Revolution Vs. Toronto: Disappointment In New England As Toronto Steals 1-0 Win

Riding a five-match unbeaten run and following a comprehensive performance against New York, the New England Revolution did not expect to leave Gillette Stadium on Saturday night with no points. Unfortunately, that's exactly what they did, as an early goal from Luis Silva handed the victory to Paul Mariner and Toronto FC.

"For me to come back and get a win is a wonderful thing," said Mariner. "Obviously, I feel sorry for Jay [Heaps], because his team was going in the right direction, but they still will go in the right direction."

Silva, who scored midweek against Vancouver, notched the game's only strike in the eighth minute after some slick interplay with Reggie Lambe and Danny Koevermans. It was the third time in four weeks that the Revs found themselves in a hole early in a match, but this time there were no late-game heroics to save their blushes in front of the home fans.

The goal was perhaps due to a little confusion, as Shalrie Joseph had just been substituted in for Stephen McCarthy. McCarthy left in just the sixth minute after a clash of heads that left him with concussion-like symptoms.

"I think the injury [to McCarthy] hurt us," said midfielder and captain Clyde Simms. "We are never ready for a substitution that early in the game, and we have had a lot of continuity with our back four. So I think that threw us off a little bit, and there was a little bit of an adjustment period, switching things around and unfortunately they got the goal in that adjustment period."

The match devolved into a slugfest after that, with New England beginning to get their feet under them but Toronto determined to pack it in and ride out their lead. The chances of Toronto finding a second goal - or even making a good case for it - were drastically reduced late in the first half when Danny Koevermans was stretchered off with a knee injury.

"I fear the worst for Danny and I've got my fingers crossed," said Mariner. "But I spoke to the doctor from New England, who I have the highest regard for, and it doesn't sound too good."

The second half featured sustained New England pressure, but the Reds had a job to do and did it. The Revs, after mustering just three first-half shots and two corners, rattled off fifteen shots and eleven corners in the second half. Furthermore, the Revs held 67.1% of the possession in the second half as Toronto struggled with an abysmal pass completion rate of 54.3%.

The story of that half (and the game), however, is told in fouls. A 15-5 disparity in fouls called illustrates a match where Toronto bullied and hacked their way through the Revs in an effort to break momentum and keep the play stunted.

"I think it's clear what's happening: we're trying to play and getting fouled," said Jay Heaps. "And you just want that to be taken care of early so it doesn't turn into what happened in the second half where no one on their team has a yellow card, except for one player who they sub out. And now their entire team is free and available to chop anyone down and kill the play whenever they can."

Regardless, this was a match the Revs needed to win. They leave for Montreal early in the week to begin a three-match road trip that also features stops in Kansas City and Philadelphia. All three matches are against Eastern Conference foes and will represent important three-point swings; in short, they are very tough games, and it would have been much better for the Revs to have these points in their pockets before getting on the road.

Heaps probably summed it up best: "It was shameful, to be honest."

Revolution Vs. Toronto Update: Two Injuries And A Goal Punctuate First Half, Revs Down 1-0

Nothing is going quite according to plan for the New England Revolution as they make their way to the locker rooms at halftime down 1-0 to their visitors, Toronto FC. Luis Silva did the damage for Toronto in a half that also injury substitutions for both sides.

Things started out bleak for the Revs in just the first minute when Stephen McCarthy went down in a heap after a head-to-head collision with a Toronto player. He was forced off and replaced in the sixth minute by Shalrie Joseph, and team officials later confirmed that McCarthy had been removed due to concussion-like symptoms.

It didn't take long for Toronto to exploit the injury as Luis Silva played a brilliant one-two with Danny Koevermans and finished a clear chance to take the lead in the eighth minute. The understanding between Joseph and the rest of the back line has looked tenuous at best, and Koevermans nearly took advantage of Joseph again when he had him beat for pace in the 14th minute, but his shot flew wide when he should have scored.

Ryan Johnson forced a save out of Bobby Shuttleworth in the 28th minute, bringing the young keeper low to his near post, but other than that both teams have demonstrated difficulty finding the final ball. Uncharacteristically for the Revs, the home side registered just one shot on target in the first half.

It wasn't all roses for Toronto, though. Danny Koevermans went down in the box under a clean challenge from A.J. Soares, but the Dutch striker appeared to injure his knee (or lower leg) on the play, as well as taking an errant cleat to the forehead that caused bleeding.

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. Toronto: Luis Silva Puts Reds Up 1-0 Early

Only eight ninutes have passed, and the New England Revolution are not off to the start that they were hoping for against Toronto FC. Rookie Luis Silva has opened the scoring for the visitors after some excellent passing interplay.

Reggie Lambe took control of the ball on the right flank and danced across the top of the box, staying about five yards back of the 18. He then passed left to Silva, who immediately played it into the middle for Koevermans. Koevermans played a bumper pass back to Silva, completing the one-two combination, and Silva was in by himself. His finish beat Bobby Shuttleworth to the far post.

To make matters worse, head coach Jay Heaps has already been forced into a substitution. Stephen McCarthy, arguably the Revolution's best defensive performer in the last three or four games, went down in the first minute after a head-to-head collision. New England trainers apparently determined that McCarthy could not continue, and he was replaced in the sixth minute by Shalrie Joseph.

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. Toronto Lineups: Shuttleworth Starts Again, Bengtson And Joseph On The Bench

Jay Heaps spoke all week about how the starting goalkeeper question prevented him with a selection dilemma, and today's decision proves he isn't afraid to open himself to possible criticism. When the New England Revolution take on Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium, it will be without Matt Reis between the sticks.

After a stellar performance against New York last weekend, Bobby Shuttleworth will reprise his role as starting goalkeeper in a move that is clearly designed to combat Toronto's considerable aerial prowess. Three weeks ago, lack of communication and a deficiency in the air lead to both of Toronto's goals, so Heaps will be hoping that Shuttleworth's ability to get up and command his area will prevent similar issues from cropping up on Saturday.

Shalrie Joseph will begin the match on the bench again, and this time he wasn't on the injury report. Heaps could be trying to rest him ahead of a congested stretch of matches, but it has to be mentioned that the Revolution legend might be near the end of his days as a starting-caliber MLS force. This could be the beginning of a long-term plan to prepare for life after Shalrie.

Jerry Bengtson is also on the bench, and Fernando Cardenas is in to replace the suspended Kelyn Rowe. Otherwise, the lineup remains unchanged from last week's 2-0 victory. On the Toronto side, new acquisition Andrew Wiedeman is on the bench, but there aren't too many other surprises.

Lineups

Revolution: Shuttleworth; Chris Tierney, A.J. Soares, Stephen McCarthy, Kevin Alston; Lee Nguyen, Clyde Simms, Benny Feilhaber, Fernando Cardenas; Blake Brettschneider, Saer Sene

Bench: Reis, Barnes, Bengtson, Fagundez, Guy, Joseph, Lechner

Toronto: Milos Kocic; Doneil Henry, Richard Eckersley, Logan Emory, Ashtone Morgan; Reggie Lambe, Terry Dunfield, Torsten Frings, Luis Silva; Danny Koevermans, Ryan Johnson

Bench: Roberts, Avila, Maund, Stinson, Wiedeman, Williams

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. Toronto: Jerry Bengtson, New England Welcome Reds To Fortress Foxboro

Jerry Bengtson and the New England Revolution will finish up their three-match home stand by welcoming Toronto FC to Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. (TV/Radio: CSN/98.5)