Revs’ hopes dim further
FOXBORO — As the matches dwindle and their winless run continues to grow, the Revolution’s MLS playoff hopes shrink even more.
Last night in front of 16,040 at Gillette Stadium, the Revs failed to hold onto a one-goal lead in the second half and were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw against the Portland Timbers. Coupled with Montreal’s 3-0 win over the New York Red Bulls, the Revs are now six points behind the Impact for the sixth and last playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
“One point at this stage doesn’t really help us at this point. That’s why we were throwing people forward (at the end),” said Revs coach Brad Friedel. “I thought in the first half that we were hesitant and nervous on the ball. We told the players (at halftime) that when you go through bad patches you’re never as bad as you seem and you’re never as good as you seem. You have to keep an even balance . . . . We have a lot of talent in that room but talent only takes you so far.”
The Revs (7-10-9) have eight matches remaining, but only two of those are in Foxboro, and they are just 1-6-5 on the road this season. They do own two games in hand on the Impact, and pretty much have to win both of those to have any chance of catching them. But that seems to be a tough ask, considering they haven’t tasted victory since June 30, and have gone 0-7-2 since.
Neither side managed to score in the first half with the Revs missing that ultimate connection in the final third. The Revs are now 2-4-4 when tied at halftime this season.
Portland starting keeper Jeff Attinella was shaken up in the early minutes of the second half and was eventually subbed out in the 56th minute, replaced by Steve Clark. The Revs greeted the backup keeper rudely with their goal two minutes later.
Cristian Penilla controlled the ball and sent it ahead to Teal Bunbury, who made a bad touch but recovered just before the ball crossed the end line to flick a cross into the box. Kelyn Rowe acrobatically sidevolleyed a shot that was stopped by Clark, but the rebound squirted to Braintree native Scott Caldwell, who slotted it home.
The tally, the first of the season for Caldwell and just the fourth of his career, couldn’t have come at a better time — as it snapped a Revs scoreless streak of 264 minutes dating back to Aug. 11.
“I thought Teal had a good chance at the goal. Teal turned wide and made a hard run. Kelyn made a hard run. I made a hard run. I didn’t think that I would get to the ball and it fell right to me and I tapped it in,” Caldwell said.
But the Revs’ poor defense on set pieces again proved costly in the 70th minute. The Timbers launched a left wing corner kick into the box. Revs keeper Matt Turner went for it and missed it, and the ball fell for Portland midfielder Lawrence Olum, who right-footed a shot that crossed the line before Revs defender Luis Caicedo cleared it away. The goal was quickly given, and another chance at victory was lost
“I thought we were in control,” said Friedel. “It was defending a set piece. There’s not much more to say. They didn’t have many chances.”