Rookies shine as Revolution eclipse MetroStars

By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff  |  June 27, 2004

FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution have devised several unique ways to lose or tie games this season. But they changed the script last night, taking a 2-1 victory over the MetroStars, their first home victory since May 1.

First-year professionals Felix Brillant and Clint Dempsey scored in a three-minute span in the second half, then the Revolution (3-7-3) held off the Eastern Conference-leading MetroStars (5-4-4) until Amado Guevara's penalty kick in the 91st minute.

"We didn't put together as many passes as in previous weeks," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "But sometimes you play well and don't win and sometimes you don't play as well and win. We are a better team than the league standings show."

The Revolution started the match with 14 players available. MLS rules allow for an unlimited number of bench players for the home team, meaning the Revolution could have as many as 13 reserves. Nicol used all three substitutes, Matt Reis replacing Adin Brown (concussion) in goal after halftime, then Daouda Kante and Luke Vercollone entered in the final minutes. Brown was injured while making a 17th-minute save, then colliding with teammate Joe Franchino, but finished the half.

Pat Noonan, who has scored 10 goals in 10 games against the MetroStars, contributed to both Revolution goals. The Revolution struggled with possession, but as the match opened up in the second half, Jose Cancela headed to Noonan, who poked the ball forward. Brillant caught up to the ball, then held off three defenders and left-footed a slow roller past Jonny Walker in the 64th minute. Three minutes later, Noonan found Dempsey just outside the penalty area, and Dempsey slipped past two defenders, then dribbled past Walker to score into an empty net.

"People were saying I should go down and take the penalty but I wasn't having any of that," said Brillant, who scored his first Revolution goal. "It all happened so fast. Noonan put the ball forward and [Eddie] Pope missed it, then I touched it by Pope. I pushed it again and I could feel the other central defender breathing down my neck. I saw the keeper coming out and shot it."

Brillant began the season in the role of reserve midfielder and No. 5 striker.

"I thought he was going down; there is no way he is staying on his feet," Nicol said. "And he couldn't backswing his foot, but he bamboozled the goalkeeper and hit the back of the net.

"We needed to hit the back of the net to make the difference. We had chances and hit the back of the net. But I can assure you that it was a long final 27 minutes 30 seconds from the second goal until the final whistle."

The Revolution, who visit Colorado next Sunday, snapped a three-game losing streak and a four-game home winless streak. It was their 10th successive MLS game without a loss against the MetroStars.

"I thought we played well last week," said Franchino, who was suspended for the Revolution's 3-1 defeat against Kansas City. "I got rejuvenated watching from the outside last week. All the young guys are trying to get better every day. They all want to play.

"In soccer, sometimes you get breaks and sometimes you don't. I am proud of the team. We only had three subs but they can all play."

Guevara, who was ejected while performing for Honduras in a 4-0 loss to the US June 2 in his last Gillette Stadium appearance, cut the deficit in the first minute of stoppage time, after Reis collided with Mike Magee in the goal area. Reis claimed to have deflected the ball before the contact with Magee and Nicol believed Magee had committed a foul to get into scoring position, but referee Ramon Hernandez immediately whistled the penalty.

"You are talking to a guy who lost a lot of sleep the last couple of weeks," Revolution defender Jay Heaps said. "I live for this stuff and this win feels good. We competed from the start and nobody let down. We did a good job against a good team." . . .
Brown was set to start the second half, but then was held out seconds before the Revolution returned to the field. "He was bloody and nauseous," Nicol said. "The doctor told us he had to come off. But before that, we didn't know. He was asking for smelling salts. Typical goalie."

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