It was a beautiful night in New England and I took my daughter and her friend to see the New England Revolution play the San Jose Earthquakes. As usual we sat in The Fort, which was a lot smaller and quieter than earlier in the season. Whether that was due to the Revs overzealous policing of The Fort, or because of the Revs poor play this year, I don’t know.
This game was a perfect example of why they have only one five games all season. The Revs bossed the majority of the game but couldn’t score, and give up two poor goals.
The Rev conceded a goal after only 8 minutes that most under 12 teams in the county would not concede. Earthquakes goalkeeper David Bingham’s long boot from inside his own box went over the head of the Revs defenders. Chris Wondolowski used a brilliant first touch to control the ball and the second touch to put the ball in the net. Terrific skill from the 2010 MLS Golden Boot winner but schoolboy defending but the Revs.
The Revs controlled the ball for most of the first half through Feilhaber and Joseph without creating many clear cut chances..
That changed in the second half when Feilhaber finished off a hectic sequence with an acrobatic finish in the 55th minute. Ryan Guy’s long-range drive was pushed away by Bingham and a follow-up header from Milton Caraglio hit the crossbar. Feilhaber was quickest to react as the ball came down, going airborne to blast a scissor kick into the roof of the net.
The Revs continued to press for a second goals and Caraglio saw his header well saved by Bingham. Just one minute later, Diego Fagundez had a shot blocked. One word on the high schooler Fagundez. He continues to impress. His speed and energy caused the Earthquakes trouble all night.
But with the Revs pushing for a winner, they left themselves open to the counter-attack and San Jose took advantage. Sam Cronin cross floated to the back post, where Wondolowski outfought and outjumped Kevin Alston for the goal.
It wouldn’t be a Revs game without their center forward missing a sitter and that is what happened in stoppage time. Feilhaber set up Caraglio in stoppage time with a terrific cross but somehow the Argentine striker’s close-range effort went over the bar.
If the Revs had a decent center-forward they would have won another 10-15 points this season.
