Chris Tierney scored the first goal in the Revolution’s rout over Salt Lake. Photo/Kari Heistad
FOXBORO, Mass. – The New England Revolution opened up the floodgates against Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium, their offense exploding in a 4-0 victory in front of a season-high crowd of 17,982.
Chris Tierney, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies, and Scott Caldwell all scored to help the Revolution (4-2-2, 14 points) extend their unbeaten run to six games and collect their first victory versus Salt Lake (2-2-3, 9 points) since Aug. 23, 2009. The win, which marked the first time since last year’s playoffs that the Revolution scored at least three goals in one game, not only keeps the Revolution at the top of the Eastern Conference table, but also makes them MLS’ hottest team.
“I told the guys, ‘I think the last time we beat them, I was on the field, so that’s not a good thing’” Revolution coach Jay Heaps said after the game.
“They’ve had our number…but there was a little extra energy, a little extra effort to make sure we got control of the game. We knew Salt Lake, they control games—that’s what they do, they limit possession and they control the tempo. It took a little time, the first 10 minutes, they had the tempo but we took it from them.”
Salt Lake entered the game tired and battered, though. Teams are allowed to dress 18 players under league rules, though the visitors, for the first time in their history, only had 16 available. Their best players, including goalkeeper Nick Rimando, defender Chris Schuler, and forward Javier Morales were all out injured, while starting center back Jamison Olave was suspended.
Photo/Kari Heistad
So going into the game, Salt Lake were already in for a tough task in handling the Revolution.
Luck kept the visitors above water until Tierney opened the scoring 39th minute. Efforts by Davies (15th) and Agudelo (16th) flashed narrowly wide of goal before the Revolution finally opened the scoring.
The decisive play came as Agudelo, near the top of the box, floated the ball to Tierney, who had some space on the left side of the penalty area. Tierney took down the ball with his left foot, then cut past John Stertzer before curling a perfectly-weighted, right-footed beauty past a diving Jeff Attinella and into the back of the net.
For Tierney, a predominantly left-footed player, the finish was both unexpected and historic. It was the first time he’d scored in a competitive game with his wrong foot.
“That’s probably a one-time thing there,” said Tierney. “Good play by Juan to get it to me…cut it back to the right and just gave it a go. I closed my eyes and swung the right peg and it went it.”
The Revolution built on Tierney’s cool finish with another goal before half time. Teal Bunbury sent Davies through in the 42nd minute, his sliding shot deflected off Attinella and into the path of a wide-open Agudelo at the back post, who thumped the fat rebound into an open net to make it 2-0.
Three local New Englanders combined in the second half to put the game further out of reach for Salt Lake. In the 50th minute, Tierney, of Wellesley, Mass., had a short corner kick fall to Scott Caldwell, of Braintree, Mass., who sent the into the box from the right side of the field for Manchester, NH-native Charlie Davies, who rose and headed the feed past Attinella for his second goal of the season.
Photo/Kari Heistad
“It’s special to have guys from New England on this team…to be able to have success for the hometown team, it’s priceless,” Davies said. “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of and I’m living my dream as we speak.”
Caldwell notched his first professional goal in a scramble in front of goal in the 64th minute. The Revolution made it 4-0 as both Steve Neumann, who entered the game in the 80th minute for Lee Nguyen, and Agudelo had chances blocked at point-blank range, the ball eventually falling to Caldwell at the top of the box to blast a shot into the back of the net.
“It was a good feeling, definitely, kind of getting that monkey off my back, but it was more important to get the three points and it was a great team performance on the night,” Caldwell said of his first goal.
“I told [Andy] Dorman at half time that one of us would get one, and it ended up being me.
“I’m always trying to get into the attack if I can to help out. It’s not my first responsibility at all, but if it comes about that way I’ll definitely try to join the attack.”
Photo/Kari Heistad
In addition to clinching a number of offensive milestones, the Revolution’s back line chipped in for the win. Bobby Shuttleworth recorded his fourth shutout of the season with a three-save performance. The defense also hasn’t given up a goal in the run of play since March 15.
The Revolution are on a roll, though a tough challenge awaits them against the New York Red Bulls next weekend. Last spring, the Revolution were on a similar unbeaten run, then went on an eight-game losing streak after getting knocked down by the Red Bulls at home.
“One game at a time, simple as that,” said Heaps. “We can’t go too far ahead, can’t go too far back. It’s short memory and it’s onto the next game. We don’t talk about New York until it’s time to face New York. That’s how we keep our approach. It’s the same process every week so we don’t get too ahead of ourselves.”
If you want to reach Julian email him at julianccardillo@gmail.com and follow him on Twitter @juliancardillo
