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Late Rivas goal sees Orlando City tie Revolution

Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports
Photo by Kim Klement/USA Today Sports

The New England Revolution thought they had finally snapped out of a four-game winless streak, but Orlando City SC forward Carlos Rivas had other ideas.

The Lions’ Designated Player has struggled early on in his MLS career, but came through with a 90th-minute equalizer, beating Revs defender London Woodberry to a ball out in front of goal to seal a 2-2 draw against the Revolution in front of 25,203 at Gillette Stadium.

Rivas advanced the ball down the right sideline to Cyle Larin to start the opportunity and then squeezed inside of Woodberry to poke Larin’s pass past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.

Juan Agudelo scored his first goal of the season on a similar play in the 71st minute to give the Revs their second lead of game, both of which they squandered.

Agudelo scored seconds after entering the game, hustling around Lions defender Seb Hines to put it in at the right post off a centering pass from Kelyn Rowe to make it 2-1 at the time.

Diego Fagundez initially put the Revs ahead in the seventh minute off a give-and-go with Lee Nguyen that started from the right sideline and ended with Fagundez blasting it past Orlando City keeper Joe Bendik from out in front of goal.

The Lions tied it up before in the 30th minute after Adrian Winter hustled down the right side and got off a cross over Revs defenders Donnie Smith and Jose Goncalves.

The Revolution’s other two back line members, Andrew Farrell and Je-Vaughn Watson both missed on headers as the ball bounced through to Kevin Molino, who had a wide open net to beat Shuttleworth and make it a new game.

The Revs (1-2-7) will look to avoid another draw — their seven ties are three more than any other MLS team — when they head on the road to play the LA Galaxy next Sunday. Orlando City (2-2-4) returns to the pitch at home on Friday against the New York Red Bulls.

MAN OF THE MATCH

Juan Agudelo had his best performance of the season, albeit playing less than a half hour overall. He clearly wanted to leave an impression on Revs coach Jay Heaps, who started impressive rookie Femi Hollinger-Janzen in his place — although Agudelo is still working back from a hamstring strain. In addition to his goal, Agudelo nearly scored a winner in the final minute of stoppage time, sending a header off the crossbar.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Carlos Rivas scoring his first MLS goal in dramatic fashion has to take the cake. OCSC coach Adrian Heath said after the game that Rivas was frustrated with his playing time, and with a goal, he gave Heath reason to play him more. Rivas hustled to the ball after Woodberry didn’t show a sense of urgency and gave a lift to an Orlando City side that needed it.

MATCH TO FORGET

Can the entire Revs defense take the blame tonight? Both Orlando City goals came to some extent as a result of mental blunders by the Revolution defense. The Revs play two impressive holding midfielders in Scott Caldwell and Gershon Koffie, and only allowed two shots on goal, but both were clear scoring opportunities that Shuttleworth shouldn’t be blamed for.

Comments

  1. I just don’t get it. On paper, the Revs have one of the strongest, most dynamic offenses in the league. Or so it should be.

    They’re spoiled with attacking talent in Agudelo, Bunberry, Davies, Fagundez & Nguyen. They’ve had more than their share of possession in these 9 weeks, but have been anemic in creating and finishing chances.

    My original thought was they need to play more 1 & 2-touch in and around the 18 so that opposing defenses don’t have time to set up, but eff if I know.

    Whatever the problem is, I’m not confident Heaps has the answer.

    Reply

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