TUCSON, Ariz. – Two recent additions – Teal Bunbury and Patrick Mullins – both scored goals for the New England Revolution as the team closed its 2014 preseason schedule with a 2-2 draw against the Colorado Rapids in the teams’ final game of the Desert Diamond Cup on a rainy and windy day.
With the draw, the Revs closed their seven-game preseason schedule with a 2-1-4 record, including a 1-1-2 mark at the Desert Diamond Cup.
Bunbury got the Revs on the board early, picking up a deflected Diego Fagundez pass in the fifth minute and launching an angled 21-yard shot. His attempt skipped past Colorado goalkeeper Clint Irwin, finding the inside of the far post for a 1-0 New England lead.
The two teams traded possession for the next 20 minutes as the rainy and windy conditions hampered played, but Colorado got on the board in the 25th minute. Dillon Serna put a hard shot on target, but Bobby Shuttleworth made the save. However, his parry landed at the feet of the on-coming Edson Buddle, who buried for the goal and a 1-1 score.
Bunbury had a chance to push the score to 2-1 in the 36th minute. Kelyn Rowe chipped the Rapids’ defense and found Fagundez coming down the right center channel. Fagundez then played a perfectly weighted ball around the retreating Colorado defense and found Bunbury, but his first-time redirection was just wide of target.
Mullins put the Revs back ahead in the 57th minute. After a handball foul was whistled on Colorado just outside the right edge of the penalty area, Daigo Kobayashi drove the free kick into the area. A.J. Soares’ flick was saved by Irwin, but he bobbled the ball and Mullins pounced on the loose ball to put the Revs ahead.
After both teams made substitutions to almost every player on the field – including goalkeepers – the Rapids came back and leveled the score at 2-2 in the 82nd minute. Gabriel Torres broke down the left wing and swung a shot in that Luis Soffner saved. The rebound, however, landed in the path of Vicente Sanchez coming down the center channel and he tapped in for the Rapids’ second goal.
Both teams lost a player with five minutes remaining when Colorado’s Marvin Chavez and the Revs’ Dimitry Imbongo got into a tussle on the far sideline, leading referee Jair Marrufo to issue both players straight red cards in the 85th minute.
The Revolution officially opens the 2014 MLS regular season one week from today – Saturday, March 8 – when the team travels to BBVA Compass Stadium to face the Houston Dynamo. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET and Comcast SportsNet will televise the game live.
MLS Preseason – Desert Diamond Cup
New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Colorado Rapids (MLS)
March 1, 2014 – North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex
New England Revolution 2, Colorado Rapids 2
Scoring Summary:
NE – Teal Bunbury (unassisted) 5
COL – Edson Buddle (unassisted) 25
NE – Patrick Mullins (unassisted) 57
COL – Vicente Sanchez (unassisted) 82
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth (Luis Soffner 79), Donnie Smith, A.J. Soares (Stephen McCarthy 66), Darrius Barnes (O’Brian Woodbine 66), Kevin Alston (Jossimar Sanchez 66), Scott Caldwell (Paulo DelPiccolo 66), Diego Fagundez (Dimitry Imbongo 66), Daigo Kobayashi (Steve Neumann 66), Kelyn Rowe (Alec Sundly 66), Patrick Mullins (Charlie Davies 59, Pierre Omanga 78), Teal Bunbury (Jerry Bengtson 66)
Substitutes Not Used: Jamel Johnson
Colorado Rapids: Clint Irwin (John Berner 81); Nathan Sturgis (Shane ONeill 50), Drew Moor (Jared Watts 72), Marvell Wynne (Grant Van De Casteele 72), Chris Klute (Albert Edward 72); José Mari (Juan Guzman 72), Nick LaBrocca (Marlon Hairston 72); Dillon Serna (Marvin Chávez 72), Dillon Powers (Vicente Sánchez 46), Kamani Hill (Charles Eloundou 72); Edson Buddle (Gabriel Torres 56)
Substitutes Not Used: Samuel Galindo
Misconduct Summary:
COL – Nick Labrocca (caution) 35
NE – Kelyn Rowe (caution) 37
COL - Jose Mari (caution) 55
NE – Dimitry Imbongo (ejection) 85
COL – Marvin Chavez (ejection) 85
Referee: Jair Marrufo
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Ian Anderson
Fourth Official: Ramy Touchan
GAME NOTES
- Following today’s result, the Revs wrapped up their 2014 preseason schedule with a 2-1-4 record
- A.J. Soares served as the team’s captain today
- A total of six players were unavailable because of injury, illness or injury precaution: Andrew Farrell (leg), Jose Goncalves (quadriceps), Lee Nguyen (groin), Saer Sene (ankle) and Chris Tierney (hamstring) … trialist Shalrie Joseph (knee) was also unavailable … Andy Dorman and Brad Knighton were rested
- Charlie Davies saw his first action of preseason when he came on as a second-half substitute … he played 19 minutes
