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Shalrie Joseph made his presence felt in his return to the Revolution Sunday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The Revs struggled in the first half and were lucky to go into halftime tied at 0-0. The second half was a different story, however, as the team took control of the match and kept Chivas on the back foot for most of the half.
“The first half was garbage,” said Revolution head coach Steve Nicol. “We basically told them that at halftime. There is not really any other way to describe it. Everything was wrong. We couldn’t head it, we couldn’t pass it, we couldn’t close, we couldn’t challenge; you name it we couldn’t do it. The second half was always going to be better, but at the end of the day you have to give them credit for stepping up in the second half.
“We looked comfortable. We weren’t flowing, but we certainly looked a better side in the second half. Once we scored we looked as though we were always going to win the game.”
On Dube’s goal, Joseph got the ball about 40 yards from goal from Chris Tierney and then sent a through ball in to Dube. Dube, free of the defense, dribbled in on goal and slotted it past Chivas keeper Zach Thornton, who was well off his line near the top of the box. Dube’s goal snapped a 302 minute scoreless streak for the Revolution in league play.
“It was a great ball from Shalrie,” said Dube. “When you are playing with a big guy like that, [he was] holding the ball and getting you opportunities. He played a good ball.”
Sixteen minutes later, Ralston got the ball off a poor touch from Sasha Victorine in the box and took a touch towards goal before slotting a shot past Thornton for his fifth goal of the season.
“I was just running off the ball,” said Ralston. “I think Shalrie played it to Kheli. I tried to get in behind. I think Kheli tried to clip a little ball in and he put a lot of spin on it. It kind of hit the turf and the guy just missed it and it snuck through to me. I just tried to hit it hard and low and luckily it went in.”
The Revs were finally able to field a full bench with several players available as substitutes after recovering from injuries. In addition to Joseph, defender Amaechi Igwe was back on the bench, as was midfielder Mauricio Castro, who was available as a substitute for the first time this season.
It wasn’t all good news, however, as Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas, who scored his first goal for the Revs in their 2-1 SuperLiga Semifinal loss against Chicago Wednesday, was out with a hamstring strain.
“I’ve never experienced anything like this,” said Ralston. “Last year we had a lot of injuries, but this year has been incredible. I felt like every time we get a player back we’d lose two. To start getting healthy bodies back and to be able to have real training sessions with enough guys and to get key players back on the field is pretty nice.”
Victorine had the first chance of the match in the 12th when Paulo Nagamura played a perfectly weighted pass over the defense. Victorine got to the ball and was one-on-one with Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis, but opted to take a quick shot from just inside the box. Victorine’s powerful effort was well saved by a diving Reis.
Carey Talley had a chance in the 26th minute off a Mariano Trujillo corner kick. The Chivas USA defender rose up and got his head to the cross, directing it towards the upper corner of the net, but Reis managed to tip it wide with a diving save.
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Steve Ralston (left) and Kheli Dube were the goal scorers for the Revs Sunday night. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
Jonathan Bornstein had a chance in the 30th minute, using his speed to dribble through midfield and into the box, beating Tierney before sending a low shot to the far post. Reis managed to make the save and hold onto the ball with two Chivas forwards running in.
Ralston had an opportunity a minute later when he got the ball off a Jeff Larentowicz through ball and managed to beat his defender. Ralston got to the end line and opted to send a pass across the line. No Rev forward was in position to tap the ball into the empty net, and Chivas was able to clear.
Kheli Dube had a chance in the 37th minute when a long Darius Barnes throw-in was misplayed by a Chivas defender. The ball fell to Dube in the box, who turned and unleashed a shot on frame, but Thornton was well positioned to make the save.
Joseph entered the match at halftime for Pat Phelan and Joseph moved up top, with Ralston sliding back into the midfield.
“Obviously, having two guys up front made a big difference for us,” said Nicol. “It put them under a bit more pressure at the back, which forced them back a bit. [That] made all the difference.”
“[Shalrie coming on] helped us a lot,” said Dube. “In the first half I was kind of alone up top and I’m kind of short for those big [defenders]. When Shalrie came in it helped us a lot holding the ball and created a lot of space for me.”
Dube had another chance in the 56th minute when Joseph used his strength to beat Ante Jazic and sent a leading pass across goal to Dube. Joseph’s perfectly placed pass found Dube about 12 yards from goal, and the Zimbabwean striker hit a powerful left footed shot on frame. Dube’s effort was denied by an incredible diving save from Thornton, who got just enough of his hand on it to keep it out of the net.
“I think the midfielders starting picking their heads up a little bit more [in the second half],” said Joseph. “From Darius [Barnes] playing, Jeff [Larentowicz] looking for the ball a little bit more, Ralston getting more involved and me finding the spots with Dube stretching the defense, it all comes from guys just doing their work. Once we start working together as a team, some people get their reward, but it’s all about the team effort.”
Joseph’s assist was his team-leading fifth of the season, matching his career high, while Ralston scored his fifth goal of the season. The shutout was Reis’ fourth of the season and extended the Revs’ streak without allowing a goal in MLS to 262 minutes.
The win puts the Revs (5-5-5, 20 points) into a tie with Kansas City in fifth place in the East, but the team has three games in hand on fourth place Toronto (26 points) and D.C United and Columbus (27 points), who are tied for second.
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