The New England Revolution Reserves and D.C. United reserves played to a 0-0 draw at the Lower Practice Field at Gillette Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
The match, which was originally scheduled on April 14 after the clubs’ first-team match at Gillette Stadium, was played less than 24 hours after the two teams hosted other MLS opponents in league action. The Revolution’s first team played to a 2-2 draw against Houston last night in Foxborough, while D.C. earned a 3-1 win over Toronto in Washington before the reserve side flew in this morning for the afternoon kickoff.
Because of the re-scheduling, Sunday afternoon’s match was just United’s first reserve match of 2012, while it was only the Revolution’s second.
Both teams had early chances within the first 10 minutes, with New England’s Kelyn Rowe finding Jose Moreno up the middle in the sixth minute, before Andrew Dykstra came out to smother the chance.
Three minutes later, Stephen King had D.C.’s best chance of the day with a rebound shot from distance flying narrowly high of Bobby Shuttleworth’s goal in the ninth minute.
Moreno again had a go in the 12th minute, but his uncontested header off a Bjorn Runstrom cross was right at Dykstra, who made the easy save.
After the half, New England had a chance in the 50th minute when Rowe’s blast from distance – off the counterattack – beat Dykstra, but kicked off the far post and out of harm.
Lewis Neal combined with former Revs player Kenny Mansally in the 60th minute, but his shot off Mansally’s cross was just wide left of the Revolution goal.
In the game’s final minutes, both teams went for the game-winner, but neither squad was able to mount a dangerous attack. Both sides had several clearances in the area, but no player was able to break through and get anything off on target.
Shuttleworth made five saves on the afternoon, while Dykstra had four.
With the draw, the Revolution reserves moved to 0-1-1 (1 pt.) on the season. They will next face the New York reserves on Sunday, July 8, at Gillette Stadium. With their first match under their belts, D.C.’s reserves are now 0-0-1 (1 pt.) on the season and will return to action on Monday, July 9, when they face Toronto FC at home.
D.C. United Reserves at New England Revolution Reserves
May 20, 2012 – Lower Practice Field, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England 0, D.C. 0
Scoring Summary: None
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth, Tyler Polak, John Lozano, Darrius Barnes, Alec Purdie, Kelyn Rowe, Dominic Machado* (Diego Fagundez 40), Fernando Cardenas (Mitch Taintor* 69), Michael Roach, Bjorn Runstrom (Jack Hilger* 76), Jose Moreno (Ramiro Osorio* 56)
Substitutes Not Used: Tim Murray (GK)
D.C. United: Andrew Dykstra, Kurt Morsink, Ethan White, Cristhyan Najar, Marcelo Saragosa, Stephen King, Lewis Neal (Dejan Jakovic 89), Kenny Mansally^, Denis Najar, Jannick Eckenrode, Irvin Herrera^
Substitutes Not Used: None
^ Guest player
Academy player
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Fernando Cardenas (caution) 31
DC – Kenny Mansally (caution) 81
Team Records:
New England Revolution – 0-1-1 (1 pt.)
D.C. United – 0-0-1 (1 pt.)
Referee: Niko Bratsis
Assistant Referees: Scott Kachmark, Matt Mercier
Fourth Official: Mark Allatin
Weather: Sunny and 82 degrees
