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Revs squander first-half lead again in tie vs. Timbers

RevsTimbers (USAToday Sports)

Photo by USA Today Sports Images

By CARL SETTERLUND

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Charlie Davies has returned to form with goals in each of the past two games, but for a second straight time the New England Revolution couldn’t hold onto the lead, this time settling for a 1-1 draw with the Portland Timbers in front of 16,409 at Gillette Stadium.

“It’s always great to score. Diego (Fagundez) played a great ball and I’ve just got to try and make the most of my opportunities as a striker,” Davies said. “Obviously you take so much joy and pride in scoring goals. It’s just unfortunate we didn’t get the result we were hoping for.”

Davies put the Revolution ahead in the first half against the New York Red Bulls two weekends ago only to have the squad concede twice in the second half. Saturday night was a similar story as MLS newcomer Liam Ridgewell scored his first goal since joining the Timbers in June.

Ridgewell imposed his will in the 65th minute, taking advantage of a Revs turnover and dribbling downfield past defender Andrew Farrell for an unassisted equalizer.

“It was a center back beating two or three guys,” Revolution coach Jay Heaps said. “We have three points on the line, we have to be better there.

New England (8-12-3) is now winless in 10 of its last 11 games. The Revs will continue an important stretch of four of their next five games at home next Saturday back at Gillette against Chivas USA.

The Timbers (7-7-10) return home for one of the top rivalry games in MLS right now, hosting the Seattle Sounders at 2 p.m. next Saturday.

“I liked the comeback, liked the point, thought we did enough to win, but we didn’t,” Portland coach Caleb Porter said. “We’ll move on, shift gears, get ready for (CONCACAF) Champions League and get ready for a home game against Seattle.”

Davies tallied a go-ahead goal for the second time in as many games in the 27th minute, just barely staying onside on a through ball from Diego Fagundez, after a long run by the latter down the left side. Davies was on point, locating his shot inside the far right post from a tough angle.

“I thought we were there in the first half,” Heaps said. “Then the second half we let them back and that’s disappointing because when you have a team you think you can put away, we’ve got to start putting them away.”

Adding on to the misery for Revs fans was an early injury to left back Kevin Alston, who had to come out with a right hamstring injury in the 28th minute.

What did you think of the Revs-Timbers game? Was either team more deserving of a win than the other? Has Davies been hard done by the past two games? Surprised by Ridgewell’s poise on his goal?

Share your thoughts below…

Comments

  1. Davis was onside. As everyone knows, its when the ball is passed. The pass was so slow that he had time to get well behind the defense and that made him look offsides. Good non call on that one

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    • I agree. Unfortunately the same linesman did not apply that logic to Fernandez in the second half, as he was clearly even with the ball when Uruti laid it off.

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  2. Portland are the ones who were hard done by with a linesman being inconsistent with offsides calls. Unfortunately, poor MLS camera work doesn’t show if the linesman was in proper position to make either of the calls.

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  3. Don’t know why you pose the question “has Davies been hard done by the past two games” but I can say this, Teal Bunbury was worthless tonight yet Davies was the one subbed off. Teal, I’m a fan. You’re an athletic, talented player but you have to actually work for it, Do something other than stand around and look pretty – channel Robbie Keane.

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