Depleted RSL bulldozed 4-0 by New England

For the second straight time while visiting Gillette Stadium, Real Salt Lake was blown out by a score of 4-0 at the hands of the New England Revolution. RSL’s losing streak is now extended to four — their last win coming on April 15th against Colorado.

Mike Petke, his team decimated by injuries, took a different approach tonight with his starting eleven selection, switching up the formation back to a 4-4-2 and giving young guys some minutes, including rookie Reagan Dunk who saw his first professional start.

While the young RSL lineup came out swinging with a lot of pressure to start the game, it didn’t take New England very long to crack the defense. Scott Caldwell found himself on the end of a cross in from Revs midfielder Diego Fagundez, and was able to easily slot it past Matt Van Oekel to put the home side up 1-0 in the fourth minute.

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Just 14 minutes later, Kei Kamara would double New England’s lead when he put his head onto a Lee Nguyen corner kick, and just out of reach of Van Oekel. The Revs went up 2-0 as things looked more dim for the visitors.

RSL’s best chance of the half came in the 30th minute, when Omar Holness sent a curling cross in to the far post to a wide open Joao Plata. He hit a strong snap down header straight at the goal, but Revs ‘keeper Cody Cropper was right there to punch it out of harm’s way.

New England had an answer for that, though, as they put another one on the visitors in the 34th minute. Kelyn Rowe broke free behind Sunny in the 18-yard box and received a pass from Lee Nguyen, who then quickly sent it across the goal to a completely unmarked Diego Fagundez for the easy tap-in, putting the Revs up 3-0.

Seven minutes later, RSL’s defense broke down yet again, as Lee Nguyen bagged another easy goal off of a Kei Kamara pass to put the Revs up even further, sending RSL into the locker room at halftime down by a score of 4-0.

It looked all too easy for New England in the first half.

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Petke was forced to sub in rookie Justin Schmidt at halftime, as Demar Phillips pulled up lame with an apparent hamstring injury.

The Revs thought they had another one added to their tally in the 49th minute when Nguyen sent a ball past Van Oekel and into the net, but it was called offside and the scoreline would hold for the time being.

Jefferson Savarino made his MLS debut as Joao Plata made way for the RSL newcomer in the 61st minute, which brought some much-needed fresh legs onto the pitch. He wasted no time in making his presence known, registering a decent shot on frame in the 64th minute — only RSL’s second of the night.

The Revs had another goal called back for offside in the 90th minute when Femi Hollinger-Janzen collected a rebound off of a Van Oekel parry and put it in the back of the net. The assistant’s flag went up straight away and the ref called for an RSL free kick.

While Salt Lake held New England scoreless in the second half, it would be too little too late as the game would finish the same as the first half ended, 4-0 in favor of the home team.

RSL has now been outscored 13-1 in their last four games. They return home to host David Villa and friends as New York City FC rolls into town on Wednesday.

Shots: RSL 8 (3), NE 13 (8)
Possession: RSL 50.3%, NE 49.7%
Passing: RSL 75%, NE 82%

RSL Starting Lineup: Van Oekel; Dunk (Movsisyan 73’), Wingert, Maund, Phillips (Schmidt HT); Hernandez, Sunny, Velazco, Holness; Silva, Plata (Savarino 61’)