The Revolution won 3-0 vs. Orlando City. Photo/Bernie Hoelschen
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution have been MLS’ juggernaut in recent weeks, putting together a seemingly unstoppable run that should lead to a third consecutive appearance in the playoffs.
On Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, they ripped through expansion Orlando City SC, 3-0, extending their winning run to four games, with their overall unbeaten run now at six.
A high-energy crowd of 18,854 watched as the Revolution out-scored and out-played the visitors in every sector of the game. The Revolution were without Jermaine Jones in midfield (U.S. national team duty) and Orlando was without Kaka (Brazil), but Diego Fagundez, Juan Agudelo, and Chris Tierney stole the show anyway, as each provided a goal in an action packed game that saw the Revolution out-shoot the visitors 20-7.
“Playing at home, it’s always fun, but when we’re scoring goals and playing well, it makes everyone happy,” Fagundez said after the game.
Fagundez’ opening tally in the 42nd broke open a game that had, to that point, been a collection of near-misses for the Revolution.
Charlie Davies’ glancing header off a Kelyn Rowe cross in the 18th minute was parried away at the line by Orlando’s Tally Hall, the rebound falling for Fagundez, whose side-volley clanked off the post.
But Fagundez made good on his miss a little while later, making a 50-yard run to finish off a play constructed by Tierney, Charlie Davies, and Nguyen. First, Tierney sent a looping pass forward to Davies, who then played a surging Nguyen. Nguyen lobbed the ball into the box for Fagundez, who concluded his perfectly timed run by getting past Rafael Ramos and shooting for the back of the net and the 1-0 lead.
Lee Nguyen had 3 assists. Photo/Bernie Hoelschen
“I was just trying to get into the mix,” said Fagundez, who now has four goals this season. “I knew I had a chance with the one on one, saw the player coming right next to me and I knew I had to beat him. The goalie opened up and I tried to slot it in.”
Juan Agudelo, who came on for Charlie Davies in the 68th minute, doubled the Revolution’s lead before full time. In the 84th minute, Nguyen found Bunbury making a run along the right of the box. Bunbury then played Agudelo for an easy tap-in near the center of the box to make it 2-0.
Tierney sealed the victory in second half stoppage time. He slotted a shot past Hall with ease after Nguyen slipped him possession via a back heel pass, his second goal of the season.
“Offensively, we strung some possession together and opened them up,” said Nguyen, who assisted on all three goals. “It was great movement off the ball from the guys as well. Fortunately we had options. That’s what you want when you have the ball—options.”
All of the Revolution’s goals came at the end of a half. There was a waiting game going on as the Revolution dug deep to maintain possession and churn out chances. On a different night, they probably could have had even more goals.
Davies had the first scoring opportunity of the night, his header in front of an open goal soaring over the crossbar in the 12th minute. In the 24th, Tierney played a ball into the box that deflected off of David Mateos, nearly going in for an own goal as Hall corralled the ball.
The Revolution out-shot Orlando 12-1 in the first half and carried that momentum until full time.
Tierney had a bid kick saved by Hall in the 56th while Davies went in alone on off a Nguyen pass in the 60th, his effort blocked at the goal mouth again.
In goal, Bobby Shuttleworth made four easy saves to earn his third consecutive shutout. That contrasted wildly with his counterpart, Hall, who saved six shots but allowed three goals for the fourth time in six games.
Tierney scored the game’s third goal. Photo/Bernie Hoelschen
The Revolution have nearly secured a spot in the playoffs, but have seven games remaining in the regular season and could finish as high as first in the conference. As of 11 p.m. eastern time on Saturday, though, the Revolution are sole possessors of fourth place.
Orlando is 11 points behind the Revolution, in seventh, while Montreal occupy the sixth and final playoff spot. Montreal is just two points ahead of Orlando, but have played four fewer games and therefore have a chance to extend their lead.
For the Revolution, though, the focus is very much game-by-game. If they continue to dominate the way they did on Saturday, though, the playoffs will be here in no time.
“We prepared really well this week,” said coach Jay Heaps. “We felt if we could get them pinned, we’d make it really hard for them to get out. That’s what we did really well.
“We put them under pressure. Every time they got possession, we got the ball back.”
If you want to reach Julian, email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
