Revolution v. Chivas USA, 8.29.12: Shalrie Joseph’s Nearly Triumphant Return

For the first twenty-one minutes of tonight’s game, Chivas USA looked like they were going to get run out of the building by the New England Revolution. The Chivas defense in particular played wretchedly during that stretch. The poor play started in the first minute with a bizarre back-pass that looked like a through-ball to New England striker Jerry Bengtson. Chivas escaped that miscue, but three minutes later defender Rauwshan McKenzie attempted to clear a long ball into the box by Chris Tierney. McKenzei’s header fell kindly to Saer Sene, who turned and hit a volley into the side netting. Six minutes later, McKenzie scored an own-goal off a Kelyn Rowe cross. And ten minutes after that, Sene collected a giveaway and scored his second goal of the night on a left-footed strike from distance.

New England announcers noted that, through 27 minutes of the game, the Revolution had controlled the ball 72% of the time. The match was so lopsided at that point that it didn’t look fair. Shalrie Joseph and his new club were getting embarrassed, and not even the most ardent Revolution fan would want that on Joseph’s first trip back to Gillette in another team’s shirt.

Of course, any ardent New England fan of the last couple of years, or even someone who tuned in to New England’s 4-3 loss a few days ago to Columbus, knows that the Revolution haven’t learned how to kill a game, no matter how large their lead. Up 3-0 in the 21^st minute, the Revolution proceeded to give up two goals before the end of the half, both by their former captain. The first goal was vintage Joseph, a strong run to the near post on a corner kick ending in a solid, unspectacular, and courageous header in traffic. Joseph’s second goal was a beauty. Juan Agudelo received a pass in the final third with his back to the goal, turned, briefly ran at the defense, and played a square ball to Joseph, who was making a well-timed run through a static-looking Revolution defense and midfield. Joseph altered his run without touching the pass to set up his shot, which he one-timed with his left foot. It was a technical strike that curled around Joseph’s old friend and mate Matt Reis. That goal came in extra time, and it should be noted that, after controlling the ball for 72% of the time through 27 minutes, the Revs managed to lose the battle of possession during the first half, 62% to 38%.

The Revs conceded a third goal shortly after the start of the second half. Rowe lost his mark on a cross into the box, allowing Miller Bolanos to score off a pass played back across the goal from the far post. It was an extremely frustrating sequence for the Revolution, but there was actually a bright spot to it, or its aftermath. Revolution center back Stephen McCarthy, rather than chewing out Rowe or parading frustration, put a hand on Rowe’s shoulder in commiseration. That kind of gesture during hard times, combined with a lot of hard work, are the kinds of things that build winning teams.

Both defenses tightened up and played with more conviction after that, and the game ended in a 3-3 draw. After the match, the cameras caught players from both sides, along with a number of New England staff members, paying their respects to Joseph at midfield. A. J. Soares, who will likely assume Joseph’s old role as the so-called face of the franchise, seemed particularly gracious and happy to see his old teammate. Kevin Alston began exchanging jerseys with Joseph when my MLS Live feed went dead. It must have all been very poignant for Joseph, though I suspect he’d envisioned exchanging jerseys with Reis. He’d no doubt also envisioned a Chivas victory, but an old hand like him knows that things don’t always turn out the way we plan.