MLS New England Revolution

Clint Dempsey lifts Revs to 1-1 draw with United

Published on September 13, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - After D.C. United took a 1-0 lead into halftime, Clint Dempsey scored his fifth goal of the season in the second half to knot the score as the New England Revolution and United played to a 1-1 draw at Gillette Stadium on Tuesday evening. The goal was Dempsey's first since July 4. Josh Gros scored United's goal in the first half.

Dempsey tallied the equalizer when he volleyed a Taylor Twellman headed pass under the crossbar past D.C. goalkeeper Troy Perkins in the 56th minute. Club captain Joe Franchino registered his first assist of the season when he started the sequence by heading a pass across the penalty area to Twellman.

New England (8-8-11, 35 pts.) recorded its team-record 11th draw of the season, while league-leader United (14-3-10, 52 pts.) has won just once since July 15 after snapping its season-best six-game winning streak.

The visitors came out strong in the first half, creating dangerous passing sequences in the midfield. Gros went close in the third minute when his shot from near the edge of the penalty area was deflected by Revs defender Jay Heaps.

Heaps came up big again in the 14th minute when he cleared D.C. midfielder and U.S. International Ben Olsen's shot off the goal line to prevent an early United goal.

The Revs' first good chance came in 15th minute when Franchino picked up a headed clearing attempt on the edge of the 18-yard box and launched a first-time, left-footed blast to the far post, narrowly missing wide right.

Gros again had a chance 21st minute after a Revs defensive miscue in the area. Gros took a pass from the midfield and dribbled across the length of the box, drawing Matt Reis out with him and forcing the Revs keeper to commit to his left. With Reis down, Gros launched a shot at the open net from 10 yards out, but New England defender Michael Parkhurst cleared another ball of the line before it went in.

D.C. continued to boss play and finally converted in the 25th minute when, again, Gros broke free in front of the net and slotted in the rebound of a Freddy Adu shot. Adu took a left-footed, tight-angled shot from the top, right corner of the box and Reis made the save, but he pushed the rebound to his left into the path of an unmarked Gros, who pounced on the ball in for the uncontested goal as Reis dove back across the net.

New England nearly got the equalizer in the 28th minute after Bryan Namoff fouled Dempsey one yard off the edge of the penalty area in the right-center channel. Franchino lined up for the free kick, snapping his bending shot to the far upper corner, forcing D.C. keeper Troy Perkins to make the diving save off his line.

In the 45th minute, Reis made a lunging save on a Christian Gomez shot from 23 yards out to preserve the one-goal deficit going into halftime. That save was his 116th of the season, setting a new single-season record to pass his previous mark of 115 set last season in 2005.

In the second half, New England displayed improved passing, a competitive spark in the midfield and a more poised attack, and finally pushed ahead for the equalizer in the 56th minute. After an Olsen foul on Shalrie Joseph 24 yards out on the edge of the left-center channel, Andy Dorman stepped up to take the free kick. Dorman's strike was cleared out to the top of the area where Franchino, positioned just inside the top of the penalty area, connected with the clearance and directed a header to Twellman waiting on the far post. Twellman then headed the ball into the goalmouth to Dempsey for equalizing strike from four yards.

The Revs threatened to put away a potential go-ahead chance in the 59th minute when Dempsey tracked down a long pass to the endline. He reached the ball and sent a quick cross back across the goal to Twellman who was streaking in on the far post, but Twellman's header went just wide on the near post.

Still pressing the attack and carrying the momentum, the Revolution generated another chance in the 65th minute when Steve Ralston's free kick found Joseph in the penalty area. Joseph, leaping over two D.C. defenders and Twellman, sharply headed the ball toward the net, but it went just high of frame.

Although New England sustained control in the midfield as the second half wound down, United had a prime chance in the 90th minute when substitute midfielder Rod Dyachenko came down the right-center channel and ripped a shot toward post, but it went high and wide.

The Revs return to action on Wednesday, Sept. 20, when they travel to face the New York Red Bulls at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. Kickoff will be 7:30 p.m., and the game will be televised live on Fox Sports Net, and on the radio at WEEI 850 AM (English, tape-delayed until midnight) and WJDA 1300 AM (Spanish).

New England's next home game is set for Saturday, Sept. 23, when the team hosts the Kansas City Wizards at Gillette Stadium. That game is the team's annual "High School Night" and high school groups interested in attending the match and receiving the many attractive available amenities are encouraged to call 1-877-GET-REVS for more information.

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Major League Soccer Stories from September 13, 2006


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