COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Columbus Crew reserves defeated the New England Revolution reserves, 1-0, this morning at Crew Stadium. Crew forward Justin Meram scored in the 88th minute to give the Crew the win. With the loss, the Revs’ reserves fell to 0-2-0 on the season.
The Revolution traveled to Columbus with many younger players, including five Academy players (Cole Denormandie, Jack Hilger, Dominik Machado, Forest Sisk, Mitch Taintor) and Home Grown player Diego Fagundez, as injuries and first-team playing time on Saturday cut down the number of available rostered players. Three Academy players – Demormandie, Sisk and Taintor – started and played 90 minutes for New England, in addition to Fagundez, who also played a complete game.
Columbus maintained the balance of play in the first half, forcing Revs keeper Bobby Shuttleworth into action early. A Tommy Heinemann shot in the 11th minute was followed with shots by midfielders Emmanuel Ekpo and Josh Gardner soon after.
New England’s opportunities in the first half came in the 28th minute when Alan Koger ripped a shot deflected by Crew keeper Andy Gruenebaum, and in the 35th when Ryan Kinne’s free kick was saved by Gruenebaum.
Heinemann saw a headed shot clip the crossbar and Ekpo had a 30-yard shot deflected by Shuttleworth to close the first half.
The Revolution came out stronger in the second half, and used Fagundez’s speed and agility through the middle of the field to create chances. The tactic almost paid dividends in the 59th minute when Fagundez sprung Kheli Dube and Koger on a breakaway only to see Gruenebaum and the Crew defense clear the ball to safety.
With a scoreless draw looming, the Crew capitalized on a melee in the box to tally the game-winner. After substitute goalkeeper Tim Murray parried a free kick his right, the rebound fell to Meram to knock it into the empty net for the game’s lone goal
The Revolution (0-2-0, 0 pts.) next travels to face D.C. United on Tuesday, June 7, in its third Reserve League match of the season. The Crew (2-1-0, 6 pts.) returns to Reserve League action on Monday, May 30, as it travels to New York to face the Red Bulls.
MLS Reserve League|
Columbus Crew 1, New England Revolution 0
Monday, May 9, 2011-- Crew Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
Scoring Summary:
CLB – Justin Meram (unassisted) 88
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth (Tim Murray 63), Ryan Kinne, Darrius Barnes (Sainey Nyassi 68), Mitch Taintor, Forest Sisk, Michael Augustine, Kheli Dube, Andrew Sousa, Cole Denormandie, Alan Koger, Diego Fagundez
Substitutes Not Used: Jack Hilger, Dominik Machado
Academy players
Columbus Crew: Andy Gruenebaum, Korey Veeder, Eric Gehrig, Andy Iro, Shaun Francis (Justin Meram 46), Leandre Griffit, Cole Grossman, Emmanuel Ekpo (Bernardo Anor 46), Josh Gardner, Jeff Cunningham (Santiago Prim 63, Andy Adlard 87), Tommy Heinemann (Arnhold Rivas 46)
Substitutes Not Used: Alex Riggs, Ben Sippola
Misconduct Summary:
CLB – Andy Iro (caution) 56
NE – Mitch Taintor (caution) 84
Referee: Sorin Stoica
Referee's Assistants: Andrey Castel, Ryan Slack
Fourth Official: Brandon Artis
