Revs Come Back Against Santos

Three Second Half Goals Means Three Points in SuperLiga Opener

By Sean Donahue

June 22, 2009

The New England Revolution fell behind 2-1 to Mexico�s Santos Laguna early in the second half, but came back with two goals in three minutes and added another late in the game to start their defense of their SuperLiga title with a 4-2 victory.

Jeff Larentowicz, Kenny Mansally, Jay Heaps and Kheli Dube all found the back of the net for the Revs in a well played match despite constant rain and heavy wind.

Jay Heaps, Kheli Dube

Kheli Dube (right) celebrates his goal with Jay Heaps during Sunday's 4-2 win over Santos Laguna. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

�It�s huge [to win the opener],� said midfielder Pat Phelan. �We�re the defending champions, we�re at home, and we want to make a good impression. It�s a tough tournament to get through. Even last year we won the first two games and we still needed a result to move on, so it�s huge to start [with a win].�

The Revs� impressive victory came despite being forced to substitute Steve Ralston and Kevin Alston before halftime due injuries and already being without Taylor Twellman and Shalrie Joseph.

�We certainly didn�t play any silky soccer tonight, but we played enough decent football that we made some chances and we scored four goals,� said Revs head coach Steve Nicol. �We can�t complain about that.�

Larentowicz gave the Revs in the lead in the 38th minute. Larentowicz got the ball from Alston about 35 yards from goal and stepped around his defender before unleashing a low skipping shot into the far corner past a diving Oswaldo Sanchez.

Santos tied the match in the 52nd minute when a poor first touch from Darius Barnes off a deflected cross in the box gave the ball right to Vicente Vuoso. Vuoso beat Barnes and sent a powerful shot past goalkeeper Matt Reis at the near post to tie the match 1-1.

�The equalizer was just a product of the conditions tonight,� said Nicol. �It�s slippery and the ball skates off Emmanuel Osei�s head, ricochets, and the guy finishes well.�

Santos took the lead in the 55th minute as Vuoso got the ball at the top of the box and laid it off to Juan Pablo Rodriguez. Rodriguez hammered a shot into the upper corner, leaving Reis with no chance.

The Revs tied it in the 60th minute when Heaps played a great through ball to Sainey Nyassi in the box. Nyassi got to the endline and then cut it back to Dube, whose shot was saved by Sanchez. The rebound, however, fell right to Mansally, who slotted it into the empty net.

�We work as a team,� said Mansally. �We are the defending champions of the SuperLiga, so even though we are two down we just fight and come back to get a result.�

The Revs got the lead back in the 63rd minute when a Mansally corner fell to Dube in the far corner of the box. Dube�s shot was deflected but found Heaps, who hit it past a helpless Sanchez.

�I think it was a group effort,� said Dube. �When everyone�s down, we motivated ourselves to try and get a win out of it. I think it helped today; when we motivate each other and stick as a group you get a win out of it.�

Jeff Larentowicz

Jeff Larentowicz and the Revolution take on the Kansas City Wizards Wednesday in SuperLiga action. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Dube made it 4-2 in the 82nd minute. A Mansally free kick from the left flank found a wide open Dube in the box who hammered a low shot that hit the far post before entering the net.

�It was a good ball from Kenny and I had to make sure I got the best use out of it,� said Dube. �Having guys like Kenny send us in good balls, you have to make sure you finish them.�

Santos first threatened in the 24th minute when a long pass from the defense put the Revs backline under pressure. A failed headed clearance fell right to Walter Jimenez, who took one touch and then hit it on the volley towards to top of the net. Jimenez�s shot took a deflection on the way and went just high of the target.

The Revs had an opportunity in the 36th minute when Mansally was played free down the left flank. Mansally sent a low cross into Dube, who was making a run in on goal. The ball nearly fell right to the Zimbabwean striker, but a Santos defender managed to slide in and clear the ball over the line for a corner, preventing an easy chance for Dube.

Immediately after Larentowicz scored the first goal, Ralston was subbed out in the 39th minute with a hamstring strain. Massachusetts native Michael Videira took his spot up top, making just his fourth appearance for the Revs. The Revs used their second sub at halftime with Amaechi Igwe entering the match for Alston, who also had a tight hamstring.

�It�s disappointing that Alston and Ralston had to come off with tight hamstrings, which is obviously not good,� said Nicol. �It gives us a huge problem the next few weeks.�

After the Revs had taken a 3-2 lead, Santos nearly tied it right back when Figueroa got free in the box and beat his defender. His initial shot was saved by Reis, but he got the rebound and looked to have an empty net to shot on before Phelan managed to slide in and clear it for a corner kick.

Vuoso nearly equalized in the 74th minute off a Luduena free kick. Vuoso rose above the defense to direct a header towards goal, but his shot was just high of the target.

Reis came up huge in the 87th minute when a powerful volley at the top of the box was deflected by a lunging Revolution defender. The shot was headed just under the crossbar, but Reis managed to get enough on it to tip it over.

In stoppage time Jimenez snuck up behind Phelan on a free kick and punched him in the face. Phelan was on the ground for a couple of minutes before getting back up. None of the officials saw the play and Jimenez was subbed out with no punishment. Phelan had earlier been involved in a collision with Johnny Garcia that left Garcia bleeding from his face.

�It was a direct punch to the face,� said Phelan. �Unfortunately he thought that I was responsible for elbowing [Garcia]. That stuff was going on the whole game. I�m upset he got the satisfaction of hitting me, but that�s just the way it goes with these teams.�

�I certainly hope they will look at the evidence on tape, which I believe is pretty conclusive, and act appropriately,� said Nicol.

The Revs next face Kansas City on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in SuperLiga play.