In a hard-fought game that had enough missed opportunities for a 5-5 draw, perhaps a share of the spoils was the right result for both teams. But it was a story of missed chances costing both teams dearly as the Metrostars and the New England Revolution tied 2-2 on Saturday afternoon at Giants Stadium.
Although he saw his club remain unbeaten on the season, Revolution coach Steve Nicol was somewhat disappointed with the result, though he still looked at the draw as "definitely a point gained."
"To get a point on the road, most coaches would take that. Obviously we had the opportunity to get all three but we didn't. But we got something out of the game and I think that is what we deserved," Nicol said.
Both teams could have won the game, and both will rue many missed opportunities. The Revolution started brightly enough -- an early goal from Taylor Twellman seeming to have them continue on their dominating form, half-volleying home a looping cross from Pat Noonan from the right flank.
But it was full credit to the Metrostars as they struck back almost immediately. A sweet jinking run from the effervescent Abbe Ibrahim tied the Revolution defense in knots, only for his shot to be weak and trickle past the post. Then in the 16th minute, the Metrostars tied the game with a goal from Eddie Gaven at the end of a nice passing move around the box.
From then on out there was a host of missed opportunities where either team could have taken the game by the scruff of the neck and made it theirs. A number of goalmouth scrambles in the second half led to nothing for either team.
"I'm glad they missed a lot of them," said Nicol, "but I'm disappointed that we didn't put ours away so, I think on chances we had some real good ones. But sometimes you win them and sometimes you don't."
The tide seemed to have turned away from the Revolution, as the 10-man Metrostars took the lead following the sending-off of Ibrahim for a second bookable offense. A lovely cross from the right wing by Mike Magee found John Wolyniec free in the box, and the Metrostars striker slid knees-first onto the ball and bundled it into the goal.
But it was the Revolution that would have the final word. Khano Smith, who had been inspirational for the Revolution with his speed and a sweet left foot, hit a perfect cross for Twellman who headed home for the equalizer in the dying moments.
"He's got a nice left foot," said Nicol, "and he's got real pace. Defenders don't like that kind of pace. So we put him in there and he did really well."
As the Revolution continue their unbeaten march, the secret of it is in the team, according to Nicol.
"I'm happy with the whole squad at the moment" he said. "You don't win things by having an individual player. These guys play for each other as a team. You need 11 guys working together. And the higher the quality, the better the chance you have, and I am very happy with the quality of this team, on and off the field."
Laurence Moroney is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major Legaue Soccer or its clubs.
