MLS New England Revolution

Revs play to 1-1 draw in front of largest MLS crowd ever

Published on August 6, 2006 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Los Angeles - Taylor Twellman's first-half goal put the New England Revolution up early, but the Revs couldn't hold on to the lead and finished in a 1-1 draw with Club Deportivo Chivas USA at the Los Angeles Coliseum in front of the biggest crowd - 92,650 fans - to ever witness a Major League Soccer game.

Twellman put the Revs ahead in the 16th minute with his team-best ninth goal of the season, but Chivas USA's Jesse Marcsh tied the game in the 22nd minute and neither team was able to net the game-winner as time wore on.

Both teams kept play in the midfield, but New England (6-6-9, 27 pts.) held a slight edge in possession as the Revs kept Chivas back for the majority of the first half, but were unable to convert more than one shot. As both teams worked into their respective attacking thirds, both teams defended in depth.

Chivas USA (6-6-9, 27 pts.) had the game's first chance, coming in the eighth minute. Francisco Mendoza broke through behind the Revs' defense and broke in one-on-one with New England keeper Matt Reis from the top of the 18-yard box. Reis came out off his line and smothered ball off Mendoza's touch.

Twellman put the Revs up 1-0 in the 16th minute, converting a pass through the box from Pat Noonan which appeared to be meant for Clint Dempsey who was running down the center forward channel. Coming out of the midfield, Steve Ralston fed Noonan down the right wing and with the ball, he worked in behind the Goats' defense. With Dempsey coming down the center channel and Twellman streaming in down the left-center channel, Noonan sent a pass through the box, but Dempsey missed the ball and it went through the box to Twellman who was unmarked with an open net.

Jesse Marsch tallied the equalizer for Chivas USA in the 22nd minute. Sasha Kljestan held the ball on the right corner of the penalty area as Marsch streamed into the play unmarked down the right-center channel. Taking the pass from Kljestan, Marsch sent a hard shot far post past a diving Reis to knot the score at 1-1.

Chivas USA nearly went ahead by a goal in the 28th minute when Mendoza's header from the left post went over Reis, but wide, with Chivas USA captain and Mexico international Juan Francisco Palencia charging onto the ball down on the right post as the ball skipped over his head.

In the 33rd minute, Shalrie Joseph lobbed a ball over the Chivas USA defense with both Twellman and Noonan working free face to the goal. The ball, however, came back out to Dempsey who was unmarked at the top of the 18-yard box, where he launched a clear shot on frame, which was deflected by the Chivas USA defense, leading to a New England corner. On the ensuing corner kick, Ralston's service found Dempsey 12 yards out on the back post, but he headed back out to an unmarked Andy Dorman 23 yards out in the center channel, where his shot was blocked.

Noonan appeared to net the go-ahead goal in the 50th minute when he collected Dempsey's through ball at the top of the penalty area and slid the ball under Chivas keeper Preston Burpo, but the linesman deemed that Noonan had come from an offside position to receive the ball and it was ruled no-goal.

In the 65th minute, Chivas USA lost one of its primary attacking options when Palencia had to leave the game after suffering an injury on a near-scoring chance. Streaming in down center channel he nearly got on the end of a whipped cross into the box, but it went just in front of him as he tried to change directions and go near post on his run.

Ante Razov nearly put Chivas USA ahead in the 82nd minute, when he picked up ball at top of area with a defender on his back. He took an off-balance left-footed shot to the inside to far post, forcing Reis to come up big with a diving save to his left.

Taking his place on the right wing in the staring lineup, Ralston played his 300th career game to become just the second player in MLS history to reach the 300-game mark, joining New York's Chris Henderson. Ralston is already MLS' career leader in game started (299).

The Revs return to MLS action on Wednesday, Aug. 9, when the team hosts the Kansas City Wizards at 7:30 p.m. ET at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass. Fox Sports New England will air the game live, while WEEI 850 AM (English, tape-delayed until midnight) and WJDA 1300 AM (Spanish, live) will also carry the game. For ticket information, call 1-877-GET-REVS.

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Major League Soccer Stories from August 6, 2006


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