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Nico Colaluca (26) started and played 66 minutes in his New England Revolution debut. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
The win also ensured the Revs would host the final should they advance.
The Revs’ roster was extremely thin for the match and with Michael Videira suspended and Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Shalrie Joseph, Kevin Alston, Chris Albright, Gabriel Badilla and Maurico Castro all out injured, the team only had 15 players available for the match.
“Obviously we’re men down, but whether you have your whole squad or whether you don’t there are certain things you have to do and defending is obviously a huge part of the game, which I thought we did well,” said Revs head coach Steve Nicol. “They’ve hit the post and the bar; we’ve hit the post as well. [Nico] Colaluca was unlucky. But we really restricted them. I don’t remember them missing an open goal or anything like that, so we’ve got to be happy.”
Colaluca had the first chance of the match in the 17th minute when he picked up the ball on a quick counter-attack and ran toward the box. The Coventry, R.I. native, making his Revolution debut, unleashed a powerful shot from just outside the box that beat goalkeeper Jose Francisco Canales but was denied by the far post.
“I think it went great,” Colaluca said of his debut. “Not only was it for New England, my family was here. It just felt great to get out there and play again. It was in front of my family, so it was great.”
Mansally gave the Revs the lead when Kheli Dube got the ball near midfield and dribbled forward towards the box. Dube sent a through ball into the path of an onrushing Mansally on the right flank. Mansally dribbled into the box and sent a left footed shot through three defenders and past Canales to give the Revs the lead.
“Kheli made a good pass for me,” said Mansally. “The only thing I did was just finish it.”
Hebert Alferez had the first good opportunity for Atlas in the 40th minute when he was sent in on goal from a well weighted pass. Amaechi Igwe managed to do just enough to chip it wide of the net with goalkeeper Matt Reis charging out.
Edgar Pacheco nearly had the equalizer for Atlas in the 60th minute, after Ricardo Jimenez headed a poor clearance to him in the right side of the box. Pacheco unleashed a powerful drive toward the far post that beat Reis but hit the post and was cleared out.
Alferez had a chance in the 63rd minute when he got the ball on the right side of the box and sent a low drive to the far post. A diving Reis managed to tip the ball wide. Seconds later, Darvin Chavez blasted a shot from 25 yards out that was denied by the near post.
Atlas had another chance in the 77th minute, when Nester Vidrio found Alferez at the top of the box. Alferez turned on his defender and shot, but Reis was well positioned to make the save.
“We knew they were going to have to come out in the second half,” said Reis. “We were in good spots. We clogged up the passing lanes and we played good defense.”
Atlas were forced to play down a man in the 86th minute, when Gerardo Espinoza was ejected for a violent challenge on Wells Thompson.
The Revs next face the Harrisburg City Islanders on Tuesday in the U.S. Open Cup in New Britain, Conn. They then return to MLS action on July 4th when they head to Los Angeles to take on the Galaxy. SuperLiga continues July 15th, when the Revs will take on Chicago at Gillette Stadium.
“Considering the amount of games that we have coming up and considering the amount of players that we have left, the last thing that we want to be doing is traveling, so [getting home field for SuperLiga] is real important,” said Nicol.
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