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MLS New England Revolution

Real Salt Lake Gets by Revolution 2-1

May 9, 2013 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Ryan Guy's first goal of the season gave the New England Revolution a lead entering the closing stages of Wednesday night's meeting with Real Salt Lake, but a pair of late goals from Devon Sandoval and Olmes Garcia sent the Revs to a 2-1 loss at Gillette Stadium.

Guy put the Revs ahead when he volleyed home Kelyn Rowe's inviting cross in the 51st minute, but Sandoval (77th minute) and Garcia (89th minute) both finished rebounds to turn the tides in RSL's favor. The Revolution had a late chance to snatch a draw but Saer Sene's penalty kick was turned away by RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando deep into stoppage time.

The loss kept the Revs (2-4-3, 9 pts.) winless against RSL (5-4-2, 17 pts.) since 2009, having gone 0-5-1 in their last six meetings with the Utah side.

Andrew Farrell and Chris Tierney both returned as the Revolution's starting outside backs after missing last week's 0-0 draw in Portland, while Braintree, Mass., product Scott Caldwell earned his third career start in a holding midfield position.

The Revs started brightly and had the game's first quality chance in the seventh minute. Lee Nguyen's penetrating through ball sent Jerry Bengtson in alone, but the Honduran forward was pushed wide as he tried to round Rimando and the ensuing scramble resulted in a corner kick.

Neither team generated a shot on target until the second half and it was the Revolution which forced Rimando into a strong save in the 48th minute. Diego Fagundez worked a clever one-two with Nguyen at the top of the box before firing a shot which Rimando got down well to push away.

Rimando could do nothing to stop Guy's sumptuous volley just three minutes later, however, as the Revs jumped out to a 1-0 lead. Rowe surged down the right wing and weighed his options before delivering a cutback to Guy at the top of the box. Guy used his first touch to drill a rocket just inside the right post.

RSL responded to the deficit by pushing numbers forward and forced a pair of saves out of Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth with long drives in the 58th and 73rd minutes. Shuttleworth then came up with a big stop on Sandoval's powerful header in the 76th minute.

But Sandoval needed just one more minute to break through as he notched his first career MLS goal to pull the visitors level at 1-1. Shuttleworth was alert to save Sebastian Velasquez's initial shot, but Sandoval was on hand to drill the rebound into the roof of the net from inside six yards.

The game appeared to be headed for a 1-1 draw until a bit of late drama. Real Salt Lake took the lead in the 89th minute when Kyle Beckerman's powerfully struck volley - direct from a corner kick - forced a strong save out of Shuttleworth, only for Garcia to pounce on the rebound and roll a shot inside the post.

It appeared as if the Revolution would get a late reprieve when the home side was awarded a penalty kick as the clock pushed past 90 minutes, but Sene's effort low to Rimando's right was saved and the visitors left Foxborough with the full three points.

The Revs will be home again in just three days when they'll host the New York Red Bulls on Saturday, May 11. Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.

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