The New England Revolution topped NYCFC in their home finale 2-1 thanks to a Diego Fagundez brace and a Jack Harrison red card.
The defining moment of Sunday’s game came in the 26th minute, when NYCFC’s Harrison was sent off for a reckless challenge. The challenge itself was similar to the challenge that Xavier Kouassi was sent off for against Orlando City. While the call was controversial, Harrison lunged in on Teal Bunbury with his studs up, which by the book, is a red card.
It took the Revolution 51 minutes to take advantage of their extra man, when Fagundez scored his first goal of the game. After beginning the second half strong, Andrew Farrell made a run into the box, sending a great pass to Fagundez who was waiting just outside the box. He caught the pass and fired it into the top right corner with a shot that left NYCFC Sean Johnson grasping the air.
Fagundez broke through again in the 92nd minute after receiving a pass from Lee Nguyen near the penalty spot. His initial shot was saved by Johnson, but the rebound went directly to Fagundez who slotted it into the bottom right corner. These two goals were Fagundez’s first goals since he scored against Toronto FC on June 3rd.
NYCFC pulled a goal back in hectic fashion just before the full-time whistle to rob Brad Knighton of a clean sheet. Alexander Ring played a ball over the top into the Revolution box directly off the kick off, which David Villa and Benjamin Angoua both challenged for. The two players collided and fell, which allowed the ball to bounce for NYCFC’s Khiry Shelton, who headed the ball over the outstretched arms of Knighton who had run off his line to claim the cross. The final whistle came shortly after.
While the Revolution won the game, they failed to capitalize on many chances in the second half, which could have helped them kill off the game earlier. Johnson made many key saves, including two against Kei Kamara on two separate fast breaks. Fagundez also had a chance in the 64th minute on a two on one with Johnson. Although he had Krisztián Németh open to his right, Fagundez tried to blast a shot into the top right corner, which soared over the crossbar.
This win was the Revolution’s 12th home win of the season, which sets a new team record for most home wins a season. This win moved the Revolution into seventh place in the Eastern Conference.
The Revolution travel to Canada to play the Montreal Impact for their season finale on Sunday Oct. 22nd. This is the Revolution’s final chance to earn their first road victory of the season. The match against the Impact is set to begin at 4 p.m.
