Cropper stock up, Kamara stock down in Revolution draw with Earthquakes

The Revolution have scored goals in bunches at Gillette Stadium this season. The club opened its campaign with seven tallies in two home matches, coasting to a 2-0 start in Foxboro. But during Wednesday’s matchup with the San Jose Earthquakes, the Revs failed to finish any of its 15 shots. The match ended in a 0-0 deadlock.

Whose stock rose, and whose fell, during the midweek draw?

Stock up

Cody Cropper

On a day when the Revolution attack put a zero on the scoreboard, the former Southampton goalkeeper made all the difference. Cropper only collected three saves, yet each proved integral in helping the Revs secure a point vs. San Jose. His highlight moment arrived in the 66th minute, when he used a trailing leg to redirect Fatai Alashe’s close-range shot. Cropper’s stop should emerge as an MLS Save of the Week candidate.

Coming into Wednesday’s match, Cropper lacked a signature outing in a Revolution uniform. Now he’s got one.

Andrew Farrell

Farrell plays such consistent soccer it’s easy to overlook his contributions. On separate occasions against the ‘Quakes, he frustrated midfielder Jahmir Hyka, who chose not to challenge him during a promising San Jose counter. Moments like those don’t show up on the stat sheet, but play a significant role in keeping the opponent at bay.

In the end, Farrell collected three tackles and three clearances, serving as one of many high achievers along the Revolution back line.

Honorable mention: Benjamin Angoua

Stock down

Kei Kamara

Kamara’s up-and-down campaign continued on Wednesday, when the forward made a 39-minute substitute appearance against his former club. Jay Heaps—and every Revolution fan in the building—hoped Kamara would spark an attack that appeared on the verge of a go-ahead goal.

Instead, Kamara’s entry lead to the opposite result. The attack seemed to go flat, whether by coincidence or not, almost immediately after he entered the match. In the end, Kamara blasted his lone opportunity—an open shot from inside the box—wide of David Bingham’s goal.

Kamara has looked sharp during several starts this season, and will look to get back on track vs. D.C. United this weekend.

Donnie Smith

Heaps has already started three different left backs this season: Chris Tierney, Je-Vaughn Watson and Kelyn Rowe. Ahead of Wednesday’s match against San Jose, Revolution fans clamored for Smith to serve as the fourth left back to earn a start.

The argument made sense: with Watson serving a suspension and Rowe far more likely to start in the midfield, Tierney and Smith emerged as front runners to earn the start. Tierney, coming off an uncharacteristically slow start to the season, hadn’t played a 90-minute shift since March 25. A midweek matchup against a west-coast club seemed like the perfect opportunity to kick the tires on Smith. Heaps thought otherwise, as he started Tierney and didn’t include Smith in the gameday 18.

Now in his 5th MLS season, Smith has made just five appearances for the Revolution, plus a few isolated starts for the Rochester Rhinos. For the moment, Smith seems buried on Heaps’ depth chart; another loan represents Smith’s best shot at earning regular minutes.