Brazilian midfielder Luiz Camargo picked a great time to score his first MLS goal as his 88th minute strike gave the Dynamo a 2-2 draw with the New England Revolution. Will Bruin tallied his team leading fifth goal of the season as well as the Dynamo managed 2 goals in a game for just the third time this season.
Coming into Gillette Stadium to face the Revolution the Dynamo had scored just once in their last 3 games but also had surrendered just 1 goal in that span. They were forced to play from behind after Brad Davis foolishly gave away a penalty that Saer Sene converted in the 26th minute. Davis, tracking back on Davis, slammed into Sene from behind and left referee Baldomero Toledo no choice but to point to the spot. The deficit lasted just six minutes though as Bruin pulled the Dynamo level.
With Brad Davis any free kick is a great opportunity for a goal and that’s where Bruin’s goal came from. After a foul some 40 yards out on the right side, Davis whipped a perfect ball in towards the penalty spot. Bruin got to the ball before Revolution keeper Matt Reis and headed home the equalizer. The teams went into the half tied at 1.
New England was again in front in the 57th, again through Sene. The French striker picked up a Geoff Cameron turnover at midfield and powered down the left side. From an angle on the left Sene was able to beat Tally Hall at his near post and put the Revolution ahead 2-1. Cameron can’t give the ball away in midfield like he did on that play. A player of his quality, just called to the national team, has to better in that situation. Also, while it was a good shot with pace by Sene, Hall shouldn’t be beaten at his near post on that sort of angle. Hall is an All Star keeper and you could tell he know he should have done better from his reaction after the goal. Rarely do two all stars make mistakes to cost your team a goal but those things happen and the team has to rally behind them and make amends.
The team pushed for an equalizer to earn a road point and they found it in the 87th. Camargo fed Brian Ching 25 yards out and continued his run into the box. Ching pivoted to face the goal and lifted a perfectly weighted chip into the path of Camargo. The ball took a bounce and Camargo made no mistake with his first touch, lashing a left footed volley inside the near post. This goal demonstrated how valuable Ching is up front. As a target forward he came to meet a ball from the midfielder with his back to goal, turned to goal to see the play develop, then picked out Camargo for the game tying goal.
Getting a draw is an ok result but this is a game we could have won. The penalty was a silly foul by a midfielder who is not as comfortable defending in the box and I already discussed the errors on the second goal. Going forward these things don’t worry me. I’m more worried at the players we will be missing due to national team call ups. With Cameron (USA) and Andre Hainault (Canada) both called up and Jermaine Taylor (Jamaica) a possible call up, the back line will be stretched thin and we can’t afford to make mistakes. A struggling LA Galaxy side visits BBVA Compass on Saturday minus Landon Donovan. I’ll have more on the MLS Cup rematch later this week but with a day game and the sun shining brightly, revenge and a return to winning ways could be in the cards.
(image courtesy of Getty Images)
