Revolution
Revs smoked by Joe Public
![]() New England's Gabriel Badilla (center) wins a 50-50 ball against Joe Public's Roen Nelson during CONCACAF Champions League action at Gillette Stadium Tuesday night. (Staff photo by KEITH NORDSTROM)
Top Headlines Gregory Richardson scored three goals, a pair in the first half, and set up another in the second half as Trinidad & Tobago's Joe Public F.C. scored a 4-0 victory over the New England Revolution Tuesday at Gillette Stadium in a CONCACAF Champions League preliminary round series before a cozy crowd of 3,523. Joe Public, currently fifth in the T&T Professional League, won the two-match aggregate goal series by a 6-1 margin. New England suffered a 2-1 loss to the "Eastern Lions" Aug. 26 at Marvin Lee Stadium in the opening round. "Concentrate on the league, that's exactly what we'll do," said New England coach Steve Nicol. "No forwards, injuries, fatigue - what's left. That's what you get, a team that has no juice." Richardson, sidelined for two months with a knee injury and playing just his third match since, scored first half goals at 17 and 45, netted his third goal with a left-footed drive at 81 and set up Roen Nelson's drive atop the penalty box area in the 48th minute. "It has been a good journey," said Joe Public Technical Director Keith Griffith. "Not being boastful. We saw New England play Toronto, we know that their wingbacks were weak and we have quick players." Richardson put Joe Public ahead by beating a pair of New England defenders on the left wing and chipping the ball past Revolution goalie Matt Reis. Then in the final minute of the first half's regulation time, Richardson scored again on a short side right shot to the far left corner. "Quick feet, good movement, good shooting," related Griffith of his club's attacking nature. "They (New England) play around (Shalrie) Joseph. Once you kill Joseph, New England can't play." Joe Public advances to the quarterfinal round of the Champions League series' Group C with Mexico's Atlante, Olimpia of Honduras and the winner of the Montreal-Real Esteli (Nicaragua) series. Joe Public became the first Caribbean club to score three goals or more in a single match in CONCACAF competition against an American club and the first Caribbean club to eliminate a U.S. entry. The Revolution fared just 1-4-3 during the month of August against all competition, scoring just 10 goals. However, the Eastern Conference leaders have taken 38 points from 22 MLS matches. "We're traveling here, there and everywhere and that takes its toll," said Nicol. Minus Taylor Twellman (facial contusion), Steve Ralston (back spasms), Kheli Dube (adductor strain), Adam Cristman (turf toe) and Kenny Mansally (ankle sprain), Nicol is at a loss for offensive firepower. "When you play tired, people get injured," added Nicol, the strain of playing three matches in seven days on three international soils - Aug. 20 at home against D.C. United, Aug. 23 in Toronto and in Trinidad Aug. 26 against Joe Public, a trek of 6070 miles. "We can't keep losing guys," added Nicol of his limited options, New England having an MLS match Saturday in Columbus. New England has lost 70 man-matches due to injuries in its 22 MLS matches. "Eventually, the well is going to run dry." Joe Public finished as runnerup in the Trinidad and Tobago Professional League last year and is currently resting in fifth place this season. The "Eastern Lions" struck for a pair of first half goals, owning a three-goal aggregate advantage over New England with 45 minutes remaining. Richardson tallied in the 17th and 45th minutes, both times beating New England defender Gabriel Badilla. Richardson beat Badilla to the ball on the left flank and Revs defender Amaechi Igwe could not close rank, the T&T striker chipping the ball past goalie Matt Reis for the go-ahead goal. Then in the final minute of regulation time to end the first half, Richardson took control of a loose ball inside the penalty box area and beat Badilla along the right goal line, chipping the ball to the far left corner past Reis. The Revs had just two shots at T&T goalkeeper Alejandro Figueroa and a pair of corner kicks from Mauricio Castro (at 24 and 28). Other than Shalrie Joseph's short side right shot in the 36th minute which scattered wide to the left, New England was unable to generate much sustained pressure. Richardson created a 5-1 lead for the "Eastern Lions" in the 48th minute, slipping the ball from the left side of the penalty box area to atop the box, where Roen Nelson ripped a shot off Reis' hands. Corner Kicks The Revs started 18-year old Brandon Manzonelli at striker with all of the injuries up front. A native of St. Louis, Manzonelli signed a developmental contract in May and has scored one goal in four matches with the "reserve" team... Recent acquisition, 24-year old defender Gabriel Badilla, will miss two MLS matches due to recall by the Costa Rican National Team ... Ralston has four match-winning goals and four match-winning assists for New England. He became the first MLS player to make 350 career starts, his 126 career assists and 37 match-winning assists both being MLS records ... Twellman's 96 career goals place him No. 5 on the all-time MLS list, four behind Jeff Cunningham, currently with Dallas and 25 shy of Jamie Moreno's league-best 121. "When you've been out six months it's a long time," said Twellman of his knee and ankle injuries. "I'll listen to my body and make sure I'm giving it the right amount of rest" ... Nicol, with 86 wins in his seven seasons as head coach is now tied for No. 3 on the MLS all-time list with Bob Gansler, trailing Bob Bradley (124) and Sigi Schmid (107) ... New England's "reserve" team (1-5-2) have their next home match -- free to the public -- Sept. 28 at 10 a.m. against Columbus ... Defender Jay Heaps is now No. 6 on the MLS all-time minutes played (24,473) list over 10 seasons. Heaps is the lone Rev to play every minute of every 22 MLS matches ...The Revs have amassed the fewest yellow cards (29) in MLS this season ... By 7:30, a half-hour prior to kickoff, only 22 "walk up" tickets had been sold ...The absence of a guest singer prompted the Revolution's end zone boosters, "The Fort" to sing the National Anthem.
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