Pros

Depleted D.C. Dominates Revs By Sean Donahue
New England drops 3-0 decision
August 6, 2007
With the chance to move into first place overall in MLS, the Revolution put in their worst home performance of the season Sunday, allowing D.C. United's Luciano Emilio to score twice in a 3-0 loss.

United was without several key starters due to injury and suspension, but it didn't matter as they dominated a Revolution side that never really got going

Pat Noonan was denied on this chance in the Revs 3-0 loss to D.C. United Sunday.

D.C. took the lead in the 22nd minute after goalkeeper Matt Reis saved a Clyde Simms shot, but let it roll in front of him. As Reis nonchalantly put a hand on the ball, Josh Gros ran in and tapped it into the net.

"It was sitting there and I didn't realize he was as close as he was," Reis said. "I didn't see him before the shot came; the only one I saw was Emilio. I wasn't aware that he was there, but I should have covered it up quicker. But that's indicative of the game: they were hungrier and they wanted the game more than we did. We let it happen."

Nine minutes later Emilio doubled D.C.'s lead when he beat Riley to a through ball from Guy-Roland Kpene. Emilio slotted it past a charging Reis to the near post.

"We started slow and then got slower," said New England coach Steve Nicol. "We were just awful. You name it and we didn't do it. We put a lot into the (Kansas City) game Thursday. I think we looked tired. We were second to every ball; we made bad decisions. Everything that could have gone wrong for us went wrong for us."

D.C. threatened first in the 19th minute when Gros found Emilio in the box with a cross from the left flank. Emilio beat James Riley and put a hard header on frame, but Reis was up to the task, tipping it over the bar.

Possibly the biggest loss for the Revs came in the 37th minute when All-Star defender Michael Parkhurst was forced to leave the match with a right knee injury. The seriousness of the injury is currently unknown.

The Revs had their first real chance of the match in the 40th minute after Taylor Twellman put a powerful header on frame off a Steve Ralston corner kick. Ben Olsen was there on the post to head out Twellman's effort.

Four minutes later the Revs had another chance off a corner. This time Shalrie Joseph headed it down to the far post where Pat Noonan put in a shot from close range that was blocked by a well-positioned Troy Perkins.

Jay Heaps should have done better in the 67th minute after Khano Smith earned a great free kick opportunity. Ralston took the corner and found Heaps near the far post, but Heaps sent his header over the net.

Emilio finished any chance the Revs had of coming back in the 76th minute when he was fouled near midfield after getting away with an apparent handball to settle the ball. A quick free kick from Ben Olsen sprung Emilio free of the defense and he slotted it past a helpless Reis to give D.C. an unassailable 3-0 lead. Riley again was responsible for losing his mark on the goal.

"We gave up bad goals," Nicol said. "The first goal could have been avoided. We should have been pushed up higher … The second goal was bad defending. We can't let people roll balls inside you like that. And the third goal sums up the day. And then that's the game over: three-nil. You know, two-nil, we still have a chance … We can't blame anyone but ourselves really because we were poor in every facet of the game. You name it we were bad."