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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution play to 0-0 draw with Red Bulls in front of 35,793

April 8, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


E. Rutherford, N.J. - The New England Revolution (1-0-1, 4 pts.) and the New York Red Bulls (0-0-2, 2 pts.) played to a 0-0 draw in front of 35,793 at Giants Stadium on Saturday night. An exciting, end-to-end game featuring a total of 35 shots played out on a night that saw former Cosmos legends Pele and Franz Beckenbauer return to the New York area, and Shakira and Wyclef Jean entertain the crowd at halftime. It was the first-ever home game for the newly-renamed Red Bulls.

Though the Revolution dictated the tempo of the match and controlled the midfield for long periods of the game, the Red Bulls also created scoring opportunities. In the second half, the Revolution conceded several free kick opportunities and saw four players yellow carded. It took a diving Matt Reis save on Red Bulls forward Amado Guevara's chip from the top of the box in the 89th minute to preserve the clean sheet and allow the Revolution to stayed unbeaten to open the 2006 season.

In the 6th minute, Revs midfielder Steve Ralston had a chance when forward Taylor Twellman found him on the right flank. Ralston cut to the inside on the dribble and unleashed a low shot to the near, right post. Red Bulls goalkeeper Tony Meola, however, was able to make a diving save.

The Revs had another scoring bid in the 13th minute, when midfielder Andy Dorman played a ball into the box for Revs forward Pat Noonan. Noonan then passed to Twellman, who was playing in his 100th match for New England. Twellman's shot, however, was saved by Meola.

The Revs continued to create chances and in the 16th minute Dorman played in a corner kick that found Twellman. The reigning league Most Valuable Player and scoring champion slipped his marker, but his header was saved by Meola.

Reis saw the ball bounce in his favor in the 29th minute when a long shot from outside the area in the right channel by Red Bulls forward Edson Buddle struck the right post and went out of play.

In the 38th minute, a New York fast break down the right flank saw Wynne pass to midfielder Chris Henderson, whose shot was then saved by Matt Reis.

The Revs appeared to have scored in the 40th minute after forward Clint Dempsey played Revs captain and midfielder Joe Franchino into space on the left flank. Franchino then crossed into the box for Twellman, whose shot found the back of the net, but the goal was nullified by a flag for offside.

The Red Bulls nearly scored just before the halftime interval off of a quick, attacking move down the right center channel. Forward Youri Djorkaeff passed to Buddle in the area, and Buddle then completed a back-heel pass to Henderson. Henderson, momentarily one-on-one with the keeper, could not compose himself to shoot on target and his effort sailed wide right and the score remained 0-0 at halftime.

Kyle Brown replaced Joe Franchino to start the second half for the Revs and the visitors immediately went on the attack again. A 48th minute, a corner kick by Andy Dorman found the head of midfielder Shalrie Joseph right in front of goal. The Revs' 2005 team Most Valuable Player, however, couldn't get enough purchase on his header to beat Meola.

In the 55th minute, off a Dorman free kick to Joseph, the Grenada international again headed the ball from close range in front of the goal, but this time his shot was off-line to the right.

In the 60th minute, Daniel Hernandez was issued a yellow card for fouling Wynne at the top, right corner of the penalty area. Djorkaeff's subsequent free kick, however, sailed over the crossbar.

In the 61st minute, a yellow card was issued to James Riley after he fouled Edson Buddle and Andy Dorman and Jay Heaps were subsequently booked during the second half for separate incidents.

In the 76th minute, Brown, from the right channel, played Twellman in behind the defense. Twellman took a touch before shooting with Meola racing off of his line and Twellman shot of target before being taken down hard from behind by New York defender Taylor Graham, though no foul was called on the play.

In the78th minute, Djorkaeff made a defense-splitting pass to Henderson on the left side of the area. Reis, however, cut down the angle at the near post to made the save off his chest and out of play.

In the 89th minute, the Red Bulls nearly won the game after a Guevara free kick hit the Revolution wall and rebounded straight back to the Honduras international. The follow-up shot by Guevara from the top of the box appeared to be headed just under the crossbar and into the goal, but Reis leapt to tip the ball over the bar and out of play.

The shutout was Reis' Revolution-record 15th of his New England career. Other record milestones reached during the game included Franchino becoming the team's all-time minutes played leader (12, 246).

The Revolution play next at 8:30 p.m. (ET) on Saturday, April 8 when they take on the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium (TV -WB56; Radio - WEEI). The Revolution's home opener is at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 vs. the Chicago Fire. Call 1-877-GET-REVS for ticket information.

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