WHO: Columbus Crew SC at Revolution
WHEN: Saturday, May 19, 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
TV/RADIO: NBC Sports Boston/WBZ-FM 98.5 HD2/WMVX 1570 AM (Portuguese)
WHAT’S UP: It’s MatchDay 11 for New England, and the second time in a month that the Revs take on the Crew. The two similar-styled sides battled to a 2-2 draw at MAPFRE Stadium on April 21, the Revolution coming back twice to salvage an important road point. A Boys In Blue (5-3-2, 17 points, sixth in the East) victory tonight can see them rise as high as fourth/fifth; Columbus (6-3-3, 21 points, second) can only stay second with a win, but could drop as far as fourth with a defeat and other results in the league going against them this weekend.
Sean here at a rainy Gillette. The lineups and benches are up, and your match blog is underway.
The Revs kick off toward the Banner End, and they are in the Red and White change strip. Columbus in yellow. The first half is underway. Periodic updates to follow.
1' Tierney with a feed from the flank, Steffen handles it.
2' Bunbury has a go from distance, curls it, but Steffen gets a hand on it and it goes for a corner.
4' Bunbury gets fouled, and Tierney takes the free kick... Columbus clears it, but the Revs regain possession.
9' Higuain blazes over after some nifty build-up by the Crew. Nervy.
11'Tierney corner goes into the heart of the penalty area is cleared, but Penilla recovers, wheels around the defender, and buries it... into the side netting.
12' Caicedo with two vicious sliding take-downs, the second one on Afful... referee Sorin Stoica summons Caicedo, has a word, and only shows him yellow. Revs are lucky not to be done to 10 men right now.
14' Tierney with an interception and drives up the pitch, pulls the trigger and Steffen saves it.
14' Hansen for the Crew with a shot off the counter that doesn't meet a foot in front of goal.
16' Penilla left-foots it, and he's hobbling a little. Running it off.
18' The rain is picking up here at Gillette, and some fans are headed for cover.... as Rowe has a giveaway.
23' Caicedo with a take-down, but as Rowe wins the ball, Stoica whistles and sends play the other way.
24' Throw-in by Columbus as Zardes tries to get a foot on the ball, but Delamea clears it... Penilla with the counter, but the Crew dispossess and keeps Steffen safe.
25' Abubakar with a foul from behind on Bunbury, free kick Revs.... and while it goes into the penalty area, Columbus deflects it over, and it'll be a corner....
28' Rowe drives and lays it off for Caldwell, and SC6 blazes over from distance.
30' Half an hour gone, and corner by the Crew. Higuain's service goes to Abubakar, and Turner with the save at the far post with the header.
31' Delamea goes into the book for a hard challenge on Hansen. Free kick out on the flank, with Higuain standing over it.... there's a try from close range by Mensah, tilt-a-whirls in the box after it goes to Andrew Farrell, and is deposited into the lighthouse tunnel.
37' Tierney with a free kick, and Delamea with a runner, a leap... and he heads it over the bar. Needed to nod it low.
38' Tierney gets it over to Bunbury, he has a go, and Steffen parries it. Bunbury having a good night so far... again. The resulting corner goes to Anibaba, who heads over. Delamea goes to ground near the penalty spot, but Stoica isn't having it.
41' Rowe with a service that Steffen handles.
41' Hansen with a cross that Turner dives for, but not needed... out of play.
44' Artur catches Anibaba out of position on the counter, he tries to find Zardes, but just out of reach. Zardes almost had it. Valenzuela is carded for unsporting behavior.
45' One minute minimum of stoppages.
45+2' Penilla takes the corner, and Zardes heads it over for another one. Anibaba catches Hansen with his boot. And that's the half.
HALF
Halftime thoughts:
Revs aren't getting the high press going. Needed.
Revs have three SOG to Columbus' one.
Second half back underway, Revs will be headed toward The Fort. Revs' sub: Wilfried Zahibo into the game for Kelyn Rowe.
47' Zardes elbows Caicedo in the face, and Tierney's free kick is cleared.... Farrell chases back and gets it to Turner, who kicks it away.
51' Evan Allen out to check on Delamea...he's walking off, so New England will use its second sub.... Friedel summoning Claude Dielna from the bench.
54' Zardes goes down a little too easily as Farrell glances by him. No whistle, play on.
55' Zardes gets by Anibaba, but Dielna is there to steer it away. That comes after a drive into the Columbus penalty area that can't connect with Penilla.
58' Bye with a go from distance on a pass from Farrell, and Steffen dives to stop it. That was close. Revs getting frisky.
59' Crew sub: Martinez on for Hansen.
63' A pair of Crew corners go for naught, Turner punching the second one away.... Penilla races and finds Caicedo, who gets pulled down by Argudo. Leads to a Revs free kick... which is cleared.
67' Dielna sees a yellow card for a take-down near the touchline, and it was reckless. Comes after Martinez clips Tierney from behind, and no foul called.
Attendance: 14,087. Ummm..... only if Harvey the Pooka multiplied.
68' Crew sub: Grella on for Argudo.
69' Afful has a go that floats away.
70' CHRIS TIERNEY IS A DEFENSIVE GOD. Tierney saves the defense's bacon as he tracks back and takes the ball away from Martinez without making contact. This came after a giveaway, and Higuain countered.
71' Free kick Revs. Dielna and Tierney over it, and Dielna deflects it off the wall and into Steffen's gut.
74' Bye with a cross after taxi'ing a Crew defender, and Afful deflects it over the crossbar. Almost an own goal. Corner cleared.
75' Zardes with a try that Turner, down on one knee, parries it aside wicked hard..... another try half a minute later, Grella serves from the flank, but Zardes heads it over the bar.
81' Dangerous for Columbus, as Penilla drives in, Steffen bobbles the back pass... but gains control of it. Nervyyyyy.
85' GOAL Columbus, as Higuain serves up a corner, and Abubakar races up and heads it in. 1-nil to Columbus.
86' Brian Wright on for Scott Caldwell.
87' Wright goes down, Stoica races in like he's going to call for a penalty.... he must have heard something in his ear to not call that penalty.... Afful had given Wright a high boot. No penalty.
89' Anibaba goes into the referee's book.
90' Grella off, Williams on for Columbus.
90' Four minutes minimum added on.
90+2' Tierney lines up a cross to Wright, he heads it, but it's right on Steffen.
90+3' Anibaba wins a 50/50, gets it to Wright, who fires... just off target!
90+4' Anibaba drives it just wide!
FULL TIME
_______________________
This evening's #NERevs Starting XI ⚽️⚽️ BENCH: Knighton, Dielna, Herivaux, Wright, Zahibo, Somi, Nemeth pic.twitter.com/xsvxHJNuRL
— New England Revolution (@NERevolution) May 19, 2018
Squad ? Kickoff ? #CrewSC | #NEvCLB pic.twitter.com/nrLGqYwCb8
— Columbus Crew SC (@ColumbusCrewSC) May 19, 2018
#SaveTheCrew #NERevs @ tonight’s match Revs v Crew 22nd minute sit in silent protest against proposed relocation of the Crew 23rd min stand up and sing “Save The Crew” for a minute. Join in! Fans United!
— gavin sturges (@gavinsturges) May 19, 2018
Zardes’ goals against the Revs:
- Two goals in a 5-1 win for LA Galaxy over the Revs in Carson (July 16, 2014)
- One goal in the 2014 MLS Cup Final in Carson (Dec 7, 2014)
- One goal in a 2-2 draw for the Galaxy against the Revs (May 31, 2015)
- Scored in the 2-2 draw in Columbus (April 21, 2018)