Former New England Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph haunted his old club with a pair of goals as the Revs saw an early three-goal lead slip away in a frustrating 3-3 draw with Chivas USA on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.
Saer Sene scored his team-leading 10th and 11th goals of the season – sandwiched around a Rauwshan McKenzie own goal – to give the Revs (6-14-6, 24 pts.) a 3-0 lead inside 21 minutes, but Joseph scored twice before the halftime break to pull Chivas USA (7-10-7, 28 pts.) within one. Miller Bolaños ultimately scored the equalizer for the visitors two minutes into the second half.
It was the second time in five days the Revs built an early multi-goal lead only to see it slip away after suffering a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Crew last weekend. The result snapped the Revolution’s five-game losing streak, but extended the club’s winless run to nine games (0-7-2), matching a club record.
The Revs got off to a perfect start, taking the lead through Sene in just the fourth minute. From inside his own half Chris Tierney delivered a searching ball into the box for Sene, who battled McKenzie for possession. McKenzie attempted to head clear but couldn’t get any power on the effort, providing Sene the chance to blast a volley into the far side netting.
McKenzie was directly involved again when the Revs doubled their lead to 2-0 in the 11th minute, directing the ball into his own net from close range. Kelyn Rowe created the chance when he fought off Bolaños and whipped in a low cross from the right wing, intended for Jerry Bengtson. The pass never reached Bengtson, however, as McKenzie poked the ball past Chivas USA goalkeeper Dan Kennedy as he tried to block.
The early onslaught continued in the 21st minute when Sene grabbed his second of the night and pushed the Revs into a 3-0 lead. A long ball up-field from goalkeeper Matt Reis eventually fell to Sene, who drilled a long-range shot which took a slight deflection off McKenzie and wrong-footed Kennedy.
Joseph pulled one back for the visitors in short order, cutting New England’s lead to 3-1 in the 23rd minute. The Revs were punished from a set-piece situation as Nick LaBrocca’s corner kick found Joseph, who rose above his marker and Reis to bury a header.
There was still one more goal to be found in the first half as Joseph notched another in stoppage time to pull Chivas USA within 3-2 going into the halftime break. Juan Agudelo patiently held the ball in the right channel before laying off for Joseph, who used his left foot to curl a 20-yard drive inside the left post.
It took Chivas USA just two minutes to pull level after the break as Bolaños made it 3-3 in the 47th minute. Agudelo crossed from the right wing to the back post, where Casey Townsend leapt to head the ball back into the middle for Bolaños, who lashed home from eight yards out.
Unsurprisingly both teams continued to threaten on a night when goals were flying in at Gillette Stadium. Reis was forced into a pair of fine saves in the 62nd minute when he denied Juan Pablo Angel and Agudelo back-to-back, while Rowe hit the crossbar with a header at the other end three minutes later. In the 67th minute, Benny Feilhaber was sent through on goal but was denied by the onrushing Kennedy.
Kennedy made one more critical save in the 75th minute when he tipped Tierney’s long-range drive wide, while Reis matched him with a stop on Laurent Courtois in stoppage time.
The Revs will continue their three-game home-stand this weekend when they host the Philadelphia Union on Saturday, Sept. 1. Kickoff from Gillette Stadium is set for 7:30 p.m.
New England Revolution vs. Chivas USA
August 29, 2012 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England Revolution 3, Chivas USA 3
Scoring Summary:
NE – Saer Sene (unassisted) 4
NE – Own goal (Rauwshan McKenzie) 11
NE – Saer Sene (unassisted) 21
CHV – Shalrie Joseph (Nick LaBrocca) 23
CHV – Shalrie Joseph (Juan Agudelo) 45+
CHV – Miller Bolanos (Casey Townsend, Juan Agudelo) 47
