Bou makes it count
Scores winner in debut, Revs run streak to nine
FOXBORO — If Pele had been among the 10,575 fans in attendance for last night’s 4-0 Revolution victory over Vancouver, the Brazilian soccer legend might have been moved to describe the proceedings as “the Bou-tiful Game.”
Newly acquired designated player Gustavo Bou registered his first goal in a Revs uniform when he drilled home a right-foot finish to a Carlos Gil corner kick in the 45th minute and continually displayed a talent for being around the ball. Revs coach Bruce Arena graciously lifted his star in the 79th minute as homegrown hero Diego Fagundez raced onto the field, allowing the Gillette faithful to applauded the moment.
“I’m happy to score in my debut. I’m happy that the team won and got three points. My teammates have helped me ever since I got to New England,” said Bou, who scored 21 times in 55 appearances with his previous Club Tijuana of Liga MX.
The substitution paid further dividends on the scoreboard when three minutes later Fagundez headed home a delivery by Cristian Penilla for much-needed insurance. The goal was the first of the season for the 24year-old, ninth-year MLS veteran from Leominster and moved Fagundez into a tie with Lee Nguyen for No. 2 all time in Revs scoring with 51 goals.
“I can’t remember the last time I scored. It’s been a while,” Fagundez said. “I’ve been working hard. It really helps my confidence, Hopefully, more will come.”
The Revs (7-8-6) weren’t finished. Four minutes after the Fagundez goal, Gil made his patented move to the left to gain space on a defender and unleashed a left-foot blast that beat the beleaguered Vancouver keeper Maxime Crepeau. It added to Gil’s team-best six goals on the season.
The sizzling Teal Bunbury added a goal in the 90th minute. It was Bunbury’s seventh goal (five in MLS) in the last eight games across all competition for the 10year veteran, who has been a catalyst during the Revs resurgence.
“I’m real pleased with the group. Tonight’s game certainly had its moments but yet it was still a little sloppy, a little inconsient. But as the game went on, certainly the last 10 minutes was all ours and I thought the team is starting to play together,” said Arena, who believed Bou’s impact will grow in the future.
“As the game went along we, I mean the players and the coaching staff, got a better feeling for how he plays. I hope he can get out of bed in the morning and give us some minutes in Cincinnati on Sunday. But it takes time in any sport, with any player. … You don’t see many players take the ball in mid-air like that and strike it so cleanly.”
The start was delayed by 18 minutes because of a series of lightning storms in the area. The first half was winding down when Gil sent a corner kick to just outside the 18-yard box. Bou, whose nickname of “La Pantera” (The Panther) was perfectly positioned to do what he was paid to do and drilled a right foot shot into the net past the futile dive of Crepeau.
“Initially I put (the ball) high. Bu it ended up in the proper zone and (Bou) made a great finish on it. It was the play,” Gil said. “It was the way we wanted.”
Bou said later, “It was a great connection. ”
The Bou goal improved the Revs record when leading at halftime to 4-0-3.
The Revs’ Luis Caicedo drew a yellow card in the 71st minute and will have to sit out the next game because of accumulated transgressions.