Not sure what Jay Heaps said at half-time, but after putting in their worst 45 minutes of the season the New England Revolution came from a goal down to beat D.C. United 2-1. Diego Fagundez with his 11th goal of the season and Lee Nguyen from the penalty spot got the goals that NE needed. A Scott Caldwell own goal had put DC United ahead in the 11th minute.
With the win, the Revs moved up to 5th place in the east and into the last playoff spot.
For most of the game it looked like New England would once again drop points to one of Major League Soccer’s worst teams.
Heading into tonight’s game, New England had only picked up nine points out of a possible 18 against Chivas USA, Toronto FC and DC Unite combined. Included in that was three ties, and for the longest time tonight it looked like NE would have to settle for another dropped two points at best.
Different tactics from New England tonight as Heaps went away from New England’s usual tiki taka approach and went Route 1. Obviously Heaps saw something in the tape of DC’s games that made him change tactics, but it is fair to say that the tactic did not work. Heaps started Imbongo up front and when he won the long ball, which was not very often, there were no other New England players around to get onto Imbongo’s knockdown.
In the second half, New England started to aim the long balls between and behind DC’s back four and the result was a lot more chances and eventually goals.
But the goals were not without controversy. Diego Fagundez was at least 2 yards offside when he received the ball from Saer Sene and scored. New England also had a disputed penalty but Nyuyen missed that before scoring a second kit to wrap up the win.
DC United coach Ben Olsen was visibly upset with the referring after the game, basically refusing to talk about the incidents.
New England faces another must win game next Saturday as they host the 4th place Houston Dynamo. With only one home game left after that, Jay Heaps side cannot afford.
