Photo/Kari Heistad
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution and Orlando City SC have played each other twice in the span of two weeks, and both times there has been drama at the end of the game.
The Revolution took a 2-1 lead into the 90th minute of Saturday night’s contest against Orlando in front of a season-high crowd of 25,203 at Gillette Stadium, but were robbed of the full three points just before stoppage time when visiting striker Carlos Rivas sneaked past London Woodberry in the box and tapped a pass from Julio Baptista in for the equalizer.
In the five minutes of added time that followed, Orlando City keeper Joe Bendik made a point-blank stop on Donnie Smith’s half-volley, while Juan Agudelo, who scored what appeared to be the Revolution’s game-winning goal one minute after entering the match for Femi Hollinger-Janzen in the 70th minute, headed a cross by Jose Goncalves off the crossbar.
“With my header, that was as high as I could jump,” Agudelo said. “Unfortunately I couldn’t get a couple centimeters higher.”
“I would have been happier if we got the three points, I think that’s the most important thing. A bit unlucky at the end. I thought we deserved the three points at the end…It’s how football is sometimes, we don’t win them all.”
This is the lowest number of victories the Revolution have ever had at this point in a season, though the hosts started off well on Saturday and looked as if they were on their way to reversing that trend.
Diego Fagundez scored his team-leading third goal of the season in just eighth minute. Jose Goncalves started the play, finding Fagundez on the right flank with a searching ball out of midfield.
Fagundez then went toward the penalty area and completed a quick give-and-go with Lee Nguyen before finally getting in front of Bendik and curling the ball in off the underside of the crossbar.
“It’s a frustrating one, not the way we wanted to end of course…we were fighting all the way to the end and we let it slip at the last minute,” Fagundez said.
“We got to finish a couple today, but all those chances we have, if we finish a couple more it’s a different game. We just can’t let them finish crosses like that and let them finish.”
Antonio Nocerino nearly equalized seconds later when he trapped a cross from Rafael Ramos inside the box, but blasted his effort off target.
Orlando knotted the game at 1-1 at the half hour mark when Darwin Ceren turned on Donnie Smith – who was starting his second consecutive game in place of Chris Tierney (hamstring) – and crossed to Kevin Molino, who tapped the feed into the back of the net.
The game took on a wide open feel for the remainder of the match, the halftime break doing nothing to stifle either side from going forward.
All the way missing was clear cut chances, as Orlando and New England went end-to-end without creating any meaningful attempts on goal.
That finally changed when Hollinger-Janzen, a rookie making his first professional start, went to the bench for Agudelo, who scored one after taking the field.
The Revolution’s go-ahead goal originated with Fagundez winning possession back in midfield and sliding the ball for Nguyen, who then found Kelyn Rowe streaking forward toward the right side of the box.
Rowe then centered for Agudelo, who slid the feed past Bendik for the 2-1 lead.
“The idea was to have Femi go out there, he’s fresh, not coming back from any injury,” Heaps said. “We were excited to get him the game…but then Juan came in and had a bit of edge to him, first couple of touches were excellent.
“Apart from the goal he was all over the place, dangerous on the last play of the game.”
The Revolution’s lead was in jeopardy shortly after they got it. Je-Vaughn Watson, who picked up a knock late in the game, was replaced by London Woodberry in the 75th minute.
Lee Nguyen was replaced as well, for Daigo Kobayashi, though Jay Heaps maintained both substitutions were precautionary and that both players could finish the game.
Orlando coach Adrian Heath made a key tactical switch as well, swapping in Rivas into the match for Nocerino, as well as Julio Baptista for Ceren, in the 81st minute.
Rivas converted Orlando’s equalizer in the final minute, getting the best of Woodberry, who banged his hands on the turf as the ball bounced into the net.
“I got to make a better play there, not give them a chance to get a deflection,” Woodberry said. “I’m warming up on the sideline and I’m thinking in the back of my mind, ‘we got three points coming,’ but I guess sometimes that’s how the game works. All I can do is look forward and correct.
“It sucks, I’m pissed off right now, I’m not happy. It’s going to leave a bad taste in my mouth for a while. But from a professional standpoint I have to try and leave it in the past, though it’s a tough moment right now.”
Heaps also said that he didn’t feel that the equalizer wasn’t Woodberry’s fault and that the defender made a good play but was unlucky.
That said, the ties are starting to add up, which means the Revolution are not only not losing, but also not winning.
A tough challenge awaits the Revolution on May 8, when they travel to the StubHub Center to play the Los Angeles Galaxy. On their last outing at the venue, the Revolution lost the 2015 MLS Cup to the stadium’s patrons.
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @julianccardillo
New England Revolution
