Shorthanded Revs fall 2-1 to Philadelphia

August 28th, 2010

By Sean Donahue

FOXBORO, MA. - The New England Revolution (6-12-3, 21 points) once again dropped key points as they try to claw their way back into playoff contention, falling 2-1 to the Philadelphia Union (5-11-5, 20 points) after leading at halftime. The Revs took a 31st minute lead through Ilija Stolica and held on despite playing with only 10 men after Cory Gibbs 40th minute ejection, until the Union took control late in the second half and scored two goals to leave the Revs with their third loss in a row.

�When you lose a game like this, it is very frustrating�three games in a row,� said Stolica. �That�s football, we have to deal with it. We have to forget it as soon as possible because we have an important game on Wednesday.�

Stolica gave the Revs the lead in the 31st minute after a Marko Perovic corner found Shalrie Joseph. Joseph couldn�t control the ball, but a Philadelphia defender�s attempted clearance hit off Joseph. The ball fell near Stolica who slid in to one time a low shot past goalkeeper Chris Seitz from inside the six-yard box.

Ilija Stolica scored his second career MLS goal on Saturday. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

�It was just a great ball by Marko,� said Joseph. �He whipped it in, in a dangerous area. I told Cory [Gibbs] to go, but his man kind of pinned it off, so it dropped in the area and I just wanted to get my body behind it. [The defender] tried to bring it down. He got a funny bounce and he tried to clear it. I was just trying to be brave and try and get my body in there. It fell for Stolica and he did a great one time finish.�

The Revs went down a man in the 41st minute when Cory Gibbs was ejected for a late high challenge on Eduardo Coudet.

�The last three games have been huge games for us in the context of our season,� said Head Coach Steve Nicol. �In two of those three games, the outcome has been affected by the officials and I don�t think there is any argument about that. We�ve had four players sent off at home this year. I mean that�s incredible.�

Jack McInerney came off the bench late in the game and equalized for Philadelphia in the 82nd minute after being played behind the defense by Justin Mapp. McInerney got Mapp�s through ball and slotted the ball past Shuttleworth from close range to tie the game at 1-1.

Mapp got the winner for Philadelphia in the 92nd minute on a quick counterattack. With numbers forward, the Revs were caught out at the back. Tierney made an initial saving tackle, but the ball eventually got to Mapp who curled a shot into the far post for near the top of the box.

�[The loss] ripped our guts out you can say,� said Joseph. �We did well in the second half and a little bit in the first half to hold them. I think they probably had one shot at most for the whole [first] 30-35 minutes in the second half and we did well putting numbers behind the ball and kept them from creating chances. Then to give up something like that and then to lose is disheartening.�

�I take full responsibility - I muffed the clearance,� said Tierney. �I don�t know if we didn�t track runners, or what the problem was, but I probably should have had the ball off the clearance. We were stretched� but that�s soccer.�

Nicol had to make some changes for the Revs going into the game with Kevin Alston and Matt Reis both out due to injuries. Nicol reverted to the 4-4-2 formation and gave second year goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth the start in net in Reis� place, while pushing Emmanuel Osei to right back and giving Seth Sinovic the start at left back. Chris Tierney also moved to left midfield in place of Khano Smith.

Perovic set up a decent chance for the Revs in the 24th minute, getting the ball near midfield and dribbling down the right flank on a quick counter attack. Perovic got outside the box and sent in a right footed cross that found a wide open Ilija Stolica running towards the far post. Stolica got a head to the ball, but sent it well wide and high of the net.

Sainey Nyassi had two good chances in the 36th minute. First Nyassi beat Seitz with a long distance shot that was denied by the post. Seconds later he got the ball on the far post, but his headed effort went over the net.

Sebastian Le Toux had a chance in the 64th minute, getting behind the defense and in on goal. The French midfielder attempted to beat Bobby Shuttleworth at the near post, but the Revs� keeper did just enough to deflect the ball wide.

Substitute Justin Mapp created a chance two minutes later, getting the ball in the right flank and sending in a low cross. His effort found Andrew Jacobson near the penalty spot, but Jacobson sent his shot well high of the net.

�Fresh legs always help,� said Revolution midfielder Pat Phelan. �We just lost focus for a second or two. I don�t know if they got lucky or it was our mistake or what, but it�s a tough one to take.�

Chris Tierney came up huge for the Revs in the 89th minute after Nyassi completely missed on an attempted clearance. The ball fell to a wide open Roger Torres, who looked certain to score, but Tierney slid in and blocked the shot.

The Revs next return to action on Wednesday when they take on Monarcas Morelia in the SuperLiga final at Gillette Stadium at 7PM.

�It�s frustrating as it is,� said Phelan. �It�s disheartening. It�s behind us. The MLS season for us has been a difficult one, and we�re in a difficult situation right now. We�ve got an opportunity to get some hardware, and get something out of the season. Our focus is on that.�

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