FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Unable to quench their thirst for the first goal of the season, the New England Revolution were forced to find some solace in earning their first point of 2014 with a 0-0 draw against the Vancouver Whitecaps at Gillette Stadium on Saturday.
The Revolution (0-0-1, 1 point) extended their scoreless drought to open the year to 270 minutes, while the Whitecaps (1-0-2, 5 points) grabbed their second straight road draw and are still unbeaten on the young season.
The Revolution put together their best half of play of the season right off the bat on Saturday and nearly scored in the 5th minute. Andy Dorman nearly redirected Chris Tierney’s corner kick into the back of the net, but Whitecaps goalkeeper David Ousted managed an impressive right-handed reflex stop for the best of this three saves on the day.
Real chances were few and far between for most of the afternoon for both sides, but the Revolution created most of the opportunities. Kelyn Rowe curled a shot just past the post in the 59th minute and Diego Fagundez did the same in the 67th, two of the best of New England’s 17 shots on the day.
In the 80th minute Daigo Kobayashi put forth another bid for New England, blasting a shot from 17 yards out that was bound towards the top right corner of the goal, but was blocked by the right shoulder of Whitecaps defender Andy O’Brien.
Vancouver, meanwhile, mustered just seven shots and didn’t serious threaten Revs goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth during the match, but the team’s defense grabbed the first shutout of 2014 and has now allowed just two goals in three matches to open the season.
It was also the first time that the Whitecaps were able to collect a point in Foxborough, having lost their past two matches on the road against the Revs.
New England return to action on March 29 on the road against the San Jose Earthquakes, while the Whitecaps host the Houston Dynamo the same day.
MLSsoccer.com Men of the Match
Rank |
Player |
What We Saw |
1 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/andy-dorman" target="_blank">Andy Dorman</a> (NE)</span> |
Pesky and efficient day for the Revs midfielder, who should have grabbed his first goal since 2007 if not for... |
2 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/david-ousted" target="_blank">David Ousted</a> (VAN)</span> |
...a tremendous save in one of the few moments when pressed into real action. Take the road shutout and smile. |
3 |
<span style="font-size:12px;"><a href="//www.mlssoccer.com/players/kelyn-rowe" target="_blank">Kelyn Rowe</a> (NE)</span> |
Always fun to watch in the final third and showed typical moxie, even if the Revs coudn't finish the job. |
