Revs Stumble Against Columbus

Nicol Says Team Had "No Quality" In Loss

By Sean Donahue

Oct. 11, 2009

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Revolution fell 1-0 to a shorthanded and undermanned Columbus Crew. Columbus scored on a fluke goal in the first half and the Revolution rarely threatened to equalize, extending their winless streak to three games and further hurting their playoff chances.

The Crew were forced to play down a man after a second half red card, but the Revs still could not take advantage.

Emmanuel Osei

Defender Emmanuel Osei played a pivotal role in the Crew's goal Saturday night. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

“I guess the overriding thing was that we had no quality tonight,” said Revolution head coach Steve Nicol. “Whatever we did, whatever we tried there was no quality on it and there is no getting away from that.”

Columbus took the lead in the 37th minute on a Gino Padula free kick from about 35 yards out. Padula sent a long cross into the box that bounced past everyone, including a motionless goalkeeper Matt Reis and entered the net.

“It’s horrible,” said Nicol. “Whatever way you want to look at it; nobody’s taking charge. It’s a horrible goal. No communication.”

“It was a miscommunication,” said Reis. “I said ‘away’ and [defender Emmanuel Osei] must have thought I said ‘keeper.’ It’s just a miscommunication and unfortunately that’s what cost us the game.”

Despite the Revs again missing several key players, it was a rare occasion in which their opposition may have been even more decimated by injuries, suspensions and international call-ups. Columbus was without defenders Frankie Hejduk (U.S. national team call-up), Chad Marshall (MCL sprain), and Danny O’Rourke (suspension), midfielder Robbie Rogers (U.S. national team call-up), and forward Alejandro Moreno (Venezuela national team call-up). Columbus also opted to rest 2008 MLS MVP Guillermo Barros Schelotto.

“It was painfully frustrating, to be honest about it, that we didn’t step up to the challenge,” said Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph. “We could have done a lot tonight by getting three points or even a point. Tonight we just came out lackluster and we didn’t do what we are supposed to do to get the points, bottom line.”

Kheli Dube tested Will Hesmer in the ninth minute with a long range shot. The Columbus goalkeeper was well positioned and made the save, but nearly gave up a rebound. Hesmer looked shaky early in the match, coming out for two crosses in the first eight minutes and missing them both.

Eddie Gaven threatened for the Crew in the 15th minute. Emmanuel Ekpo sent in a free kick to the box, where Steven Lenhart managed to head it across goal. Gaven, from about six yards out sent a header toward goal, but his effort went just high of the target.

In the fourth minute of first half stoppage time, the Crew nearly scored again on a strange goal. Ekpo sent a long effort from about 35 yards out that Reis just got enough on to tip over the bar.

Columbus was forced to play down a man the rest of the match after Ekpo was issued a red card in the 65th minute. The Crew midfielder swung his arm when going for a header and hit Kevin Alston in the face.

Sainey Nyassi had a great opportunity in the 69th minute after he got the ball on the right flank from Alston and used his speed to get into the box. Nyassi sent a powerful shot to the near post that Hesmer could only punch out. The rebound fell to Joseph a few feet from goal, but the Revs midfielder could not direct his effort on frame.

Nicol tried to ignite the offense with some second half substitutions. Michael Videira entered the match for Kenny Mansally in the 59th minute, allowing Shalrie Joseph to move up top. After The Revs had the man advantage Nico Colaluca came on for Osei and the Revs switched to a 3-5-2 in the 69th minute. Nicol used his final substitution in the 79th minute, bringing on Mauricio Castro for Sainey Nyassi.

Despite all these moves, however, the Revs still failed to register another shot until Castro forced Hesmer to make a save in second half stoppage time.

“We’re not scoring very many goals,” said Reis. “[The defense] has to play perfect and we’re not doing that right now.”

The Revs still remain in the eighth and final playoff spot with two games remaining, but D.C. United, Toronto F.C., and FC Dallas are now all just two points behind in the standings. The Revs finish off the season against second place Chicago next Saturday before traveling to Columbus to again face the first place Crew the following weekend.

“I definitely think we have enough talent to get to the playoffs,” said Reis. “It’s tough, but we have another game at home next weekend and then at Columbus. We just have to regroup and refocus and try again.”

“We can’t drop points at all,” said Joseph. “We have got a lot at stake right now. We needed to win tonight and get points tonight and we didn’t do that. We let down our fans, we let down ourselves by not showing a better effort and not putting it together out there.”