Revolution Unable To Overcome Costly Penalties, Drop Fourth Straight

Revolution Unable To Overcome Costly Penalties, Drop Fourth Straight

As the 4th of July came to a finish on the East Coast, it was fitting the the Revolution were on the field. The Revs traveled to Utah to take on Real Salt Lake. It was the only meeting of the year between the New England Revolution and Real Salt Lake, with Real Salt Lake getting the better of the Revs 2-1. The loss marks the 4th straight for the Revolution.

The first chance of the game came for Real Salt Lake in the 10th minute. Salt Lake crowded the box in front of the Revs net and got a great chance by Kyle Beckerman, who was in his first MLS game since returning from U.S. Men's National Team duty. The low, hard shot was turned aside on a great diving save by Bobby Shuttleworth.

Salt Lake was back on the attack in the 23rd minute as once again Kyle Beckerman got off a good shot on Shuttleworth. Shuttleworth made the save but was unable to hold onto the ball, which rolled to an open Devon Sandoval. Sandoval ripped a shot but was called offsides before the shot.

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It was not long before Salt Lake got another shot on target, this time off the left foot of Luis Gil. Gil found open space and put a low shot on the near post but Shuttleworth was able to get his hands on it and stop the threat.

Salt Lake got on the board first and it came on a penalty kick in the 35th minute. The penalty kick came off of a call that the Revolution disputed. The penalty was called on Darrius Barnes inside the box, but Barnes did not seem to intentionally make contact. Javier Morales took the PK for Salt Lake and beat Shuttleworth.

Just minutes later, the Revs answered on their first chance of the game. Chris Tierney fired in a great free kick and Darrius Barnes dove in with a low header for the equalizer. It was just the 2nd career MLS goal for Barnes, playing in his 108th career game.

The two teams went into the half tied 1-1. Salt Lake, however, controlled the first half. They led in possession 68.5% to 31.5%. They also managed nine shots to the Revs two. Salt Lake had four shots on target while the Revs had just one. Bobby Shuttleworth made three saves in the half for the Revolution.

The Revolution almost had the go-ahead goal off the food of Jose Goncalves in the 53rd minute but the ball did not cooperate with them. Goncalves got the feed from Kelyn Rowe and ripped a shot which deflected off the post, off Salt Lake goalkeeper Nick Rimando and straight across the goal line. The ball rolled across the line and out of the goal area before any Revs players could get to it and finish the play, one of the more bizarre plays one will see.

Salt Lake found the back of the net in the the 61st minute, but it was waived off. The no-goal came off a beautiful service from Joao Plata on a corner kick and appeared to hit Javier Morales in the arm before finding the net. The referee called the hand ball and the goal was waived off.

But Salt Lake got it back, once again on a penalty kick. Chris Tierney was called for the penalty in the box and, once again, Morales put the PK past Shuttleworth and made it 2-1 in the 66th minute.

The Revs nearly got the equalizer in the 69th minute off a beautiful feed by Chris Tierney. Tierney fed the ball in and past the Salt Lake defenders but Patrick Mullins deflected the ball wide of the open net.

Less than two-minutes later, the Revs had another great opportunity to even the score. Lee Nguyen delivered a great pass to Kelyn Rowe, who had broken behind the Salt Lake defense. Rowe could not keep his shot down, however, and his shot flew high of the net.

The Revolution were unable to get another scoring opportunity the remainder of the game and fell 2-1. The loss marks the 4th straight loss for the Revs. They return to action next Saturday, July 12, at Gillette Stadium when they welcome the Chicago Fire to Foxboro.