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Revs And Wizards Play Out Lackluster Draw
New England suffered an early red card but held on for a 1-1 draw against Kansas City.
Jun 24, 2009 10:16:47 PM
FOXBORO, Mass- The New England Revolution hosted Kansas City on Wednesday night in the second SuperLiga group game for both sides.
The Revs opened their title defense with a resounding 4-2 win over Santos Laguna while Kansas City could only manage a draw against Atlas in their opener.
Both sides came in with some glaring absences. Jimmy Conrad, Claudio Lopez, and Herculez Gomez all began on the subs list for the Wizards, while the home team faced a bevy of injury problems that included Shalrie Joseph and Taylor Twellman.
A dubious sending off will be the major talking point in a rather lackluster 1-1 draw.
First Half
It was a somewhat slow start to this match as the opening ten minutes was spent mostly in the middle of the pitch, but right on the ten minute mark New England found the first real chance of the match.
Striker Kheli Dube found midfielder Kenny Mansally streaking in behind the Wizards back line. Mansally was in clear on goal but had a tough angle for the shot and Kansas City ‘keeper Kevin Hartman was able to get down quickly and make the save.
Four minutes later, Michael Videira came very close to opening the scoring for New England. Videira made a nice little move and was a bit lucky to slip past his marker after receiving a ball near the top of the box from Sainey Nyassi. With a nice look Videira tried to beat Hartman to the near post, and though he managed to beat the ‘keeper he could not beat the post. Nyassi had a look at the rebound from a tough angle, but his shot was well wide of the target and the match stayed level.
Videira worked other nice chance for New England in the 33rd when he weaved his way through the Kansas City defense before floating a ball to the back post where Dube was waiting. The striker took a bit of a hit from behind as he rose for the ball and there were cries for a penalty, but the referee was having none of it and the match would go on level.
Just moments later the referee would be involved again. Videira had an arm up while jumping contesting a header, and though it seemed to cause only mild contact, the young forward was shown a straight red, and sent to the showers.
With the man advantage Kansas City found much more of the ball, but New England would still get on the board first.
A long throw from rookie defender Darrius Barnes was kept alive in the box by Mansally who flicked the ball into a dangerous area just in front of Hartman. Dube reacted first and put the ball in the net, giving the home side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Second Half
Claudio Lopez entered the match for Kansas City to start the second half as the Wizards looked to take advantage of being a man up by throwing on an extra attacking player. But even the change in tactics did little for the visitors in the opening minutes of the half.
In fact, it was New England who had the first good look of the half when Dube tried to chip Hartman from 30 yards out. Fortunately for the visitors the ball drifted high of the mark, but the chances were truly few and far between.
New England tucked in with eight players, leaving Dube alone up top and the Wizards struggled to find a way through.
Revolution ‘keeper Matt Reis was finally called in to action in the 77th when a well struck cross troubled the frame of his goal. Reis cleared the danger with a punch.
In the 83rd Josh Wolfe finally got a meaningful shot on goal when his diving header forced Reis into a save, and the move seemed to spark some life into the visitor’s attack
Two minutes later the breakthrough would come. Another move down the flank for Kansas City resulted in a goal, though it was New England defender Darrius Barnes who actually got the finishing touch.
Wolfe worked two more chances in the late going, but neither time could the striker find the net, and New England, who controlled long stretches of the match despite being down a man had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
The Revs opened their title defense with a resounding 4-2 win over Santos Laguna while Kansas City could only manage a draw against Atlas in their opener.
Both sides came in with some glaring absences. Jimmy Conrad, Claudio Lopez, and Herculez Gomez all began on the subs list for the Wizards, while the home team faced a bevy of injury problems that included Shalrie Joseph and Taylor Twellman.
A dubious sending off will be the major talking point in a rather lackluster 1-1 draw.
First Half
It was a somewhat slow start to this match as the opening ten minutes was spent mostly in the middle of the pitch, but right on the ten minute mark New England found the first real chance of the match.
Striker Kheli Dube found midfielder Kenny Mansally streaking in behind the Wizards back line. Mansally was in clear on goal but had a tough angle for the shot and Kansas City ‘keeper Kevin Hartman was able to get down quickly and make the save.
Four minutes later, Michael Videira came very close to opening the scoring for New England. Videira made a nice little move and was a bit lucky to slip past his marker after receiving a ball near the top of the box from Sainey Nyassi. With a nice look Videira tried to beat Hartman to the near post, and though he managed to beat the ‘keeper he could not beat the post. Nyassi had a look at the rebound from a tough angle, but his shot was well wide of the target and the match stayed level.
Videira worked other nice chance for New England in the 33rd when he weaved his way through the Kansas City defense before floating a ball to the back post where Dube was waiting. The striker took a bit of a hit from behind as he rose for the ball and there were cries for a penalty, but the referee was having none of it and the match would go on level.
Just moments later the referee would be involved again. Videira had an arm up while jumping contesting a header, and though it seemed to cause only mild contact, the young forward was shown a straight red, and sent to the showers.
With the man advantage Kansas City found much more of the ball, but New England would still get on the board first.
A long throw from rookie defender Darrius Barnes was kept alive in the box by Mansally who flicked the ball into a dangerous area just in front of Hartman. Dube reacted first and put the ball in the net, giving the home side a 1-0 lead heading into the break.
Second Half
Claudio Lopez entered the match for Kansas City to start the second half as the Wizards looked to take advantage of being a man up by throwing on an extra attacking player. But even the change in tactics did little for the visitors in the opening minutes of the half.
In fact, it was New England who had the first good look of the half when Dube tried to chip Hartman from 30 yards out. Fortunately for the visitors the ball drifted high of the mark, but the chances were truly few and far between.
New England tucked in with eight players, leaving Dube alone up top and the Wizards struggled to find a way through.
Revolution ‘keeper Matt Reis was finally called in to action in the 77th when a well struck cross troubled the frame of his goal. Reis cleared the danger with a punch.
In the 83rd Josh Wolfe finally got a meaningful shot on goal when his diving header forced Reis into a save, and the move seemed to spark some life into the visitor’s attack
Two minutes later the breakthrough would come. Another move down the flank for Kansas City resulted in a goal, though it was New England defender Darrius Barnes who actually got the finishing touch.
Wolfe worked two more chances in the late going, but neither time could the striker find the net, and New England, who controlled long stretches of the match despite being down a man had to settle for a 1-1 draw.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
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