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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution fall 3-2 to MetroStars at Giants Stadium

September 11, 2004 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


East Rutherford, NJ - The New England Revolution (5-11-4) dropped a 3-2 decision to the MetroStars (10-9-6) at Giants Stadium. The Revs took an early 2-0 lead with a Pat Noonan goal in the 5th minute and a Taylor Twellman goal in the 14th minute. The MetroStars cut the lead in half with a Mike Magee penalty kick goal in the 31st minute and pulled level when Eddie Gaven scored in first half stoppage time. The MetroStars took the lead in the 68th minute when substitute forward Cornell Glen netted what proved to be the game-winning goal to make it 3-2 MetroStars.

Just 27 seconds into the match, MetroStars forward Josh Wolyniec passed a ball out to the right flank to midfielder Eddie Gaven who carried the ball to the endline before taking a shot toward the right post from an acute angle. The shot, however, went just wide and into the side netting.

In the second minute, with the MetroStars still on the attack, Wolyniec connected on a cross in front of the left post. Wolyniec, in traffic, headed the ball, but the shot went wide left of the goal.

New England got on the board first when Noonan scored in the 5th minute. The Revs were awarded a direct free kick when MetroStars midfielder Ricardo Clark tackled Twellman from behind as he neared the penalty area. Midfielder Steve Ralston placed the free kick toward the center of the goalmouth and Noonan ran out of traffic to and leapt for a flick-on header that he put past MetroStars goalkeeper Jonny Walker to give the Revs a 1-0 lead. It was Noonan's 11th goal in ten MLS games - including playoffs - that he has scored against the MetroStars. Noonan now has nine goals in the 2004 season to lead the Revolution.

The Revolution doubled their lead nine minutes later when Twellman scored his sixth goal of the season in the 14th minute of the match. Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis took a free kick from thirty yards off the Revolution endline. His kick traveled nearly 75 yards to the opposing penalty area, where Noonan headed the ball to Ralston at the right post. Ralston then headed it forward to Twellman. With Walker off his line, Twellman was then able to lob a header over Walker and into the goal to put the Revs ahead 2-0.

The MetroStars cut the lead in half when Magee successfully converted a penalty kick in the 31st minute. Revolution captain Joe Franchino was adjudged to have taken Gaven down while the MetroStars' midfielder was making a dribble run into the area. Magee placed his penalty kick into the center of the goal as Reis dove to his left and the Revolution lead was cut to 2-1.

The Metros had two opportunities to tie the game just four minutes after getting on the board. In the 35th minute, Gaven passed a ball into the area and MetroStars defender Jeff Parke headed the ball toward the goalmouth. Reis, however, was able to dive to his right and get a hand on the ball pushing it out of harm's way and over the endline.

In the 36th minute, on a MetroStars corner kick served in by Magee, captain Eddie Pope blasted a shot through traffic from in front of the left post. The shot got past Reis but Noonan was standing on the right post and made a goalmouth block to clear the ball off the line and keep the Revs in the lead.

The MetroStars tied the score at 2-2 in the third minute of added time of the first half with a goal from Gaven. From the center channel, Magee passed a ball wide left to defender Chris Leitch. Leitch then crossed the ball into the area and forward Fabian Taylor redirected the angled cross to Gaven from in front of the left post. Gaven received the pass in the center of the goalmouth and knocked it past Reis' to the Revs keeper's right to tie the score at 2-2.

The Revs came out looking to attack after halftime. In the 48th minute, New England midfielder Brian Kamler took a left-footed shot to the top left corner of the goal. Walker, however, was able to get a hand on the ball and parry it up and over the crossbar.

In the 52nd minute, New England was awarded a corner kick that Ralston served in from the left side that bent in to Noonan at the far post. Noonan blasted the ball toward the goalmouth, but the shot Walker blocked the forceful shot with his torso.

Noonan had another opportunity to break the tie in the 59th minute after Pope fouled Twellman ten yards beyond the top of the box. As Twellman took a quick restart, passing the ball forward to Noonan. With Walker off his line, Noonan took a shot to the MetroStars keeper's right. The shot, however, caromed off the left post and Walker smothered the rebound.

The MetroStars took the lead for the first time in the 68th minute when substitute forward Cornell Glen scored his fifth goal of the season. Wolyniec passed a through ball from behind midfield toward the left post. Glen, who had entered the game just six minutes earlier, made a run onto the ball from the right flank and then dribbled it to the top of the area on the left side of the box. With Reis off his line, Glen took a shot to Reis' right, beating the Revs goalkeeper to the near post, and putting the MetroStars up 3-2.

In the 89th minute, the MetroStars had a good opportunity to pad their lead when Glen received a ball up the left flank. Glen dribbled forward, stopping five yards short of the endline and crossed the ball. Wolyniec ran on to the cross, but was unable to connect with it and the ball went out of play.

The Revolution had an opportunity to even the score during the seven minutes of second half stoppage time. Noonan dribbled the ball out to the right corner before crossing a high ball directly in front of the goalmouth. Revolution rookie Clint Dempsey ran on to the cross, but was unable to reach it and Walker knocked the ball out over the endline. The Revs' resulting corner kick, served in by Ralston, floated over the congested goal area. Walker, however, was able to rise above the crowd and cleared the ball out into the midfield.

The MetroStars held on for the 3-2 victory to beat the Revs to break an eight game winless streak against the Revs in MLS regular season and playoff competition. The previous MetroStars victory over New England was a 4-3 decision on July 20, 2002 at Giants Stadium.

The Revolution will return home to host the Colorado Rapids at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, September 18. The game will be broadcast live on WB56 and can be heard live on WEEI 850 AM (103.7 FM in Providence) and streaming live on revolutionsoccer.net.

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