MLS New England Revolution

Revs and Reis shut out Real Salt Lake to earn draw, 0-0

Published on June 24, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Salt Lake City, Utah - Despite not captalizing on a last-minute chance in stoppage time, the New England Revolution played to a 0-0 draw at Real Salt Lake on Saturday evening at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Revs keeper Matt Reis earned his 26th career shutout, moving into sole possession of ninth place on the MLS career list.

Reis made three saves for the clean sheet as the Revolution (3-4-6, 15 pts.) earned its fourth straight draw, pushing its unbeaten streak to a season-best four games. Playing their second game on the road in four days, the Revs withstood a constant wave of RSL counterattacks (3-7-3, 12 pts.) in the second half.

The shutout was the Revs' fourth of the season and the team's first since a 4-0 blanking of Los Angels on May 6 in Foxborough.

In the first half, neither team was able to get into its flow as both teams routinely turned the ball over in the midfield. The 95-degree temperature at kick-off combined with the 4,600-foot altitude on the artificial turf surface at the stadium meant the Revs struggled to settle into their rhythm in the early minutes of the game. Play remained in the middle third of the field with the teams making only occasional forays into the attacking zone.

Playing a 4-4-2 formation, the Revs moved Jeff Larentowicz back to central defense next to Michael Parkhurst in an attempt to neutralize Real's speedy forwards Jeff Cunningham and Atiba Harris, as well as MLS' all-time leader in goals scored, Jason Kreis, and U.S. World Cup squad alternate Chris Klein.

Real's first chance came in second minute when Kreis sent low cross in from the left wing to a surging Cunningham who was coming down the center channel with Revs defender Michael Parkhurst close. Parkhurst bothered Cunningham enough that the RSL forward didn't connect on a shot attempt and the ball rolled through the goal area untouched.

Klein made frequent forays down the right wing, and in the 18th minute, his run down the right center channel drew Reis out of the net. Klein played a low cross through the goal area to Harris, who was charging down the left center channel unmarked, but the pass went under Harris's outstretched leg and through the area.

New England had its first chance in the 26th minute when Shalrie Joseph sent in Andy Dorman with a long pass from the left center channel in the back field across the field to the right wing. Dorman worked toward the endline and sent a outswinging cross into the goal area, where Taylor Twellman, loosely marked on the far post, got a head on the ball, but his shot back across the net went wide right.

In the 28th minute, Cunningham nearly sent a sharply angled shot from the right side of the box on goal, narrowly missing on the far post by inches. The attack came as the Revs had just 10 men on the field after midfielder Jani Galik, who had earned his first career start, had left the field with an injury, soon to be replaced by Danny Wynn in the 30th minute.

Although the Revs held a 5-3 shot advantage in the first half, neither team was able to put a shot on frame. RSL was victimized by poor timing, drawing three offside calls coupled with the pair of ill-timed runs in the box with an open net.

Real came out strong again to start the second half, getting the half's first chance in the 52nd minute. After a turnover in the midfield, Klein worked down the right wing and got off a cross with Kreis coming down the left center channel. Moving in behind Reis to the open net, Kreis' first-time shot sailed over the crossbar.

In the 58th minute, Harris ended up one-on-one with Reis seven yards out after a give-and-go with Klein in the right center channel, but Harris' flick on net was straight at Reis after the keeper had come out to cut off Harris' angles.

One minute later, Larentowicz challenged Salt Lake rookie Mehdi Ballouchy at the edge of the center circle and the two players collided. Referee Terry Vaughn allowed play to continue on as RSL moved into its attacking third on the advantage. However, after Parkhurst swept the ball over the endline giving Salt Lake a corner, Vaughn pulled out a yellow card and cautioned Larentowicz for a reckless foul. On the ensuring corner, Klein's service went all the way over all players and New England was able to restart its attack.

The Revolution finally got its first - and only - shot on frame in the 61st minute when Joseph launched a powerful, knuckling shot from 23 yards out, forcing RSL keeper Scott Garlick to make a lunging save on the near post before the ball was cleared over the touchline.

In the 70the minute, José Cancela - dribbling down the center of the field - found Wynn making a run down the right wing unmarked. Wynn sent a cross into the goal area with Twellman surging into position, but Garlick came out and intercepted the pass as Twellman ran by for the first-time attempt.

Cunningham had another good chance in the 78th minute when he collected the ball off a turnover in the area just nine yards off the right post. One-one-one with Reis, Cunningham ripped his shot wide right, aiming near post.

Twellman had a chance in the 79th minute when he got the ball 15 yards out, but his shot deflected off one of three defenders that converged around him, allowing Real to spring a counterattack. Klein got the ball down the right wing, and with time, found Cunningham who sent a shot in from the top of the area, but he didn't get all of the ball and his shot rolled in harmlessly to Reis.

On RSL's next trip down the field, Cunningham took a through ball down right center channel and beat two Revs defenders. Alone on Reis, Cunningham fizzed a rising shot from 12 yards out that kissed the top of the crossbar and sailed out of play.

Each team created one final chance in the game's closing minutes. RSL had a prime opportunity just before the 90-minute mark when Klein's first-time volley seven yards out went high of the net after Cunningham found him alone on the right side.

In the final minute of stoppage time, Larentowicz nearly put the ball in the net with a running header off a free kick. After Twellman was fouled just outside the upper right corner of the box, Cancela sent a bending free kick toward the left post where Larentowicz headed the ball down, but wide left, on the Revs' final attack of the night.

The Revolution return home for two games next week, hosting FC Dallas at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, June 28, before taking on the New York Red Bulls at 6 p.m. on Saturday, July 1.

Wednesday's game is expected to be Revolution and U.S. National Team star Clint Dempsey's first game back with the Revs since he made history as the only U.S. player to score at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Also expected back is defender and Trinidad & Tobago international Avery John, who was also playing for his country at the World Cup.

Tickets for both games can be purchased by calling 1-877-GET-REVS.

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