Kenny’s brace not enough as Revolution downed
- Tuesday, 24 April 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
The Philadelphia Union kicked off their 2012 MLS Reserve League campaign with a convincing win over Abdoulie Kenny Mansally’s New England Revolution reserves, riding four consecutive goals to a 4-2 victory at Chester Park on Monday morning.
After New England midfielder Kenny Mansally scored the first of his two goals on a 19th minute penalty kick, Philadelphia answered with two goals from Costa Rican forward Josue Martinez, one from Antoine Hoppenot and another from Cristhian Hernandez before Mansally completed his brace to round out the scoring.
The Union threatened to open the scoring in the 12th minute when midfielder Roger Torres – who sustained a knee injury later in the match – sent Home Grown Player Zach Pfeffer down the right flank, setting up a cross from the 17-year-old to a streaking Hoppenot, whose deflection just missed the net. Three minutes later on the other end, Kenny Mansally targeted Home Grown forward Diego Fagundez in the area, but Union SuperDraft selection Greg Jordan was able to get a touch on the ball and clear danger.
The Revolution struck first in the 19th minute after Union goalkeeper Chase Harrison came off his line and collided with former D.C. United forward Blake Brettschneider in the area. The referee handed Harrison a yellow card and pointed to the spot, setting up Mansally’s penalty kick, which was driven into the center of the goal to give the visitors a 1-0 advantage. The Union responded quickly, as Hoppenot sprung free and struck a tight-angled shot on target. Revolution goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth made the initial save, but the rebound caromed to Martinez, who finished from 10 yards out to level the match at 1-1 in the 22nd minute.
Two minutes after a speculative long-range effort from midfielder Michael Roche missed the net, Philadelphia took their first lead. Pfeffer’s through ball found Hoppenot behind the defense and the Princeton graduate dribbled around a charging Shuttleworth for a tap-in goal. Martinez nearly added another goal before the break, but his breakaway effort was sent just wide of the far post.
Philadelphia continued applying pressure early in the second half. In the 49th minute, 2012 first round pick Chandler Hoffman sent Hoppenot down the left flank into space. Hoffman cut back and fired on an angle, forcing a goal line clearance from Revolution defender Darrius Barnes. Philadelphia’s second half advantage in the run of play paid off in the 62nd minute when a give-and-go between Hernandez and Martinez led to a right-footed shot from Herandez, which curled around Shuttleworth into the back of the net for a 3-1 Union lead.
Philadelphia struck again just three minutes later when Martinez intercepted an errant pass in the back, faked a lay off to occupy the defense, and slotted home from close-range for a 4-1 advantage. New England had a chance to cut the deficit in the 70th minute. Brettschneider latched onto a bouncing ball in Philadelphia’s area, but the New England striker sent his effort wide of the post.
Kenny Mansally had another opportunity to pull a goal back in the 73rd minute after he won a loose ball from Jordan. The Gambian struck a sinking one-timer from 25 yards out, but the attempt narrowly missed the crossbar.2012 Generation adidas signee Tyler Polak saved a fifth Union goal in the 76th minute when he slid to knock away a Hoppenot cross before Hoffman could latch onto it from within the six-yard box.
New England managed their first goal from the run of play before the final whistle sounded. Academy defender Mitchell Taintor lofted a cross from the right flank through a crowded area.
Mansally collected the hopeful ball and ripped a one-timer past Harrison. The Revolution reserves (0-0-1) will return to action against D.C. United at Gillette Stadium.