New England Frustrates Atlas In 1-0 Win

The New England Revolution did what they had to do against Atlas, scoring one early and holding on for a 1-0 win and the top spot in Group B.

FOXBORO, Mass- The New England Revolution entered Sunday’s match against Atlas with a chance to clinch advancement with either a win or a draw. For Atlas only a win could guarantee a spot in the next round.

With the injury problems already at an alarming high the loss of Mike Videira opened up a spot for local product Nico Colaluca to make his debut for the Revolution. Otherwise, the team remained unchanged from Wednesday night’s draw with Kansas City. Atlas stuck with the young guns, running out a very similar starting XI to the one they’ve used throughout the competition.

New England would prove to be the eventual winners, scoring a first half goal and holding on for a 1-0 win.

First Half:

A touch and go first 15 minutes led to very little in the way of chances on goal, though the match did start out with a slightly chippy feel as both teams went in with some hard tackles in the early going.

In the 17^th New England’s debutant came close to opening his account with a nice strike. After picking up the ball 35 yards from goal, Colaluca rushed forward with options on either side of him. Rather than going for the pass he decided to have a go from just outside the box, pounding a right footed effort off the post.

The next good chance at goal wouldn’t come for another ten minutes and again it would be New England who would come close to opening the scoring. A cross from defender Amaechi Igwe turned into a dangerous shot and Atlas ‘keeper Jose Francisco Canales had to parry it away for a corner.

In the 32^nd the Revolution finally opened the scoring through Kenny Mansally. The winger received a nice pass from striker Kheli Dube. Mansally then raced into the box unchallenged before pounding home a left footed effort and putting the home side a goal to the good.

Atlas almost pulled the goal back in the 40^th. A great solo effort from striker Herbert Alferez pushed him past two defenders but his chipped effort was deflected away at the last moment.

The rest of the half passed without much incident and the game went to the break with the home side still clutching a 1-0 lead.

Second Half:

The second half opened much the same way the first ended, with Atlas on the front foot yet not creating many chances in front of goal. The rough tackles continued as well with New England dishing out the worst of it.

Atlas got a great look at goal and should have pulled level in the 60^th when a cross fell kindly for striker Edgar Pacheco. Pacheco took the shot on first time and had New England ‘keeper Matt Reis beat, but was unlucky and could only watch and the ball came off the inside of the post and back in to play.

The visitors would keep pouring on the pressure and had two more great looks inside the next five minutes. Alferez should have done better when he found himself in clean on Reis, but his shot lacked the power or direction it needed, and Darvin Chavez saw his rocket from 25 yards out bang off the crossbar.

Still, the Revolution managed to hang on, but Atlas looked far more likely to score. The pressure and consistent possession from the Mexican side was clearly opening up the New England back four, and it looked to be only a matter of time before visitors would find the net.

In the 80^th, with New England still clinging tightly to a 1-0 lead Atlas drew a foul in a great position, but even from set plays the Mexican side lacked the killer instincts in front of goal, and the shot was easily collected.

In the closing ten minutes New England did well to kill off the game, holding the in the attacking third and forcing Atlas to drop much deeper then they would’ve wanted. The home side was bolstered by a red card being passed out to Atlas’ Gerardo Espinoza, who was shown his marching orders for a very sloppy challenge.

Down a man and clearly frustrated, Atlas caused few problems in the dieing minutes and New England clinched a spot in the knockout stages of the SuperLiga as Group B winners.

Allen Ramsey, Goal.com