New England Revolution 1, Toronto FC 1 | 2016 MLS Match Recap

Benjamin Baer

In a battle between two playoff teams from last year, the New England Revolution and Toronto FC played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

Kelyn Rowe opened the scoring early after Je-Vaughn Watson sent in a beautiful cross from the right wing. The former UCLA man headed it home for his first goal of the season.

After looking frustrated throughout the match, Sebastian Giovinco got on the scoresheet for Toronto. After a long ball over the top, Jozy Altidore found Giovinco in space outside of the box and the defending MVP was able to find the back of the net after a deflection.

Box Score

14' - NE - Kelyn Rowe (Je-Vaughn Watson, Gershon Koffie)
58' - TOR - Sebastian Giovinco (Jozy Altidore)
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Three Things

NGUYEN (ALMOST) NABS WINNER: For a few seconds, it looked like Lee Nguyen nabbed the winner for the home side. In the 92nd minute Rowe crossed the ball into the box. Femi Hollinger-Janzen was able to get on the end of it and cross it past Clint Irwin as Nguyen was in place in front of the net. The 2014 MVP finalist tapped it home but it turned out the ball had gone past the endline before Hollinger-Janzen touched it, and the goal was disallowed.
JOZY-GIOVINCO CHEMISTRY: After making two substitute appearances, Altidore finally earned his first start of 2016 against the Revolution. To facilitate his insertion, Toronto moved back to a 4-4-2 formation that they used for much of 2015. Altidore and Giovinco seemed to be frustrated for much of the game, but managed to hook-up on the one play that gave Toronto the equalizer they needed.
REVS SPUTTERING ATTACK: In their season opener, the Revolution managed to score three goals on the road against the Houston Dynamo. Since then Jay Heaps' team has played five games and have not managed to score more than one goal in any of them. Charlie Davies, Juan Agudelo and Teal Bunbury have all taken turns up top, yet have combined for only a single goal this season.