After two difficult road games in emotionally charged environments, the New England Revolution have earned four points and have yet to give up a goal. That's the good news.
However, they walked out of Giants Stadium on Saturday following a scoreless tie with the New York Red Bulls knowing they could have left New Jersey with maximum points if they had put away any of their several chances. They held a 7-2 shots-on-goal advantage and Taylor Twellman had a goal called back for being offside in the 40th minute.
According to the Revs, it is taking a bit of time to get used to the change in formation, from last year's 3-5-2 to the current 3-4-3 scheme.
"[The Red Bulls] did a good job [defensively], but on the other hand we played a new formation, a new way and it's going to take a while," Twellman said.
While they were a bit unlucky to not put the ball past Red Bulls 'keeper Tony Meola, who made seven saves, the Revs have to also feel a bit fortunate to not have lost after giving up five dangerous set pieces in the final 31 minutes of the game. Two shots went off the wall while three sailed over the net.
"Tonight I thought we played well in some spells, really well where we knocked the ball around and did some good things," Ralston said. "I felt we gave up a good chance in the first half where we lost our way a little for a second there and giving up too many kicks at the top of the box."
As was the case in last year's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, the Red Bulls set the physical tone early when Danny O'Rourke clipped Shalrie Joseph a mere 25 seconds into the match. Of the 13 fouls committed in the first half, 10 were to the Red Bulls.
But the Revs dominated possession and were the more dangerous attacking side. In the sixth minute Ralston got by a fallen Seth Stammler and Meola was forced into a difficult save from 18 yards out.
Four minutes later Joey Franchino, who was replaced at the half by Kyle Brown because the Revolution captain felt tightness in his hamstring, whipped in a cross but Twellman's header at the six-yard box was wide. In the 16th minute, Twellman had another chance on Andy Dorman's corner kick but he bounced his header into Meola's hands.
In the final minute of the first half Twellman pushed a low, hard shot wide of Meola's right and broke in on goal in the 76th minute on a cross by Brown, but his shot went wide right before he was tripped by Taylor Graham.
"It feels like a loss," Revs coach Steve Nicol said. "In the first half, we should have been out of sight, I thought we were excellent. The possession was excellent in the first half, we created chances and gave them all kinds of problems but we couldn't finish them off. That will come though."
And, although it sounds strange, at times the Revs were too unselfish. Clint Dempsey passed up a shot in the first half and Noonan passed up an open attempt in the area in the 76th minute.
"I think at the end of the day this team is going to be fine," Twellman said. "We'll battle."
Dylan Butler is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
