The New England Revolution shocked the Houston Dynamo 2-0 in Houston last night. Diego Fagundez put the Revs in front early in the second half before an own-goal from Ricardo Clark in the 84th minute sealed the home team’s fate.
The result gives Houston (6-4-2) back-to-back home losses for the first time since losing three in a row in 2010 and leaves them on 20 points while New England (3-4-4) now have 13 on the season.
Diego’s goal was a little bit of magic, and the Revs home grown star played a little give-and-go with Clyde Simms before tucking his shot inside the near post. The goal was Diego’s third in New England’s last five matches as he has really taken to game to a new level this season. No longer a player who plays on the periphery, Diego has become a much more complete player this season under Jay Heaps guidance. For the first time he seems to understand the defensive responsibilities he has, and, he is showing a much better awareness to get himself in good goalscoring opportunities inside the box.
So in the Revs last two away games, they have gone to Portland and drew 0-0 and now won 2-0 in Houston. That is impressive. It might be that Jay Heaps Catenaccio style of soccer is more suited to playing on the road, rather than at home. Away from home, the Revs can sit back, deny space to the home team and then hit them with their counter-attack. That is a little harder to do at home, where the onus is on the Revs to force the tempo of the game. With three home games coming up, it will be interesting to see how Heaps and the Rev adapt to having to force the tempo of the game.
The downside in New England’s win was the sending off Dimitry Imbongo in the first half. From the opening kick-off Imbongo and Bobby Boswell were going at each other, and their battle reached a boiling point in the 37th minute when Boswell went in head first on Imbongo, and he retaliated by putting the center back in a headlock and sending him to the ground. The antics from the two were enough for referee Edvin Jurisevic to reach for his red card and send both to the showers.
In less than a game and half, Imbongo had given the Revs a completely different look than what they had with Jerry Bengtson and Saer Sene in the lone striker look. Imbongo does a much better job of holding up the ball and allowing the speed they Revs have in midfield to get forward into attacking positions than Bengtson and Sene do. Which is why it was interesting to see Jay Heaps bring on newly signed Juan Agudelo and not Bengtson or Sene. Changing off the guard up-front for the Revs?
The Revs will now return to Gillette Stadium for a three-game home-stand, beginning next Saturday night when they’ll host Toronto FC.
