Revolution v. New York Red Bulls, 9.22.12

The first thing most TV viewers likely noticed about last night’s game in Foxboro was the respectable number of people in the stands. According to the New England announcers, the crowd of 24,364 was the 17^th largest group ever to see the Revolution at Gillette stadium. While the final score of 1-1 might seem the drabbest of results, the game was actually exciting, especially considering the Revolution were eliminated from playoff contention last week. Both goals came in stoppage time, with the home team netting theirs on virtually the last play of the game.

The Red Bulls played the proper villains. Right back Connor Lade made one hard, dangerous tackle after another and mouthed off to the referee repeatedly on his way to getting sent off in the 74^th minute with his second yellow card. Wilman Conde got a couple of memorable cheap shots in on Kelyn Rowe, one along the sideline in the 31^st minute and another NFL-open-field-tackle in the 68^th (the latter good for a yellow). Rafa Marquez managed to avoid breaking an opponent’s collarbone this outing, though it should be noted that he only played 35 minutes and he did leg-whip and trip Lee Nguyen after Nguyen nearly faked him out of his shoes off the dribble in the 17^th minute. In the 62^nd minute, Teemu Tainio got into the act, tackling Juan Toja from behind at midfield and drawing his own yellow. After that one, Revs’ center back Darrius Barnes had had enough. He ran thirty yards downfield, got in Tainio’s grill and jawed at him while pointing a finger in his face.

It was refreshing to see a New England player stand up for a teammate, and Barnes received what I regard as karmic justice for his loyalty in the final seconds of the game. In the fifth minute of stoppage time, Barnes ran onto a Ryan Guy cross and headed the equalizer past New York keeper Bill Gaudette. The Revolution players looked elated to get the draw, and the Red Bulls’ players appeared to be in an agony. Given the often classless way New York played, I will not wish them well on their playoff run. Speaking of which, I didn’t even mention that Thierry Henry was unavailable for this game due to a suspension for headbutting Kei Kamara last week. What is it with this Red Bulls team?

Lest I get accused of being a mere homer, I quite liked the Red Bulls’ lineup last year, with Juan Agudelo, Tim Ream, and Dane Richards, all of whom struck me as likeable and good players and all of whom are of course gone now. And as for last night, I thought Dax McCarty and Tim Cahill played excellent, hard-nosed games, and they weren’t dirty. Cahill was fearless and effective in the air, eventually creating what looked to be the game winner in the 91^st minute with an aerial challenge that took Revs’ keeper Bobby Shuttleworth out of the play and allowed Joel Lindpere to head the ball into the open net.

In any case, while the Revolution are simply playing out what is for them a meaningless string of late-season games, they competed hard against New York, saw the game through to the end, and were rewarded for their diligence. The backline played particularly well, including good games by Barnes, Kevin Alston, and A.J. Soares. (The lone goal conceded was a mistake by Shuttleworth, who probably should have caught the cross in from Conde or not come off his line at all.) Nguyen had one of his better games this season in the midfield, which is saying a lot. He looked extremely confident off the dribble, and New York spent much of the night manhandling him, as they did when the two teams met at Gillette earlier in the year in the Revolution’s 2-0 win. Rowe had a strong game as well last night, including a good pass to Guy to set up that assist to Barnes. These guys aren’t likely to headbutt opponents or break their collarbones, but they’re competitors and give Revolution fans some hope for a better season next year.