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Another chapter added to history of the New England Revolution - Houston Dynamo rivalry
The past half-decade is stuffed with Revs - Dynamo history, including three cup finals. Wednesday night added its own sordid chapter.
Aug 18, 2011 3:44:00 AM
By Justin Churchill
Gail Oskin
FOXBORO, Mass. -- The Houston Dynamo and New England Revolution have plenty of history. Between 2006 and 2008 the two sides met in two MLS Cup finals and one SuperLiga final, firmly entrenching themselves as elite MLS clubs.
Times have been sparse since. Neither qualified for the playoffs in 2010. Still, Wednesday night's meeting at Gillette Stadium added its own dollop of history to the rivalry, albeit not the flattering kind. The midweek MLS matchup was marred by an excess of chippy play which culminated in a post-match altercation between both teams.
Following Houston's late equalizer from Bobby Boswell, Dynamo midfielder Adam Moffat made a reckless challenge on New England's Pat Phelan as the final whistle was being blown. Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis responded by shoving Moffat and giving the referee a piece of his mind.
"Pat [Phelan] and Matt [Reis] were just trying to shield the ball. Moffat was just irresponsible on his part, trying to hit Pat in the back," Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph said. "Matt was just standing up for his player."
Referee Michael Kennedy responded by giving both Moffat and Reis red cards after the final whistle. Kennedy's misconduct summary stated that Moffat collected his second yellow and subsequent red for a reckless foul and that Reis earned his ejection for abusive language.
Kennedy, who made the decision to give the red card to Reis long after the match had ended, seemed to have let the game get away from him long before that. From the start of the second half play became chippy and crunching tackles from both teams went unpunished.
The red card for Reis hurts a struggling New England team as it faces the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. A suspension for the net-minder who pulled of seven stunning saves against the Dynamo could scupper the Revs' chances.
"Well I hope common sense prevails," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "It was one of those nonsense things that happens now in the game, but hopefully the officials will use common sense. Nobody deserves to get a red card, it was a lot of huffing and puffing."
You can follow JUSTIN CHURCHILL on
Times have been sparse since. Neither qualified for the playoffs in 2010. Still, Wednesday night's meeting at Gillette Stadium added its own dollop of history to the rivalry, albeit not the flattering kind. The midweek MLS matchup was marred by an excess of chippy play which culminated in a post-match altercation between both teams.
Following Houston's late equalizer from Bobby Boswell, Dynamo midfielder Adam Moffat made a reckless challenge on New England's Pat Phelan as the final whistle was being blown. Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis responded by shoving Moffat and giving the referee a piece of his mind.
"Pat [Phelan] and Matt [Reis] were just trying to shield the ball. Moffat was just irresponsible on his part, trying to hit Pat in the back," Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph said. "Matt was just standing up for his player."
Referee Michael Kennedy responded by giving both Moffat and Reis red cards after the final whistle. Kennedy's misconduct summary stated that Moffat collected his second yellow and subsequent red for a reckless foul and that Reis earned his ejection for abusive language.
Kennedy, who made the decision to give the red card to Reis long after the match had ended, seemed to have let the game get away from him long before that. From the start of the second half play became chippy and crunching tackles from both teams went unpunished.
The red card for Reis hurts a struggling New England team as it faces the New York Red Bulls on Saturday. A suspension for the net-minder who pulled of seven stunning saves against the Dynamo could scupper the Revs' chances.
"Well I hope common sense prevails," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "It was one of those nonsense things that happens now in the game, but hopefully the officials will use common sense. Nobody deserves to get a red card, it was a lot of huffing and puffing."
You can follow JUSTIN CHURCHILL on
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