By JUSTIN FERGUSON
Although Saturday night’s result against New England gave Chivas USA their first point in eight matches, the Goats still left StubHub Center thinking about what might have been.
Chivas USA were on their way to a home win against the New England Revolution, but a late goal from substitute Chad Barrett earned the visitors a 1-1 draw. Barrett’s 88th-minute goal canceled out a first-half strike from veteran midfielder Laurent Courtois.
The Goats, who entered this match on a club-record seven-match losing streak, grabbed the lead in the 18th minute. After Josue Soto’s long-range blast was parried out of the area by Bobby Shuttleworth, Chivas kept pressuring the Revs’ backline. The ball eventually landed at the feet of Tristan Bowen, who bounced it towards the veteran Courtois.
The 34-year-old Frenchman, making his first start since March, struck a fine volley that slid right under the crossbar for the opener.
New England stayed on the front foot after Courtois’s goal and created several chances on goal—a potential Fagundez goal was called off for offside and a Nguyen free kick struck the crossbar. When it came to chances on goal, Dan Kennedy kept the Revs out for the longest time with seven saves, including a fantastic diving stop of a Chris Tierney shot shortly after halftime.
As the match went on, Chivas packed the defense tighter and tighter, trying to hold onto their slim lead. By the midway point of the second half, it was one-way traffic on offense as the Goats kept their numbers behind the ball.
But the lead would eventually be lost. Five minutes after his substitution, Chad Barrett prevented New England from suffering its third straight loss across all competitions.
The former Los Angeles Galaxy forward notched his second goal of the season at his old stomping grounds. Scott Caldwell sprayed a pass out to Diego Fagundez, who sent a long cross towards Kennedy’s back post. Barrett stuck his left foot into traffic, and the ball found its way across the line for the equalizer.
With all the momentum and five minutes of stoppage time, New England pressed for three points. But all that attacking intent resulted in very little production, and a wayward Barrett header would be the last shot of the night for the Revolution.
New England (5-5-6) will be back in action next Saturday with a home match against San Jose. Chivas (3-10-3), winless in now 11 straight matches, head north of the border a week from Sunday for a meeting with Eastern Conference-leading Montreal.
Here are the match highlights: