Recap: Revolution II 5 (5) - 5 (4) FC Cincinnati 2

Like the rain, goals were pouring at Gillette Stadium!

Photo By ©J. Alexander Dolan

New England Revolution II returned to action Sunday evening as they hosted FC Cincinnati 2 inside a rainy Gillette Stadium.

Clint Peay and company looked to get back on track Sunday as they entered the contest on a two-game losing streak on top of a 180-minute scoreless drought.

There were four changes from April 21st’s 1-0 loss to New York Red Bulls II. Max Weinstein made his second consecutive start as Peyton Miller, Pierre Cayet, Tiago Suarez, and Victor Souza formed the back line. Miller returns to the gameday squad after missing Revs II’s last outing as he was a part of the United States U-17 training camp. Marcos Dias, Josh Bolma, Jack Panayotou, and Malcolm Fry comprised the midfield, as Damian Rivera and Jordan Adebayo-Smith were up top.

Miller came close to snapping Revs II’s scoreless drought just two minutes into the match as he unloaded a shot from a distance, but it was too far right as it rolled out for a goal kick.

Dias came close to finding the back of the net in the 11th minute, but his shot had too much on it as it bounced off the top of the crossbar and out for a goal kick. Rivera snapped Revs II’s 196-minute goalless streak in the 16th minute as Panayotou found himself inside the box under pressure. Panayotou cut back to Rivera, who evaded the pressure and laid a heavy shot onto the Cincinnati net. Nothing the goalkeeper could do as Rivera’s rocket of a shot smashed into the netting to give Revs II a 1-0 lead early.

Adebayo-Smith awarded Revolution II a golden opportunity in the 18th minute as he lasered a shot into the Cincinnati box that deflected off a defender's arm, which led to a handball inside the box and a Revs II penalty kick. Dias was the one to step up to the spot as he sent a low-driven shot into the bottom left corner of the net to score his first goal of the season while doubling Revs II lead.

FC Cincinnati 2 quickly responded in the 22nd minute as a right-footed shot from ArquÍmides Ordóñez found the bottom right corner to cut Revs II’s lead in half. Ordóñez notched a second goal for himself and Cincinnati in the 31st minute as his right-footed shot from outside the box found the bottom left corner of the net.

Revolution II took full advantage of Cincinnati’s turnover at midfield in the 41st minute as they sent the ball forward to Rivera, who then slotted the ball in between the Cincinnati defense to Adebayo-Smith. Adebayo-Smith withheld the pressure and sent a left-footed shot into the net to give Revs II a 3-2 lead right before halftime.

Revolution II’s lead would not last long in the second half as Salim Adams leveled the score after his right-footed shot found the back of the net. Kai Thomas secured FC Cincinnati 2 their first lead of the evening in the 61st minute as he headed the ball into the top left corner of the net to give Cincy a 4-3 lead.

Damian Rivera secured himself a brace in the 75th minute after his right-footed shot found the bottom-right corner of the goal to level things at four apiece.

A blessing and some déjà vu for Revolution II in the 84th minute as Adebayo-Smith drew a penalty for Revs II after Steven Jimenez fouled him inside the box. Like earlier in the match, Dias stepped up to the spot to take the penalty kick, and like last time, he buried it to give Revs II a 5-4 lead in the closing minutes.

Revs II looked on track to secure their first win in three contests. That was until the 90th minute when a Cincinnati cross deflected off the extended foot of Pierre Cayet and into the back of the net to level the score again.

Ninety minutes and ten goals were surprisingly not enough to settle things come the end of regular time, as both teams had five goals to their name. New England and Cincinnati received a point for the draw and looked to earn a second point in a shootout.

Ben Awashie stepped up to the spot as he looked to find the winning penalty. The Grand Canyon University alum sent a right-footed shot to the bottom-left corner and in to secure Revs II the shootout victory.

After ten goals and a six-round shootout, Revs II walk away with two points as they sit in a three-way tie for third place with Crew 2 and NYRB II on eleven points.

Revolution II return to action on May 6th as they travel to Belson Stadium to take on NYCFC II at 5:00 PM ET on MLSNEXTPro.com.