FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Sainey Nyassi, who is continuing his come-back from a hamstring injury he suffered in early February, scored the game’s only goal in the 62nd minute as the New England Revolution Reserves defeated the Columbus Crew Reserves, 1-0, on Gillette Stadium’s Lower Practice Field on Sunday morning.
This morning’s match was the second meeting between the two teams in a week as the clubs also played last Sunday, June 10, in Columbus, with the Crew earning a 1-0 victory.
Nyassi, who made just his second playing appearance since the injury, gave the Revs the go-ahead goal when he knocked in the rebound of a John Lozano header that Crew goalkeeper Matt Lampson initially saved.
Both teams settled into the game with few opportunities into the attacking third, but the match opened up in the final 20 minutes of the first half. Columbus Bernardo Anor had two strong efforts – a shot from distance in the 25th minute and a free kick attempt the 30th minute – but both were just wide of target.
The Revs countered Columbus’ opportunities with a pair of their own late in the half. Following a Julius James yellow card for a tackle on Diego Fagundez in the 37th minute, Kelyn Rowe’s free kick made it through traffic, but was deflected right to Lampson. Then, in the 39th minute, Alec Purdie’s rebound attempt from six yards out off guest player Dimitry Imbongo cleared cross was high of frame.
Two minutes after subbing on in the 60th minute, Nyassi put the Revs up with his goal. The teams played through the midfield with neither squad threatening until the final 10 minutes when Columbus went to a 3-4-3 in an attempt to find the equalizer. Cole Grossman worked combination play into the final third and got a shot off from the top of the area in the 85th minute, but it was right at Revs goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth. In the 88th minute, Aaron Horton’s headed shot made it through traffic but was just high of the crossbar.
With the win, the Revolution Reserves improved to 2-2-1 (7 pts.), while Columbus moved to 4-2-0 (12 pts.) on the season.
The Revs will see their next MLS Reserve League action on Sunday, July 8, when they host the New York Red Bulls Reserves at Gillette Stadium, immediately following the club’s first-team game. Columbus returns to action on Monday, July 2, when the reserves travel to Montclair State University to face the New York Red Bulls at 11 a.m.
MLS Reserve League
Columbus Crew Reserves at New England Revolution Reserves
June 17, 2012 – Lower Practice Field, Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
New England Revolution Reserves 1, Columbus Crew Reserves 0
Scoring Summary:
NE – Sainey Nyassi (unassisted) 62
New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth, Tyler Polak, Darrius Barnes ©, John Lozano, Flo Lechner, Alec Purdie, Kelyn Rowe (Sainey Nyassi 60), Clyde Simms (Blake Brettschneider 24, Mitch Taintor 60), Jeremiah White, Dimitry Imbongo^, Diego Fagundez
Substitutes Not Used: Tyler Zon, Bjorn Runstrom
Columbus Crew Reserves: Matt Lampson, Shaun Francis, Julius James, Eric Gehrig (Korey Veeder 46), Aubrey Perry, Bernardo Anor (Ben Speas 67), Cole Grossman, Chris Birchall, Ethan Finlay (Irakli Khutsidze^ 70), Aaron Schoenfeld (Aaron Horton 46), Olman Vargas
Substitutes Not Used: Ethan Dewhurst
^ Guest player
* Academy player
Misconduct Summary:
CLB – Julius James (caution) 37
CLB – Olman Vargas (caution) 86
Team Records:
New England Revolution – 2-2-1 (7 pts.)
Columbus Crew – 4-2-0 (12 pts.)
Referee: Michael Solla
Assistant Referees: Scott Kachmark, Joseph Poremba
Fourth Official: Bruno Mozzo
Weather: Partly Sunny and 62 degrees
