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Taylor Twellman's goal propelled the Revs to the Eastern Conference Final. |
The Revs first opportunity came in the 10th minute after a give-and-go between Ralston and Wells Thompson sent Ralston through in the box. The league's all-time leading assister cut inside in the box and put in a left footed shot towards the far post, but saw it deflected wide by a Red Bull defender. The Revs argued for a corner kick, but referee Aby Okulaja whistled for a goal kick.
New York made an early change in just the 27th minute, bringing in attacking midfielder Clint Mathis for former U.S. National Team captain Claudio Reyna who suffered a right hamstring injury.
Mathis threatened in the 39th minute, beating Avery John with a nutmeg after receiving the ball from Angel. Mathis' shot from close range hit the side netting.
Five minutes before halftime, Thompson caused New York some problems after Twellman flicked back a Noonan pass to the Revs rookie at the top of the box. Thompson sent in a hard shot, but New York 'keeper Jon Conway was up to the task, tipping the shot wide of the net.
New England goalkeeper Matt Reis came up huge in the 52nd minute, after Juan Pablo Angel got free for an open header on an Jozy Altidore cross. Angel powered a header on frame, but Reis dove to make the save and not give up a rebound.
The Revs took the lead in the 64th minute after Shalrie Joseph played Ralston free of the defense with a perfectly weighted 50-yard pass. Ralston sent a pass wide to a streaking Twellman, who looked to hit it into the empty net. Conway managed to get back to get a hand on it, but could only tip it into the net. The goal was the eighth playoff goal of Twellman's career. The Red Bulls were down a man at the time with Angel injured with a concussion, and coach Bruce Arena was slow to decide to bring John Wolyniec onto the field.
"It was kind of weird," said Twellman of the goal. "I just wanted to stay onside, and Ralston played it. He played a great ball but the wind kind of took it a little bit farther ahead, so it kind of threw my angle off, but it went in and that's all that matters. A goal's a goal. I really wanted to bury it, but it kind of jumped on me, and I just was like 'You know what, I have to hit it on frame' if anything and I just did. Shalrie played a great ball, Stevie made a great run, and it caught them off guard.
“That was his first run where he went a little deep and peeled off and Shalrie played a great ball. Stevie and I made eye contact and he waited to make sure I was onside, and fortunately it went in."
"Obviously when you've got a player like Angel you want him on the field," said Nicol of the slow substitution. "They were debating about it, just from a safety point of view because he had been concussed and he was out a short amount of time. It was a tough decision for them to make."
Twellman had another chance in the 79th minute, getting on the end of a Ralston corner. The Revs' all-time leading scorer headed the shot on frame, but it was right at Conway.
Wolyniec had an opportunity in the 87th minute, managing to put a shot on frame at the top of the box through several defenders, but Reis was there to save the low, driven shot.
New York had another chance in the 91st minute, when Mathis got the ball in space about 16 yards from goal. Mathis took a step and then unleashed a powerful shot that Reis managed to tip over the net.
Substitute Adam Cristman nearly put the game out of reach in the 94th minute, when he was sent in alone on goal by a long pass from the midfield. Cristman outran his defender, but Conway was quick off his line to make the save.
"Tonight I think our best defense was our offense," said veteran defender Jay Heaps. "We attacked them and whenever they came at us we had guys back to squash what they had."
The Revs move on to the Eastern Conference Final on Thursday, Nov. 8. They’ll kick off against the Chicago Fire at 7:30 p.m.
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