Photo by Andrew Katsampes/ISIPhotos.com
By DAN KARELL
It took them a little while, but it seems that the New England Revolution attack has finally made it into fifth gear.
For the second game in a row, the Revolution scored five goals as they thrashed the Philadelphia Union, 5-3, on Saturday evening at PPL Park. The Union finished the match with ten men and were out-played more than the scoreline showed. It was the Revolution’s fourth consecutive victory and both Diego Fagundez and Chris Tierney finished with a goal and an assist.
The Revolution ran out to a two-goal lead by the 26th minute as A.J. Soares headed home a free kick in the 13th minute and Fagundez took advantage of a lackadasaical Union defense to fire home for his second goal of the season.
In the 36th minute, the Union cut the deficit in half as midfielder Vincent Nogueira fired an absolute lightning bolt past Revolution goalkeeper Brad Knighton.
However, it didn’t take long after the halftime break for the Revolution to restore their two-goal lead and build on it. The Revolution had an easy time passing between the Union defensive line, and Daigo Kobayashi cut a ball into the box to the run of Lee Nguyen in the 49th minute. Nguyen did a Cruyff turn to get the ball on his right foot and scored on a shot that went in between centerback Aaron Wheeler’s legs.
The Revolution scored their fourth on a powerful free kick from Tierney in the 57th minute, with Union goalkeeper Zac MacMath diving late after losing sight of the ball.
Disgruntled fans at PPL Park were treated to yet another Revolution goal in the 67th minute when the visitors nicked a ball off Amobi Okugo. Revolution rookie phenom Patrick Mullins combined with Fagundez at the top of the box to set up the chance, as Fagundez layed off a ball behind him for Mullins to fire home low on the near post side.
The Union made the scoreline more respectable with two late goals, the first on a nice left-footed strike from Sheanon Williams in the 76th minute and the second, a stoppage-time penalty kick from Sebastian Le Toux to make the score 5-3.
Cristian Maidana was sent off in the 82nd minute for a studs-up tackle on Scott Caldwell, though replays were inconclusive as to whether Maidana actually made contact.
On the plus side for the Union, Zachary Pfeffer made his season debut, entering as a substitute in the 73rd minute.