Revolution erase two-goal deficit to beat D.C. United 4-3 at Gillette

The New England Revolution got a measure of good luck on a bad night in Foxboro.

The Revolution recovered from a 2-0 first-half deficit to beat D.C. United 4-3 during an unrelenting rainstorm on Sunday evening at Gillette Stadium.

The Revolution secured their second home victory of the season and finished the year 3-0-1 against D.C. Forward Teal Bunbury scored the Revs’ final two goals for his second brace of the campaign and sixth of his career.

“We haven’t gotten the results we should have gotten and we’ve some mistakes that cost us, but tonight we finally got a little luck,” said head coach Bruce Arena. “That is so all part of it because we are a team that hasn’t had a whole lot of luck on its side.”

The Revolution (8-6-8, 32 points) have a three-point edge for sixth place with one game remaining. The Revs close out the regular season next Sunday at Philadelphia, a team that haven’t beaten (0-3-1 across all competitions) this season. If the Revolution can hang onto sixth place, they will avoid the play-in round of the MLS playoffs.

“It would be nice to have two weeks to prepare for an opponent but we have to get through another week,” said Arena. “We are playing Philadelphia and I don’t believe we can brag about our results against Philadelphia and that’s going to be a real challenge.”

Trailing 2-1 at the break, Revs went on the offensive by making frequent runs into the D.C. United box chasing the equalizer. The Revolution tied the game on an own-goal by D.C. United midfielder Russell Canouse in the 54th minute.

Tajon Buchanan prevailed in a one-on-one battle with Moses Nyeman and fired a low cross from the right side through the penalty box. Canouse slid to block the ball and inadvertently directed it behind D.C. United keeper Bill Hamid.

Buchanan made a similar move on D.C. United midfielder Kevin Paredes to set up the go-ahead goal in the 67th minute. Buchanan went deep, set the ball through the scoring area to Bunbury, who found the near post.

D.C. United tied the game 3-3 on a controversial goal in the 75th minute. From a set piece, Edison Flores lofted the ball into the scoring area to Gelmin Rivas. Revs midfielder Tommy McNamara appeared to be fouled by Donovan Pines while trying to make a play on the ball before Rivas kicked it past keeper Matt Turner.

Bunbury put New England ahead to stay in the 84th minute. Gustavo Bou made a deep probe down the right flank and caught Adam Buksa charging the goal. Buksa’s shot was saved by Hamid, but the rebound fell to Bunbury, who tucked it inside the far post for his team-high eighth goal of the season.

“Speaking for myself, I just want to give everything for the team not matter if it is scoring or assists,” said Bunbury. “I want to work defensively for the group and I think I put myself in good positions tonight to get a couple of good looks at the goal.”

D.C. took a 1-0 lead in the 22nd minute. Midfielder Edison Flores curled a pass from the top of the box to an open Yamil Asad, who skipped kick the ball past Turner.

Four minutes later, D.C. United doubled its lead off a free kick in the 26th minute. Asad fired in into the scoring area and Ola Kamara redirected it to forward Griffin Yow on the right side and he sent a shot past Turner. A desperation slide by Revs defender Henry Kessler to keep the ball from going over the line was to no avail.

The Revolution got one back as Buksa was taken down by Canouse, setting up a Carles Gil penalty kick in the 30th minute. Gil’s line drive smashed off the left post and bounced back directly toward Buksa, who delivered the rebound into the exposed half of the net.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3kNp5ws