BRADENTON, Fla. – Darrius Barnes scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time on Thursday afternoon as the New England Revolution wrapped up its Bradenton leg of preseason training with a 2-1 win over the Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL).
The Revs finished the 12-day, three-game trip to Bradenton with a 1-0-2 record.
After falling behind 1-0 in the 24th minute, the Revs found the equalizer in the 34th minute behind Dimitry Imbongo. O’Brian Woodbine started the play with a long throw-in, before Pierre Omanga knocked it down and Imbongo slotted his shot inside the far post.
With the exception of one player, the Revs’ starting players played for 60 minutes before head coach Jay Heaps swapped almost every player. Tensions also started to run high in the second half after Evan Melo was forced out of the game in the 51st minute behind a hard tackle at the edge of the penalty box.
The Revs’ attack – spurred by the new players and slowing Ft. Lauderdale team that is just coming together for preseason – picked up in the final 30 minutes.
Six minutes after the subs, a Ft. Lauderdale defender – the same player who was yellow-carded on the Melo tackle – was shown red for going through Patrick Mullins with his studs up in a midfield tackle. Heaps, however, allowed the Strikers to keep 11 men on the field to allow for a complete game experience.
Barnes’ game-winning goal came off a second corner kick in the game’s waning minutes. Kelyn Rowe’s out-swinging service found A.J. Soares, who flicked it across the face of goal as Barnes rushed on at the far post and pocketed the goal at the final whistle.
Luis Soffner got the start in goal, his first preseason appearance this year. He was spelled by Brad Knighton in the 60th minute. Two Revs players – Barnes and 2013 Supplemental Draft pick Jossimar Sanchez – played 90 minutes in the field.
The Revolution will return to Foxborough for local training next week before departing for a 16-day trip, Feb. 15-March 2, to Tucson, Ariz., to play in the Desert Diamond Cup, hosted by FC Tucson.
MLS Preseason
New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Ft. Lauderdale Strikers (NASL)
February 6, 2014 – IMG Academy Field (Bradenton, Fla.)
New England Revolution 2, Ft. Lauderdale Strikers 1
Scoring Summary:
FTL – Goal 24’
NE – Dimitry Imbongo (Pierre Omanga, O’Brian Woodbine) 34
NE – Darrius Barnes (A.J. Soares, Kelyn Rowe) 91
New England Revolution: Luis Soffner (Brad Knighton 60), O’Brian Woodbine (Kevin Alston 60), Jose Goncalves (A.J. Soares 46), Darrius Barnes, Jossimar Sanchez, Alec Sundly (Scott Caldwell 60), Evan Melo (Donnie Smith 51), Marko Perovic (Lee Nguyen 60), Paolo DelPiccolo (Kelyn Rowe 60), Pierre Omanga (Patrick Mullins 60), Dimitry Imbongo (Jerry Bengtson 60)
Misconduct Summary:
FTL - #15 (caution) 45
FTL - #29 (caution) 51
FTL - #29 (caution) 66
FTL - #29 (ejection/second caution) 66
NE – Lee Nguyen (caution) 84
NOTES
- Following today’s result, the Revs are now 1-0-2 in preseason action in 2014 … the team has four matches scheduled during their training trip to Tucson, Feb. 15 through March 2
- Seven players were unavailable because of injury or injury precaution: Charlie Davies (calf), Diego Fagundez (concussion), Andrew Farrell (calf), Stephen McCarthy (groin), Steve Neumann (ankle), Saer Sene (ankle), Chris Tierney (foot)
- All five of the team’s trialists saw time today, including Marko Perovic, Alec Sundly (2014 draft pick), Jossimar Sanchez (2013 draft pick), EvanMelo and Pierre Omanga (2014 draft pick)
