Photo by Winslow Townson/USA TODAY Sports
By AARON CRANFORD
Saturday evening at Gillette Stadium, one team looked like an Eastern Conference playoff contender, while the other looked anything but.
The New England Revolution had no problems pummeling Orlando City, topping the undermanned side, 3-0, in front of 18,854.
On a night when three of its key playmakers, rookie striker Cyle Larin, Brazilian star Kaka and Salvadoran midfielder Darwin Ceren, were absent due to national team duty, Orlando City struggled to create and produce.
However, the Revolution had no problems, with Lee Nguyen bossing the midfield throughout the 90 minutes and assisting in all three goals.
Goalkeeper Tally Hall wore the captain’s armband for Orlando City Saturday, and he was one of the few who stepped up early in the first half. A point blank save on a header from Charlie Davies in the 18th minute kept Orlando City from conceding, but the Revolution continued to press the issue during the first 45 minutes.
Finally, the Revolution found their go-ahead goal in the 43rd minute. Chris Tierney, who had been causing problems early from the left flank, sent a long ball up field, and Davies was there to control it.
The forward laid off a short pass toNguyen, who chipped the ball into the box and path of an onrushing Diego Fagundez. The 20-year-old made no mistake, burying the ball into the far-right corner.
Davies had the great chance to add another for the Revolution in the 60th minute, but Hall made another big save for Orlando City. Falling the wrong way, Hall still managed to stretch and deflect Davies’ shot wide of the left post.
The Revolution controlled the 1-0 lead late, and Juan Agudelo, Davies’ substitute, eventually tallied the second goal. Nguyen combined with Teal Bunbury before the U.S. Men’s National Team forward tapped in an easy chance.
Tierney’s strong outing was rewarded late, as the fullback found a goal of his own four minutes into stoppage time. A cheeky backheel from Nguyen set up the simplest of finishes for Tierney.
While the Revolution travel to face Toronto FC on Sept. 13, Orlando City has a tough task the same day against Sporting KC.
This game is a shameful example of the effect of MLS’s unwillingness to get their schedule to avoid the FIFA international dates. Every other major league in the world gets this accomplished. Orlando who is on the edge of making the playoffs has to 3 very important players playing their national teams. I can’t blame the players who of course would accept for many reasons nor the national team coaches but just MLS where there are ways, but they have other priorities.
I think it’s a good idea for Lee. Makes it easy to pick him out on the field and Klinsmann, if watching, can easily identify what a real #10 is doing and also see why Lee plays there and not Jones.
Lee had assists on all 3 goals and showed why he’s one of the top, if not the top, AM in the league. Watch a clip of Juan’s goal (#2). The buildup was a piece of beauty
That 2nd goal was special. The whole play was screaming to make the easy pass and switch the field to a wide open Tierney to set up a cross. Instead, Nguyen stopped on a dime, forced the ball back to the right to Fagundez in traffic and eventually sprung Bunbury for the easy cross and finish. I’m still torn whether it was truly the smart play, but the execution was flawless.
The third goal was also special (so was the assist on the first too). Lee was in the goal area, driving the net with the ball. The defense collapses on him and he pulls the ball under him with his right foot and heel flicks it to a charging Tierney on his left. Tierney was 1v1 with the goalie and finished it. This move was done at pace, while driving the net. Took a lot of skill.
There was NOBODY in the Peru game that could do any of the moves/assists Lee racked up Sat night. Certainly not Bedoya or Jones or Mix. The fact that JK appears to have stopped looking at him shows just how little he knows when it comes to evaluating players. Lee Nguyen should be a key player in the NAT pool
You are exaggerating.
This was a pretty under strength Orlando.
I’ve seen Mix do something similar
“The fact that JK appears to have stopped looking at him shows just how little he knows when it comes to evaluating players.”
Lee came up injured when JK called him up. If he keeps it he will probably get his chance after the playoff game.
Except that if you breathe on the guy, you can knock him off the ball. Other than that, he could be international caliber.
Does the Revolution front office supply the locker room with hydrogen peroxide or do the players have to buy it themselves?
Hydrogen peroxide is very inexpensive
Easy work for NE. A couple of beautiful goals with Nguyen helping to pull the strings.