Revs Seeing Red

Earn Draw With 10 Men

April 20, 2008

By Sean Donahue

For the second time this season the New England Revolution found themselves down a goal early only to make matters worse by losing a player to ejection soon after. This time, however, they had no one to blame but themselves as Mauricio Castro earned himself a clear red card. Fortunately for the Revs, Jeff Larentowicz was able to convert on a dangerous free kick 10 minutes later and Matt Reis made some huge saves to help the Revs leave New York with a 1-1 draw.

Castro was ejected in the 47th minute for a ridiculous kick to Kevin Goldthwaite's groin after being fouled hard. The Honduran, who had failed to make much of an impact on the match, left the Revolution in a tough hole, already down a goal and now down a man. Goldthwaite also received a yellow card on the play.

Jeff Larentowicz scored the tying goal for the Revs Saturday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/ aduama.com)

Eight minutes later, Adam Cristman earned a very dangerous free kick after he was taken down right at the top of the box by Carlos Mendes. Larentowicz took the free kick and powered it around a seven-man wall and into the lower right corner of the net to tie the score, 1-1.

Referee Ricardo Salazar tried to quell the early physical tone when he pulled out the first yellow card nine minutes in, booking New York's Sinisa Ubiparipovic for a late tackle on Castro. Jeff Larentowicz and Khano Smith had both earlier been the victims of late tackles.

Amaechi Igwe had the first chance for the Revs in the 16th minute. The 19-year-old defender ran up the left flank and unleashed a powerful shot towards the far post from just outside the box. The shot was well out of the reach of a diving Jon Conway, but curved just wide of the far post.

Jozy Altidore put the Red Bulls on top in the 30th minute, after a deflected pass from Shalrie Joseph was intercepted by Claudio Reyna. Reyna dribbled up to midfield then sent a through ball to Altidore. The 18-year-old striker got a lucky bounce to beat Igwe and then held off Jeff Larentowicz, before unleashing a shot past Matt Reis and into the upper corner to give New York a 1-0 lead.

After Larentowicz scored the equalizer, substitute John Wolyniec should have put the Red Bulls ahead in the 65th minute when he got on the end of a Danleigh Borman cross. Just seven yards from goal, Wolyniec got between two Revs defenders, but sent his shot well high of the net.

Reis came up huge in the 71st minute, after Altidore again managed to get through the Revolution defense. This time Reis managed to make an impressive save with his feet to keep the score 1-1.

Again Reis was called upon in the 79th minute. This time Wolyniec powered a header on frame from close range off a Dave van den Bergh cross. Reis was well positioned and managed to grab hold of the shot.

Five minutes later it was Reis again preserving the draw. This time he could only parry a powerful shot from Seth Stammler from just outside the box.

In the 89th minute, Reis made yet another huge save when Altidore got into the box and turned his defender to unleash a shot. Reis was well positioned and saved the shot before the Revs cleared it out of the box.

Three minutes into stoppage time Wolyniec nearly won it for the Red Bulls, with shot from just outside the box to the far post. A diving Reis had no chance at making a save, but the shot went just wide of the post.

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