In what can only be described as a tight and tense affair, both the Revs and Union have found it rather difficult to orchestrate any semblance of rhythm in the first half.
The first half was mostly void of solid offensive output, but it was Lee Nguyen giving Revolution fans the first moment of excitement in the 22nd minute when his seemingly harmless, long free kick continued to knuckle and caught Zac MacMath off guard, causing the Union keeper to unconvincingly parry the shot away.
Minutes after A.J. Soares earned a yellow card in the 27th minute, Philadelphia orchestrated their best offensive chance of the first half when Sheanon Williams' long throw in into the Revs' penalty area caused a moment of trepidation in defense, and when the ball fell to an open Michael Lahoud, the Union midfielder launched a shot well wide but it served as a warning shot to the Revs' defense.
New England nearly found the opener in the 35th minute when Nguyen slickly slid a clever through ball to a streaking Jerry Bengtson, but the Honduran's attempt at slotting the ball home was kicked out by a sprawling MacMath.
The first half ended shortly after a Lee Nguyen free kick found nothing but the Union wall, and with both teams headed to the locker room searching for an offensive catalyst in what seems to be a worsening weather pattern, the second half certainly looks like it may be more of the same.