The New England Revolution have not turned in a particularly attractive or effective half of soccer tonight at PPL Park, but regardless, they had two golden chances to steal a lead in the second part of the first half that were left wanting. The Philadelphia Union, meanwhile, have been dominant, but in terms of clear chances their production has waned from earlier in the half.
The Revs had perhaps the night's best chance when Diego Fagundez nicked the ball off of a Union defender at the top of the box, playing in Jerry Bengtson. The Honduran, a hot hand for his national team, rounded Zac MacMath, and then somehow missed an empty net and clanged the ball off the base of the left post.
Brian Carroll put a shot on target for the Union in the 39th minute that Bobby Shuttleworth saved easily, but that turned to be just about all that the Union had to show for their pressure. Despite hogging possession and getting good looks from crosses near the box, Shuttleworth was rarely troubled.
At the other end, Alec Purdie nearly had a dream come true in his first start as a ball over the top found him streaking in on goal. One great touch got him past his defender, but instead of taking another touch and ripping a shot on frame, he tried to take it quickly and instead pushed a dribbling low shot that MacMath smothered easily.