Photo by Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports
By CARL SETTERLUND
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — With the New England Revolution trying to extend their two-month unbeaten streak and Toronto FC’s Jozy Altidore injured early, it was instead Michael Bradley who stole the show.
Bradley took a pass from Sebastian Giovinco just past the midline in the 53rd minute and he needed only six touches to carve through the Revolution defense and set the final score at 1-1 in front of a season-high crowd of 24,269 at Gillette Stadium.
“It’s just that power that he has as he gets moving forward and sometimes you’re not sure where it’s going to end up,” TFC coach Greg Vanney said. “He kept going and to be able to actually get that shot on goal and into a corner after that run is incredibly impressive.”
New England had gone ahead on a Juan Agudelo header in the 32nd minute, and the Revs (5-2-4) played in the offensive third for much of the closing stretch. They put seven shots on goal in the second half alone.
The hosts were unable to beat TFC goalkeeper Chris Konopka, though, as he made eight saves to keep a lively game from reflecting as much on the score sheet. Bobby Shuttleworth made six saves at the other end as Bradley, Giovinco, Agudelo, Lee Nguyen and Charlie Davies all had multiple shots on target.
The Revs found themselves in a similar situation last week, giving up two second half goals to Orlando City SC to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Citrus Bowl.
New England did extend its unbeaten streak to nine games (5-0-4), which it will look to expand to double digits during a Wednesday night road game against Sporting KC.
“It would be a lot nicer and we would think about it if it was a multiple-game win streak,” Agudelo said. “We would like to go on a win streak, but ties at home, we’re not really happy about them because we know we’re better than that.”
Jozy Altidore came off with an apparent right hamstring strain in the 21st minute, putting a damper on the night for Toronto (3-5-1), which now returns home for five of its next six games.
“I don’t have a real indication of what exactly, or how bad, or potentially how long, but when I just saw him he was in good spirits,” Vanney said of Altidore’s injury status.
The Revolution’s Jermaine Jones — who again wore the captain’s armband despite the return of Jose Goncalves — also left the game early in a 63rd-minute double substitution along with Agudelo.
“Jermaine had a little bit of a knock early this week and missed a little bit of training,” Revs coach Jay Heaps said. “With so many games coming up we wanted to be smart.”
Jones did not talk to the media after the game.
Agudelo got on the end of a right side cross from London Woodberry to make it 1-0 in the first half. It was the second assist in three games for the 23-year-old Revolution newcomer Woodberry.
“Charlie and Juan both made good runs,” Woodberry said. “It was just the type of play where I had a lot of space, got to pick my head up and got to serve in a good ball with a lot of time on my hands. Kudos to Juan for getting his head on the end of it.”
The hosts couldn’t hold on, though, as Bradley dribbled past Teal Bunbury and Chris Tierney, and also shrugged off several challenges by Scott Caldwell to beat Shuttleworth into the bottom left corner.
“Bradley just broke us down and it’s tough,” Revs center back Andrew Farrell said. “The boys worked really hard, and we had the chances, too, as well to capitalize. Even though it’s a tie, it feels like a loss. Back-to-back games we’ve had the lead and given up the lead.”
What did you think of Bradley’s goal? What about Konopka’s performance in goal for TFC? Did New England deserve another goal? Should Jones remain captain going forward?
Share your thoughts below.
Landon Woodburry has been a pleasant find and now owns RB.
I do however have some problems with Heaps substitutions as some other Revs fans do. His subs often times take the wind out of Rev sails and that is exactly what happened last night. I do not think Rowe is at the same level as people that come off for his entrance and the Revs often die when he enters. Every now and then, he pulls something off and that keeps him alive but for the most part, he is a turnover machine.
Captain obvious says: “Revs can’t afford to keep giving away points from winning positions.”
I’m not ready to blame heaps yet, but he’s on notice…
Captain Obvious also says the Revs obviously should have won this game, and that the Revs obviously had the better of both possession and clear-cut chances.
That Bradley goal was well-taken but it was sort of flukey and somebody less sublimely confident than Bradley – which is just about everyone – would never have pulled it off. That’s a boss goal there, the sort of goal only players who regard themselves as “big” players make.
I wouldn’t sweat your manager situation. Wow, there is some serious talent there in New England. That team is by a bunch the most loaded in MLS (in their starting 11, anyhow) and it’s not close…only Seattle looks like they’re even in the neighborhood. Nguyen and Bunbury both increasingly look like future regulars to the USMNT, Charlie Davies is actually making a decent case he may truly be finally “back”, and Agudelo looks like he could challenge Altidore as our big top striker at some point in the near future…I’d even stare hard at Andrew Farrell, with that crazy athleticism of his, as the USA’s version of Vincent Kompany if he can just clean his distribution up. Guy has massive upside. Revs look like they’re missing Mullins a bit off the bench but hey, when you get Agudelo back, win some, lose some….
That Revs team is absolutely loaded with Top-50 American players, and some of that combo play and passing I’m seeing from them is increasingly top-drawer. Fun team to watch. You can definitely look at them right now and say: They Are America’s Team.
Quozzel, you are right in brother!
I see Seatle and NE as the finalist for the cup. No one is close UK these two … Maybe FCD and Vancouver … But NER is deep … Rowe, Fagundez, Doorman and others could be starters on other MLS teams…
Add in Hall, Alston and others and wow, what an 18. This team could compete in CCF.
London Woodberry is a fantastic find … Too bad FCD didn’t keep him. His crossing is the best I’ve seen from a Right Back in MLS. With him on the right and number 8 on the left combined with Bunbury (right) and Agudelo/Fagundez on the left…there’s no better wings in not just MLS but maybe even Liga MX. That is hardly hyperbole
Even their “Throw-in” addition of Landon Woodburry looks like a winner with another assist.