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Joseph Dominates In Revs Win Over Chivas USA
A dominating performance in the first half turned into a disappointing display in the second half as Chivas USA fall 2-0 to New England.
Jul 19, 2009 10:15:05 PM
FOXBORO, Mass.-- Two struggling squads came into Gillette Stadium looking to grab three points. Chivas USA was hoping for a vital road win while New England was hoping to break a long scoring drought in league play.
It was a classic tale of two halves as Chivas utterly dominated the opening 45 before allowing two goals in the second to go home empty handed.
First Half
Right from the start of the first half the Goats were on the front foot. The visitors were strong on the attack and pinned New England back into their defensive end for the majority of the half.
However it wasn’t until the 9th minute that Chivas got their first chance on goal with a speculative hit from winger Chukwudi Chijindu that sailed over the bar. Chivas kept pressing and after Sacha Victorine found himself in a good position, only to have his shot foiled by Revolution ‘keeper Matt Reis in the 12th, it looked like only a matter of time before the home side would concede.
In the 26th defender Bobby Burling tested Reis again with a powerful header from a corner, but again the Revolution ‘keeper was up to the task and kept his side on level pegging.
New England got their one and only good chance of the half in the 31st when Steve Ralston broke in on goal after taking a nice ball from Jeff Larentowicz, but the Revolution captain went for a square pass rather than the shot and Chivas’ defense was able to clear without any problems.
Victorine had another chance to put the visitors in front on 39 minutes but pushed his header wide of the mark.
Despite clearly dominating possession and chances for the majority of the half Chivas had to settle for level pegging at the break.
Second Half
After watching his outmatched forwards lose every aerial battle for the first 45 minutes, Revolution coach Steve Nicol brought in towering midfielder/forward Shalrie Joseph on the front line to open the second frame. The move would prove vital as the six-time MLS all-star quickly made his presence felt and changed the nature of the match.
Just five minutes after the restart Kheli Dube looked to have given the home side the lead after a fortuitous bounce sent the striker in clean on Thornton. The striker was rightly judged to have been in an offside position.
On 56 minutes, Dube had another great chance to put his team in front, this time as the recipient of a great ball from Joseph. After skinning Chivas leftback Ante Jazic the Grenadian played a perfectly weighted ball to the back post where Dube was all alone, but Thornton made a very nice save to keep the game level.
Five minutes later, Dube would finally get his goal and again it would be Joseph who set the table for him. After receiving a pass from Chris Tierney and doing well to control it with his first touch, Joseph deftly slotted a ball into the path of the streaking Dube who would make no mistake this time around and calmly gave New England a 1-0 lead.
The goal broke a 303 minute scoring drought for the Revs, but they wouldn’t have to wait long to get a second.
In the 77th a poor clearance from Victorine, who actually fell down on the play, fell kindly for Ralston just in front of Thornton’s net. The long time vet may never have scored an easier goal and will certainly count it as a bit of a gift, but nonetheless it was 2-0 in favor of New England and the match was essentially over.
Neither team did much in the final minutes- though it has to be said the Sacha Kljestan certainly had a few moments of brilliance in his attempts to bring Chivas back- and New England would take all three points, pulling them back into contention for a playoff spot in the Easter Conference.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
It was a classic tale of two halves as Chivas utterly dominated the opening 45 before allowing two goals in the second to go home empty handed.
First Half
Right from the start of the first half the Goats were on the front foot. The visitors were strong on the attack and pinned New England back into their defensive end for the majority of the half.
However it wasn’t until the 9th minute that Chivas got their first chance on goal with a speculative hit from winger Chukwudi Chijindu that sailed over the bar. Chivas kept pressing and after Sacha Victorine found himself in a good position, only to have his shot foiled by Revolution ‘keeper Matt Reis in the 12th, it looked like only a matter of time before the home side would concede.
In the 26th defender Bobby Burling tested Reis again with a powerful header from a corner, but again the Revolution ‘keeper was up to the task and kept his side on level pegging.
New England got their one and only good chance of the half in the 31st when Steve Ralston broke in on goal after taking a nice ball from Jeff Larentowicz, but the Revolution captain went for a square pass rather than the shot and Chivas’ defense was able to clear without any problems.
Victorine had another chance to put the visitors in front on 39 minutes but pushed his header wide of the mark.
Despite clearly dominating possession and chances for the majority of the half Chivas had to settle for level pegging at the break.
Second Half
After watching his outmatched forwards lose every aerial battle for the first 45 minutes, Revolution coach Steve Nicol brought in towering midfielder/forward Shalrie Joseph on the front line to open the second frame. The move would prove vital as the six-time MLS all-star quickly made his presence felt and changed the nature of the match.
Just five minutes after the restart Kheli Dube looked to have given the home side the lead after a fortuitous bounce sent the striker in clean on Thornton. The striker was rightly judged to have been in an offside position.
On 56 minutes, Dube had another great chance to put his team in front, this time as the recipient of a great ball from Joseph. After skinning Chivas leftback Ante Jazic the Grenadian played a perfectly weighted ball to the back post where Dube was all alone, but Thornton made a very nice save to keep the game level.
Five minutes later, Dube would finally get his goal and again it would be Joseph who set the table for him. After receiving a pass from Chris Tierney and doing well to control it with his first touch, Joseph deftly slotted a ball into the path of the streaking Dube who would make no mistake this time around and calmly gave New England a 1-0 lead.
The goal broke a 303 minute scoring drought for the Revs, but they wouldn’t have to wait long to get a second.
In the 77th a poor clearance from Victorine, who actually fell down on the play, fell kindly for Ralston just in front of Thornton’s net. The long time vet may never have scored an easier goal and will certainly count it as a bit of a gift, but nonetheless it was 2-0 in favor of New England and the match was essentially over.
Neither team did much in the final minutes- though it has to be said the Sacha Kljestan certainly had a few moments of brilliance in his attempts to bring Chivas back- and New England would take all three points, pulling them back into contention for a playoff spot in the Easter Conference.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com
For more on Major League Soccer, visit Goal.com's MLS page
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