It’s been over a month now since the New England Revolution have won a game, and although it’s still a far cry from the eight-game losing streak suffered last summer, the current run of matches without three points in their pocket has them approaching the same frustration level.
Four minutes from walking away with what would have been a highly welcome point, the Revs conceded two late goals to the Portland Timbers on Saturday at Providence Park to fall to 0-2-4 over their last six contests.
“When you’re in the 85th minute and you haven’t generated enough offense, we’re thinking about who’s doing well, who can keep the ball for us, how can we stay in this game,” said coach Jay Heaps, whose team was feeling relentless pressure from Portland all night long, but still carried a scoreless draw late into the match.
With the Timbers charging, Darlington Nagbe, after a slick move to escape him, was tackled hard from behind by Lee Nguyen to set up a free kick just outside the box.
Jorge Villafana swung in a left footed service and Fanendo Adi was unchallenged in the air as he headed it home in the 86th minute.
“We always try to defend very well to clear, knowing that they’re dangerous in the set pieces with their big guys, that’s their strength,” said New England defender Jose Goncalves. “That’s what they did. Knowing that and defending bad, it’s very frustrating.”
“Credit a free kick goal, that one really was a tough one to just give up,” said Heaps. “I didn’t like the foul to give it. I felt that it was unnecessary, so we have to be a little bit sharper and smarter in those areas.”
With New England having only mustered one shot on goal in the second half, and three the entire game, they were forced to push numbers forward to try to level in the final minutes, but were caught on the counter, with Adi finishing off a brace in the 89th minute.
“It’s not a way you want to end a game,” said Kelyn Rowe. “It’s something we need to really focus on, it’s happened a couple of times this year. [We need to] just buckle down, get a point on the road is something that we need to do. We know that we can be better, and we will.”
Shut out for the first time since April 25th, the Revolution know they need to turn the page on a heartbreaking defeat, but still expect to take something away from it in hopes of getting back in the win column.
“We’re going to look at the film on this, take our medicine,” said Heaps. “It’s moving forward, learn from this game and when we’re really taking it on, what can we do to get out of it a little bit better?”
