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Revolution earn first win of 2016 vs. Red Bulls despite controversy

Photo by Stew Milne/USA Today Sports
Photo by Stew Milne/USA Today Sports

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – After getting off to a quick start to the last two seasons, the New England Revolution were still searching for their first win entering the fifth match of the season at home on Friday against the rival New York Red Bulls.

The Revs have struggled to score this season, but they only needed one goal to hold off the 10-man Red Bulls, getting a 55th minute tally from Diego Fagundez to send New England to a 1-0 win in front of a sparse crowd at Gillette Stadium.

The decisive sequence wasn’t without controversy though, as the Revolution played on during an injury to Red Bulls defender Kemar Lawrence.

Scott Caldwell played a ball over the top to Juan Agudelo, who was kept onside by the injured Lawrence. Agudelo then centered to Fagundez for a tap in.

The Revolution’s offense was quiet up until the 52nd minute, when Teal Bunbury got down to head a left wing cross from Kelyn Rowe on target, forcing Red Bulls goalie Luis Robles (4 saves) into a diving save at the right post.

Bradley Wright-Phillips (6 shots) threatened to score out front with 10 minutes to play, but Bobby Shuttleworth — who sustained a cut over his right eye early in the game — was there to preserve the Revolution lead.

Both squads return to action with home games next Saturday. New England will host Toronto FC at 4 p.m. and New York will welcome in Sporting Kansas City for a 7 p.m. match at Red Bull Arena.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Diego Fagundez continued his hot start to the season, now leading the team outright in goals and assists with his second half winner. The goal didn’t require a ton of skill on Fagundez’s part, but he’s one of the only Revs players this season consistently in good positions on offense.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

There was only one goal, but there was a lot that went into the play. Did New England take advantage of Kemar Lawrence’s injury — which did not appear to be caused by a Revs player — or was it fair game? It’s hard to know how aware the Revs were about the extent of Lawrence’s injury as it happened, they only had eyes for the goal at that point.

MATCH TO FORGET

After scoring the final two goals to rally the Red Bulls to their first win of the season in their last game, Felipe might have doomed New York to a loss with his 61st minute red card against the Revolution. It was a harsh decision by referee Mark Geiger, but after giving up a goal and losing Kemar Lawrence to injury in the preceding minutes, Felipe’s studs-up tackle on Kelyn Rowe made it that much harder for the Red Bulls to come back.

Comments

  1. Did you even watch the match? Summing up Felipe’s send off as a studs up tackle is utterly clueless. Absolutely brainless straight red from Geiger on a perfectly legal challenge in which Felipe gets the ball first. I don’t mind the playing on with a man down when you’re on the break. I think it’s the right thing to do to keep playing there. I actually thought Lade could have saved that shot if he wasn’t so preoccupied with complaining to the official.

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  2. Man of the match: Matt Geiger. Geiger exhibiting his mid season form shows that he is more than capable of being called up to Copa America

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  3. Marc Geiger has gone from bad to terrible in such a short span? Yes they should have stopped play because Lawrence injury allowed an offside player an unfair advantage and Felipe’s tackle was hardly a red card? Finally why did Geiger stop play when a NE player ( Gonclaves) went down with a small tackle that he milked? Pathetic ref

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  4. Don’t worry baby!!! here comes the NASL and the “Champs”!!! Let’s go Cosmos!!!! The way the Red bulls and that loser team from the Bronx are playing,, it looks like this year it’s going to be green!!!

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    • LOL…yeah enjoy watching the minor league “champs” in the lacrosse field. Hope those scrubs come to RBA in the cup again this year – RBNY could use another easy win.

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  5. Ugly, ugly, ugly. Red Bulls are 1-3 with injuries mounting and suspensions too boot! It’s looking pretty grim. Bottom line is that the didn’t improve from last year. BTW – Red Bulls should not complain about Revs play-on when Lawrence went down. Lade and Klestjian looked like the Key Stone Cops bundling into each other in the goal!

    I was expecting a little more from the Revs given the talent they have. Poor match all around.

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    • Red Bulls have plenty to complain about. Embarassingly poor sportsmanship (and poor, of course the Geiger show strikes again).

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    • Normally I would agree with you about playing on despite the injury. But when the injured player keeps the attacker onside and leads to the winning goal, that hardly seems fair.

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      • no, it’s not ideal, but with all the injury-faking, it’s also not fair to the opposing team to have to decide whether or not to keep playing. i think geiger maybe should’ve stopped the play earlier, but nyrb also should’ve just played smart and kept their defense back until play was stopped.

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