One game in 100 words: It was a great game from the standpoint of New England Revolution fans, bearing in mind the huge amount of possession they sustained, not to mention their unbeaten run has now extended to five games. The Chicago Fire were capable of netting the opening goal, but it was obvious, since the Revs were dictating the pace of the contest, that the Chicago lead wasn’t safe. Two consecutive Revolution scores later has New England walking away with the favorable result, now distanced three points in the Eastern Conference from the Columbus Crew and Philadelphia Union at fourth and fifth place respectively. Chicago, on the other hand, sits near the very bottom of the standings in ninth place.
Goals
New England: Fagundez 41’, Davies 60’
Chicago: Nyassi 28’
Three moments that mattered:
60’ — Jones and Davies beat Fire offside trap — When Jermaine Jones perfectly read the Fire’s offside trap and was just able to muster a quick flick past the back line to Charlie Davies, you could feel the impact of the Designated Player brought to MLS from more skilled pastures in Germany. But a clinical finish by Davies, who faced goalkeeper Sean Johnson 1-on-1, was necessary to notch the game-winner.
41’ — Fagundez buries header to equalize —Momentum had slightly swung in the Fire’s favor when Sanna Nyassi and Quincy Amarikwa linked up for the opening goal, and it took thirteen minutes for the Revolution to answer on headed effort from youngster Diego Fagundez. The 19-year-old led the Revs in goals last season, and struggling to find that kind of form in 2014, the goal was significant for both the course of the competition and his own confidence.
30’ — Nyassi squanders opportunity to double lead — The only clearly bad instance of Jones’ play could’ve facilitated a 2-0 advantage for Chicago. The former Bundesliga man gave away the ball before midfield, and Nyassi was set free, sprinting down the middle of the pitch. His strike would have beat goalie Bobby Shuttleworth, but the right post came to the rescue, as Nyassi’s attempt beamed off the iron. The game could’ve had a different outlook if Frank Yallop’s squad converted this endeavor.
Lineups
New England: Shuttleworth; Farrell, Soares, Goncalves, Barnes; Jones (Kobayashi 90’ +1’), Caldwell, Fagundez, (Bunbury 66’) Nguyen, Rowe; Mullins (Davies 58’)
Chicago: Johnson; Palmer, Larentowicz, Soumare, Segares; Ward (Nyarko 76’), Watson, Cocis, Alex (Fondy 65’); Nyassi (Shipp 76’), Amarikwa
