MLS New England Revolution

Edgaras Jankauskas' first MLS goal helps the Revs come from behind

Published on August 1, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Returning from injury to make his first start in Major League Soccer, Edgaras Jankauskas scored a second-half goal to pull the New England Revolution into a 1-1 tie with Eastern Conference foe Toronto FC on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.

The Revolution (6-5-6, 24 pts.) extended its unbeaten run to four games (2-0-2) with the draw and remains in fifth place in the Eastern Conference, three points back of Toronto FC (7-7-6, 27 pts.). However, the Revs do have the luxury of multiple games in hand on every team ahead of them in the conference.

Toronto took a 1-0 lead into the halftime break after Dwayne De Rosario opened the scoring in the 34th minute, but Jankauskas recorded his first MLS goal in the 76th minute after TFC's Chad Barrett was ejected five minutes into the second half.

It briefly appeared as if Toronto would be awarded a penalty kick in the 12th minute when Ali Gerba went down in the box as Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis charged off his line, but when the whistle blew, referee Terry Vaughn cautioned Gerba for diving rather than pointing to the spot.

The visitors continued to pressure, however, and came inches from scoring in the 20th minute when Pablo Vitti's header crashed off the crossbar. Captain Jim Brennan had time and space to deliver a back-post cross from the left wing and Vitti made solid contact with his header, but the Argentine directed his effort off the woodwork.

New England created a host of half chances throughout the first half and actually put the ball in the back of the net in the 29th minute, but Jay Heaps was ruled offside before Jankauskas finished from close range.

It was TFC which opened the scoring in the 34th minute, however, when a bit of fortune led to De Rosario's team-leading eighth goal of the season. Barrett lined up a shot from outside the box, but his drive struck his teammate, Gerba, in the face before bouncing toward the right side of the box. The ball fell directly to the feet of De Rosario, however, who blasted a well-placed shot inside the far post.

The goal was the first conceded by the Revolution since the eighth minute of the 1-0 loss to the LA Galaxy on July 4, as the Revs established a new club record with 385 consecutive shutout minutes.

After failing to create too many serious attacking chances in the first half, the Revolution made one change at halftime, bringing on Shalrie Joseph in place of forward Kheli Dube. Joseph slotted into the center of midfield, while Steve Ralston pushed up to accompany Jankauskas up top.

The Revs' chances were increased just five minutes into the second half when Barrett was issued his second yellow card for a tackle on Kevin Alston, reducing TFC to 10 men. With the numerical advantage, New England made an attacking substitution by bringing on midfielder Mike Videira for defender Emmanuel Osei and switching to a 3-5-2 formation.

It took until the 76th minute, but the Revolution's gamble finally paid off when Jankauskas leveled the score with his first-ever MLS goal. From the left side, Heaps lofted a cross to the back post to Joseph, whose header back across the face of goal was put into a dangerous area just outside the six-yard box. Jankauskas fought off his defender and slid to guide a left-footed shot past TFC goalkeeper Stefan Frei and inside the right post.

New England almost stole the win in the 84th minute when Sainey Nyassi connected on a full volley in the right side of the box, but his driven shot hit the side of the net.

The Revs will return to action on Saturday, Aug. 8, when they'll host the LA Galaxy at 6 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. Fox Soccer Channel will televise the game nationally, including live, 30-minute pregame and postgame shows.

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