Recap: Revs II Defeat Conference Leading Crown Legacy FC 3-1
Recap: Revs II Defeat Conference Leading Crown Legacy FC 3-1
A trio of goal scorers and an impressive performance from 'Action Jackson' help Revs II to their tenth win.
It was an early kickoff for Revolution II on Wednesday as they faced Crown Legacy FC in front of a home crowd at Gillette Stadium. A total of three changes were made to the starting line-up, with ítalo, Tiago Suárez, and Malcolm Fry making the eleven.
Marcos Dias put the hosts on the board in the 21st minute after Malcolm Fry caused a Crown Legacy turnover just outside of their own box. Fry was able to win the ball and find Dias alone at the top of the eighteen, putting the ball past the keeper with a well-placed shot to the right side of the net.
For the duration of the first half the Revs continued to apply pressure, managing to find the cracks in Crown Legacy’s defense that allowed them to constantly play in their strikers. It was a free for all for Jordan Adebayo-Smith, who found himself with several attempts to go one v. one with the keeper, just narrowly missing the target each time.
In what ended up being an otherwise uneventful opening half Jacob Jackson was able to fully demonstrate his skills in the Revolution goal, as he was called into action several times and forced to make point blank saves that kept his team ahead going into half time rightfully earning the nickname ‘Action Jackson’ from the commentator on MLS Season Pass.
The second half saw significantly more action for both sides, as Peyton Miller got the home team off to a hot start with a shot on goal in just the 46th minute that was deflected away.
Dias continued the offensive effort for the Revs as he looked to bag his second of the day in the 49th minute after receiving a ball from Adebayo-Smith from outside of the box, but his attempt sailed high and wide of the net.
It would be Adebayo-Smith who added to New England’s lead in the 52nd minute following a breakaway off a quick counter, easily slotting the ball into the lower left corner of Crown Legacy’s box for his eighth goal on the year.
New England made their first change of the match in the 62nd minute as Jacob Akanyirige replaced Tiago Suárez, and then just two minutes later Ben Awashie entered for Colby Quiñónes.
Miller put the game away for Revolution II in the 69th minute, scoring his second goal in just as many games to put the home team ahead by three. Assisted by Escobar, Miller was played into Crown Legacy’s final third with just the keeper to beat and was able to place his shot low into the right corner.
A pair of substitutions came in the 73rd minute with NaKye Greenidge-Duncan and Brandon Bueno entering the match for Fry and Dias respectively. New England made their fifth and final change of the match in the 82nd minute, putting Eric Klein in for Escobar.
Crown Legacy was able to get one back in the 88th minute after Akanyirige conceded a penalty for New England and David Poreba successfully converted, faking out Jackson with a shot to the bottom left corner.
The visitors used the momentum from their goal as they applied pressure on the Revs, hoping to find the back of the net again and maybe salvage a point for themselves.
Ultimately New England were able to maintain their lead, defeating the current Eastern Conference leaders 3-1. With today’s result Revolution II move to second place in the Eastern Conference with 38 points, only trailing Crown Legacy FC by three points.
The Revs will have an extended break with the MLS NEXT All-Star Game taking place Wednesday, July 19that 10:30 AM EST at the Naval Academy’s Glenn Warner Soccer Facility in Annapolis, Maryland. Olger Escobar was named the sole participant for Revolution II at this year’s game.