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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution Tie Red Bulls, 1-1

September 18, 2009 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - The New England Revolution extended its unbeaten streak against the New York Red Bulls to 13 matches dating back to the start of the 2006 season with a 1-1 draw at Giants Stadium on Friday night. With the draw, the Revs set a new MLS record for an undefeated streak against an opponent, breaking San Jose's 12-game mark against New England (2001-05).

Sainey Nyassi gave the Revolution an early lead - striking in the 13th minute - but New York continued to pressure and broke through with an equalizer in the 69th minute on a counterattack.

The match was the Revolution's final match at Giants Stadium, with the Red Bulls slated to open Red Bull Arena in nearby Harrison, N.J., in 2010. The Revs went 2-0-6 in their final eight matches in Giants Stadium. All-time, New England went 8-12-7 at the stadium.

Revolution captain Steve Ralston also became just the second player in Revolution history to make 200 appearances for the club, while goalkeeper Matt Reis became the fifth player to record 15,000 minutes for the Revs.

Nyassi gave the Revs a quick lead in the 13th minute with a spectacular individual effort. After taking a cross-field pass from Ralston at midfield, Nyassi dribbled down the right wing and into the penalty area. After a step-over and a series of jukes to get past Red Bulls defender Danleigh Borman on the outside, Nyassi launched a 12-yard, right-footed shot into the far upper corner for the 1-0 New England lead.

Despite the early lead, the Revs did not control the game as both teams contested much of the match in the midfield. The Red Bulls had a prime chance to equalize when forward John Wolyniec's header from Macoumba Kandji was just wide on the near side in the 38th minute.

The first half of the second stanza played much like the second half of the first, with neither team exerting control. New York's call for a penalty kick in the 48th minute - when Wolyniec went down in the area - was denied, and later New York's loose pressure on the ball allowed the Revolution to venture deep into New York's third, but the final pass was not there for New England.

The Revolution's inability to put a second goal on the ball proved to be the Revs' undoing in going for a full three points, however, when Wolyniec converted on a New York counter attack in the 69th minute to level the score at 1-1. The Red Bulls played the ball out of the back from second-half substitute Albert Celades, who put Kandji down the center channel. Kandji then found a streaking Dane Richards down the right wing. The Jamaican played a low ball across the box to Wolyniec, who touched it under Reis for a 1-1 scoreline.

The game opened up in the final stages with both teams having chances. Nyassi's side volley off a corner kick in the 83rd minute was the Revs' clearest chance in the final minutes, while Kandji broke in alone from 25 yards in the 90th minute, only to see his shot go under Reis - who came out off his line - and wide left.

After playing back-to-back games on the road, the Revs will return home next weekend when they'll welcome Seattle Sounders FC to Gillette Stadium for the first time on Saturday, Sept. 26, in a match that will kick off at 7:30 p.m.

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