FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – If everything went according to script, Chris Tierney probably would have watched the final moments of Saturday’s Revolution-Rapids match from the bench. Ultimately, fate intervened.
Originally listed as one of New England’s six substitutes, Tierney was thrust into action after Gabriel Somi suffered a head injury midway through the first half and went on to score the winner in a dramatic 2-1 Revolution victory.
With the final moments of the match evaporating, the Revolution won a free kick from 20-yards right inside the penalty arc. Tierney and teammate Diego Fagundez both stood over the ball before the former took charge and blasted a shot that caromed off a defender and fell into the back of the net.
“It’s angled for a left-footer there and I just figured, knowing it was last kick of the game, I’m getting it on target,” Tierney told the media. “I’m not putting this thing over. I’m going to make him make a save if nothing else and we got a lucky bounce, which we deserved.”
Leave it to a lucky bounce to determine the outcome of Saturday’s match, which seemed destined for a draw for much of the afternoon.
After an uninspiring 45 minutes of soccer left the match scoreless at halftime, the Revolution climbed back with a goal from Diego Fagundez three minutes into the second half.
Colorado clawed back in the 66th minute on a Niki Jackson goal, which appeared to be the only tally needed to get a point from their first match of the season.
But in the waning moments, the Revolution found an opportunity to pocket all three points. And who else but Tierney, the longest tenured player on the team, to take it?
“Chris Tierney is a wonderful striker of the ball,” Revolution coach Brad Friedel told the media after the match. “So, when it was on that side that favored a left footer, you’re never fully confident that the ball is going to go in the back of the net, but you knew there would be a chance. It was great that Chris was on the field for that moment, no doubt.”
Tierney may have been the man of the hour shortly after Wilfried Zahibo was fouled by Jackson to set up the free kick. But it turns out the veteran defender actually had to bargain his way into taking the shot after he and Fagundez both readied themselves for the chance.
“It was a tough negotiation, but seniority wins out in the end there, I guess,” Tierney quipped. “But it was on my side.”
So was fate, apparently.
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