Red Bulls Hold Revs to Draw

Wolyniec Equalizers Cancels Out Nyassi Goal

By Sean Donahue

September 19, 2009

The New England Revolution drew 1-1 with the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium Friday night.

Sainey Nyassi

Sainey Nyassi scored Friday night for the Revs, who are on the outside looking in for an MLS playoff berth.

Sainey Nyassi gave the Revs the an early lead and the team seemed to be in control, but after failing to continue that dominance New York got back into the match a scored a second half equalizer through John Wolyniec.

The draw puts the Revs in a three-way tie for ninth place (with the top eight teams qualifying for the MLS playoffs), while the Red Bulls remain stuck in last place.

Nyassi gave the Revolution a 1-0 lead in the 13th minute. Nyassi picked up the ball on the right flank and ran into the box before using some stepovers to get some space around his defender. Nyassi then sent a powerful shot inside the far post and past Red Bulls keeper Bouna Coundoul for his second goal of the season.

Wolyniec finally equalized for the Red Bulls in the 69th minute. Dane Richards used his speed to beat Jay Heaps and get on the end of a long pass from Macoumba Kandji. Richards sent a low cross that Wolyniec outpaced Emanuel Osei to and slotted past goalkeeper Matt Reis to make it 1-1.

With Edgaras Jankauskas and Wells Thompson suspended and Mauricio Castro injured, the Revs started Kheli Dube up top and gave Chris Tierney the start at left midfield. Nyassi got the start on the right, while Shalrie Joseph returned to the center of the midfield after sitting out due to suspension last week.

Dube had a chance in the 10th minute when Shalrie Joseph sent a nice lob right to the Zimbabwean striker in the box. With a defender on his back, Dube got to the ball, but didn’t get enough on his shot to beat Coundoul.

New York almost scored in the 38th minute, when Kandji got free down the right flank and sent a nice cross into the box. Kandji’s cross found Wolyniec at the near post and the veteran striker connected with a powerful diving header. Wolyniec’s effort went just wide of the near post.

Kevin Alston had a chance in the 62nd minute when Joseph played a perfect through ball behind the defense. Alston used his speed to outpace the defense and get one-on-one with Coundoul. Coundoul was quick off his line, however, and managed to block Alston’s shot. Nyassi had a chance in the 83rd minute, this time attempting a one-time shot off a long Darius Barnes throw in. Nyassi’s powerful effort was just wide of the near post.

Kandji should have put the Red Bulls ahead in the 90th minute after beating Osei and getting one-on-one with Reis. Kandji attempted to slot it past Reis, but sent it wide of the target.

Despite a flurry of chances for New York at the end of the match, the Revs held on for the point.