Photo by Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports
By CARL SETTERLUND
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The New England Revolution hadn’t beaten Real Salt Lake since 2009, but the Revs weren’t at all intimidated Saturday at Gillette Stadium.
The Revolution scored multiple goals for the third time in four games and upped their unbeaten streak to six games, as they dominated RSL, 4-0, in front of 17,942 at Gillette Stadium.
“They’ve had our number,” Revs coach Jay Heaps said. “The last time we beat them I was on the field, so that’s not a good thing. The guys came out and there was a little extra energy and a little extra effort to make sure we got control of the game.”
Chris Tierney, Juan Agudelo, Charlie Davies and Scott Caldwell all scored as the Revs sent in 25 shots, including 13 on target, taking advantage of an RSL back line missing Chris Schuler and Jamison Olave.
“They’ve stuck it to us a couple times,” said longtime Revs left back Chris Tierney. “I remember my rookie year or maybe my second year, we lost 6-0 at their place, so it felt good to turn that around on them, but we’re looking forward. We played really well tonight and it didn’t really matter the opponent.”
The Revs (4-2-2) had gone 0-6-1 in their previous seven matches against RSL (2-2-3), but they erased those memories on Saturday. Real Salt Lake has now lost its last two matches.
“The sky is the limit with this team,” Davies said. “You saw tonight everyone had smiles on their faces. We’re all enjoying playing with each other and we’re enjoying playing well. It’s still early in the season, I think we still haven’t obviously hit our peak performance yet.”
The game remained scoreless through a half hour, but picked up quickly after that, starting with Tierney’s opener in the 39th minute. Agudelo chipped the ball over to Tierney for the assist, and the Revs longtime left back had an impressive finish. The lefty Tierney, cut the ball back inside to sent a curler past RSL goalie Jeff Attinella (9 saves) at the far post.
“He’s so good with that left foot that people have to respect it and over-commit and when he takes advantage that’s going to give him a little space as well,” Heaps said.
Agudelo got a goal of his own four minutes later when he was rewarded for crashing the weak side on a Charlie Davies shot. Attinella parried away Davies attempt, but Agudelo was there to make it 2-0.
The Revolution expanded their lead five minutes out of halftime. Tierney played a short corner and then Caldwell sent it in. Davies got on the other end, redirecting a header in to make it 3-0.
Caldwell broke through for his first MLS goal in the 84th minute after the ball bounced around in front of goal. Kelyn Rowe played it out to Caldwell, who ran onto a left-footed shot to complete the scoring.
The Revs also completed a pretty impressive month of April defensively, as goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth (3 saves) picked up his third shutout in the last four matches.
“When we’re playing in and around their 18-yard box, we’re not going to concede many goals.” Tierney said. “We’re really happy with the way we played.”
Jermaine Jones and London Woodberry started and went 90 minutes on the back line for a second straight week as the hosts went without Jose Goncalves and Darrius Barnes.
RSL was also depleted, notably missing goalie Nick Rimando, playmaker Javier Morales, and youngsters Jordan Allen and Sebastian Saucedo.
“We’re not going to use that as an excuse at all,” said RSL coach Jeff Cassar. “We always say we have a deep team and tonight wasn’t our night. We got beat in every aspect: coaching, performance on the field. We got to take this one on the chin and prepare for San Jose.”
“RSL was also depleted, notably missing goalie Nick Rimando, playmaker Javier Morales, and youngsters Luis Gil, Jordan Allen and Sebastian Saucedo.”
I thought Luis Gil played last night.
It was lucky Nick Rimando was not playing or it might have been 7-0. He would not make the saves the goalie that played made
Here’s to hoping Charlie keeps scoring in droves and gets a call-up
Slow start to the game but momentum increased until around the 65 minute mark when the Revs started subbing and took the foot off the gas. Prior to that, around goal 3-4, they were in total control and if not for several great saves by RSL goalie, it could have ended up being 7 or 8.
Lee N had to come off for his own protection. He was getting hacked heavily, with Beckerman leading the charge, and was not getting enough protection from the Ref. I’m very disappointed when players try to take out big name players simply because they’re good. Players deserve to be protected from the hacks, no matter who they are or who they play for.
Long time RSL fan here. First of all, cudos to the Revs. They have built a really good team that plays bright attractive soccer. I hope they can get an SSS in a great location so more fans will come as I know Boston soccer crowds could be great if given the right venue.
RSL: I know its early in the season and there were absences due to injury and call ups, but I have had an uneasinessmsince Cassar was named coach that he is just not up for the job. I think last year was still riding on the coat tails of Kreis, and I never had the confidence that Cassar, though a very nice guy, had the deep understanding of soccer that would be neccessary to maintain or move the team forward, especially while changing the whole system of play.
It’s more like a 4-2-1-2-1. Davies is central and higher. Teal and Juan are wingers, they interchange, but teal is usually on the right. They tuck in for the outside backs to overlap and flood the attack. Rowe often starts/subs in wing position as well. Nguyen sits deep to the front 3, but ahead of two d-miss, usually Caldwell and dorman, although jones will eventually likely play d mid too.
Oh, didn’t see you’d responded.
Do the revs play a 4-3-3?… Teal (mid) ,Swagadelo & Davies on the side would be great to watch.
It’s usually announced as a 4-2-3-1. But of course, in possession that can look a lot like a 4-3-3. I think usually Davies is the 1 in the middle, with Agudelo and Bunbury on the sides. Heaps calls Bunbury his “target winger.”
Revs fan here, great game for us. But I did think you had a big bright spot in the play of your left back, #17. He had a great game, winning most every battle that came his way. I was actually very impressed by him on a night when the rest of the team looked like a hollow shell of their former selves.
RSL can take solace in backup GK Attinella being absolutely stellar. I don’t think he could have done any better, he was in the zone and repeatedly denied the Rev’s on hard fast shots or rescued his team during goalmouth scrambles, could have been 5 or 6 to 0. Too bad he’s stuck on bench behind the best keeper in MLS (Rimando). Beckerman is a destroyer (brutal constant hacks on Nguyen), not as much a creator plus he constantly had to go back to his own defense area to help out and just to get the ball, so it will really help them when J Morales is back. I hand it to RSL also that even when it was 4-0 with just a few minutes to go, players were still going hard to try to get a goal- it wasn’t lack of effort, just the uncoordination of a makeshift line up
Two good chances for RSL in the early part of the game missed. Stupid fouls early in the game by RSL. RSL really hung their heads after the second goal. No belief in this group.
To sum up: didnt finish, unable to retain posession/composure/team shape, RSL began fouling rather than competing, weak bench.
I stopped watching after the 3rd goal as it seemed to me that the players stopped playing. I support the team, and believe we’ll play good soccer again… i just dont see it happening soon. We’ve scored 1 goal from the run of play this season that i remember. Someone please correct me if im wrong.
The last 3 games have severely recalibrated my expectations. My hope for this season is to be playing attractive soccer, and competing to win games, by the final 1/3rd of the season. I also hope to show well in the group stages of CCL. Finally, i hope players like Gil, Allen, Saucedo, and Garcia get plenty of minutes and begin to show consistency.