Revs sink streaking KC
FOXBORO — Some controversy on the offensive end, and some clutch play on the defensive side allowed the Revolution to end Sporting Kansas City’s seven-match unbeaten run last night.
Teal Bunbury scored a contentious goal in the first half, and Andrew Farrell cleared a KC shot off his own goal line in the second half as the Revs held on for a 1-0 victory at Gillette Stadium.
The Revs (4-2-2) threw up a picket fence defense to continually thwart highpowered KC (5-2-2), which entered the game with an MLS-leading 20 goals and plus-9 goal differential.
“We kept it very compact at all times. In the system we want to play, everyone has to play hard. KC went very direct because they knew we were going to press them and our back four stayed compact,” said Revs coach Brad Friedel. “When you defend, it’s hard work. A lot of teams think you can have a rest, but you can’t rest when you’re defending.”
The hosts threatened in the 27th minute when newcomer Cristina Penilla (team-high three shots on net) curled a shot just past the upper right corner.
The Revs got its winning goal in odd fashion — with a shot that went in that wasn’t celebrated. In the 44th minute, Diego Fagundez seemingly found Bunbury behind the KC defense in an offside position. Bunbury, believing he was offside, nonchalantly turned and fired the ball into the goal.
But after video review, referee David Gantar deemed that KC’s Roger Espinoza poked the ball off Fagundez’ boot right to Bunbury — therefore making the Revs striker onside. The goal stood, despite Sporting’s vocal disagreement.
About the winning goal, Friedel said, “I saw the linesman put his flag up, so ... but, I believe video replay got it right. I only saw it once. I only got a brief glimpse of it.”
“As a striker, you want to be prepared, opportunistic when chances come your way.,” said Bunbury. “You saw my reaction, probably thought it was offside. I was just in the right place at the right time.
“I just happened to be alert. That’s what we train for during the week.”
Sporting KC coach Peter Vermes, the longest-tenured coach in MLS, called it a “strange play.”
“A lot of things there happened,” he said. “The linesman put his flag up. Players see that and kind of stop . . . . What’s the challenge to see? Are they reviewing the goal or the offside? I don’t know . ... It’s not clear who hit the ball. A strange play.”
Revs keeper Matt Turner (four saves) maintained the 1-0 margin in the 45th minute with a bobbling catch of a rising long ball by Sporting striker Yohan Croizet.
Sporting keeper Tim Melia made a nice stop on a long shot by Penilla and recovered before Fagundez reached the rebound.
Then came the game’s other key moment. KC transitioned downfield and newest import Johnny Russell sent a left foot shot curling toward the vacant far side, but Farrell was alertly positioned to clear the ball off the line in the 63rd minute.
The clean slate marked the third of the season for the Revs’ Turner.