FOXBOROUGH — All you need to know about the Revolution’s 2-0 loss to Atlanta United FC Saturday night in quickie form, complete with BSJ insight and analysis:
HEADLINES
Revs held scoreless for fourth game in 2019 season: We’re starting to sound like a broken record over here, but for the second consecutive match, third match in their last four, and fourth match in the first seven games of the season, New England found itself held to a goose egg on the scoreboard. The Revolution have failed to score in the last 208 minutes dating back to Brandon Bye’s goal against Minnesota United two weeks ago, and have three shots on target in the last two matches. New England fell back into 12th position in the Eastern Conference and are now 1-5-1 (4 points) on the season, while Atlanta earned its first win and are up to 9th (1-2-2, 5 points). It's the first time the Revs have lost at home to AUFC in three meetings.
Early sub Barco, Villalba connect for brace to wrap up all three points for the Five Stripes: Ezequiel Barco, who came on early in the match thanks to an injury to Eric Remedi, put the defending champs up by a goal to nil in the 29th minute after Hector Villalba had a solid dribble down to the end line. With Cody Cropper shading toward the near post, Villalba centered to Barco, and he pounded it into the long open side. In truth, Atlanta United should have been up by at least two goals, maybe even three: Josef Martinez missed a sitter, and Julian Gressel found one chance cleared off the line by Andrew Farrell. But only four minutes after the restart — and with Atlanta curiously headed toward The Fort — a Villalba pass went through the box to Barco, who unleashed a killer golazo into the top corner. Atlanta saw out the rest of the match and withstood New England’s late pressure, which only saw one shot on-target by late sub Tajon Buchanan.
Too quick! ⚡️
Villalba connects with Barco for the @ATLUTD opener. #NEvATL https://t.co/NX413oquoi
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2019
Bend it like Barco. pic.twitter.com/MMlY9A8K9W
— Major League Soccer (@MLS) April 14, 2019