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Revolution Topple Santos Laguna In Back And Forth SuperLiga Opener
New England passed out two quick goals to start the second half after going to the break with a one-goal lead, but rebounded with three of their own to claim a 4-2 win over Santos Laguna.
Jun 21, 2009 10:04:15 PM
FOXBORO, Mass- The New England Revolution, defending SuperLiga champions, got their title defense underway in Foxboro on Sunday with a tricky match against Mexican giants Santos Laguna.
Both sides entered the match with squads dominated largely by regular starters. Glaring omissions from the New England lineup were center-mid Shalrie Joseph and striker Taylor Twellman, while Santos came into the match without Carlos Quintero and Jose Maria Cardenas, two of their more dangerous attacking options.
As has become the normal state of affairs in New England, the match would be played under dark clouds and drizzling rain, making the Gillette Stadium turf lightening quick.
In the end, the home side adjusted to the conditions better, netting four times to run out 4-2 winners.
First Half:
The opening frame of the match was devoid of any real rhythm, though the home side dominated possession for long stretches, while the visitors looked a bit off balance.
Santos struggled to find much possession through the middle of the field, choosing instead to rely on balls fed into the feet of their lone striker, Matias Vuoso, who was constantly marked closely by the Revolution central defensive pairing of Darrius Barnes and Emmanuel Osei.
New England did well on the ball, opting to keep possession in most cases rather than trying to force the ball forward as has been their style through the early going of the Major League Soccer season. The controlled style created some half chances in the early going, with balls being whipped in from wide areas, but nothing substantial came from it.
Santos were not without a few chances of their own, however. Long shots from Daniel Luduena and Walter Jimenez gave the home crowd a few moments of worry, and Vuoso scuffed a left footed effort from just inside the 18.
It took the majority of a rather dull half, but New England got on the board in the 38th through Jeff Larentowicz. The midfielder collected a pass from defender Kevin Alston 35 yards from goal and after a couple of touches to set his shot unleashed a low liner. Santos ‘keeper Oswaldo Sanchez misjudged the ball coming off of the skipping pitch and was beaten, leaving the visitors with a hill to climb in the second half.
Second Half:
Santos got off the mark quickly in the second half, and before the home side could blink they had not only lost their lead, but fallen a goal behind.
In the 51st a bad giveaway from Barnes inside his own box led to Vuoso collecting the ball and putting his shot away nicely. Just four minutes later Juan Pablo Rodriguez put Santos in front. After some good build up down the left and a low cross, Vuoso laid the ball off, giving Roudriguez space to place a wonderful curler into the side netting.
New England answered almost immediately with a quick double of their own. In the 60th, defender Jay Heaps laid a wonderful a nice ball to Nyassi. The winger cut back to Kheli Dube in the box, who put a shot on frame only to have it saved. But Sanchez allowed a rebound and Kenny Mansally was on hand to smash home the equalizer.
Three minutes later, the home side would go back in front. A corner fell nicely for Dube, who took the shot on quickly from just outside the box, only to have it deflect twice before falling to Heaps. Heaps punched it home, putting New England back in front for good.
The dull first half had opened up into a cracker in the second and the fireworks weren’t over.
In the 65th Luduena had a golden look at New England’s goal, but Ries kept out the first, and though the rebound fell kindly for Santos, Pat Phelan was on hand quickly to clear it out of danger.
In the 74th Vuoso had a good look from a corner when he beat the Revolution defense to a driven ball, but his header was high and wide, killing off the last great chance Santos had to equalize.
The Revolution would put the match to bed in the 82nd. A freekick from just left of the area found Dube unmarked. The second year man took the shot on first time, pounding home a volley off of the post.
The fourth would be more than enough and the defending champions would walk away 4-2 winner.
Allen Ramsey, Goal.com.
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