunities but McCarthy was up to the task but lacked concentration on some initial distribution and gave Lee Nuygen a fine look and shot from 25 yards out, an area where he has proven deadly in the past.
Nuygen earned a yellow card at the other end of the pitch only to have the Union squander the opportunity from 25 yards out. Turn about being fair play Ray Gaddis committed a hard foul against Jermaine Jones and was booked for his effort.
With about 3:00 minutes left in the half Maidana went down hard and earned a free kick at the 25. He lifted a dipping free kick going in side net past the outstrecthed arms of New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. This was Shuttleworth’s had only goal concession in the last four matches.
The Union take the 1 – 0 lead into the halftime break.
In the second half the Revolution came out quickly looking for the equalizer as they stepped up the pace. But both teams recognized the importance of this game and kept up pressure.
Teal Bunbury still recovering from a shoulder injury sustained against Seattle Sounders entered the game in the 61st minute and had an immediate impact when he beat his defender just outside the 18 yard box in the 64th minute and delivered a ball to the far post where an unmarked Davies tapped it in for the New England equalizer.
Bunbury put the Revolution in front 2-1 in the 76th minute. Diego Fagundez, a sub in the 71st, raced down the right sideline and placed a perfect cross to an unmarked Bunbury making a superb diagonal run into the box. Where he pushed the putting the ball past a helpless John McCarthy.
Minutes later the Union pressed the attack seeking to get their own equalizer but New England’s London Woodberry and Lee Nguyen helped Shuttleworth with goal-line clearances on consecutive shots to thwart a Union offensive.
The game ended in a flurry of Union activity but without result, New England winning its 5th consecutive game after two successive loses to open the season and John McCarthy losing his first game
The Union plays away at Columbus next Saturday and will look to gain some much need momentum.
