Match Recap: Revolution 1 - FC Dallas 2

The New England Revolution looked to extend their winning streak to a club record-tying six-game as they traveled to Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas, to take on F.C. Dallas.

The Revs came into Sunday’s matchup the winner in their previous five matchups. Their most recent being a 3-2 victory at home over the New York Red Bulls on Wednesday night.

FC Dallas came into Sunday’s matchup winless in their previous six matches after a 2-0 loss to LAFC.

A scorching Sunday night in Frisco as the Texas heat and humidity played a factor in the match for both sides.

Revolution defender Andrew Farrell became the fourth player in Revs history to register 250 appearances in a Revolution jersey. Farrell was also able to surpass the 22,000-minute mark, becoming the third Revs player to do so.

Gustavo Bou looked to get the Revs offense started fast as he sent a long-range shot on goal, but it was not enough to beat Jimmy Maurer, who saved it without issue.

FC Dallas youth standout Ricardo Pepi wasted no time getting the Dallas offense rolling as he scored the opening goal and put Dallas up 1-0 in the 11th minute. Jesus Fererria would intercept Maciel’s pass and lobbed the ball into the air towards the Revolution’s goal. Pepi would race past Jon Bell and would get on to the bouncing ball. Pepi slotted it towards the far post and out of the reach of Matt Turner and found the back of the net.

F.C. Dallas midfielder Bryan Acosta would receive the games first booking as he would receive a yellow card in the 18th minute. Pepi came close to notching a brace in the 20th minute as his right-footed shot would strike the right post.

Some controversy came towards the 20th minute as the previously booked Acosta would commit another harsh foul. Although Revs players on the field and the bench pleaded their case to the ref, Kevin Stott had no interest in hearing it and allowed Acosta to remain on the pitch.

Matt Polster would receive his fourth yellow card of the season in the 28th minute after exchanging words with head referee Kevin Stott after a foul on Carles Gil.

Bou would score the equalizer in the 33rd minute after breezing past Bressan and found Brandon Bye’s pass just outside the 6-yard-box. Jimmy Mauer would lean towards the center of the net, but it did him no good as Bou slotted it to the right side of the net.

As the first 45 minutes came to an end, it was clear the Revs needed to make some tactical changes if they wanted to leave Dallas with all three points.

There was only one personnel change for the Revs during half as Tommy McNamara would come on in place for Maciel. McNamara looked to impact the game in the 50th minute as he sent a left-footed shot to the bottom left corner. Maurer was all over McNamara’s shot.

Bou looked to earn himself a brace in the 51st minute as he looked to head in Gil’s cross, but it went a tad right for a Dallas goal kick.

Pepi would earn himself a brace in the 54th minute after beating Bell to Ryan Hollingshead’s pass. Pepi would make the most of Bell’s defensive mistake and advance towards Turner and the Revolution goal. DeJuan Jones looked to dispossess Pepi inside the box, but Pepi would flash some excellent footwork and avoided Jones. Pepi would rocket the ball past Turner and into the top right corner giving FC Dallas the 2-1 lead.

With their backs against the wall, Bruce Arena looked to Adam Buksa in the 60th minute as the Polish DP would come on for Arnór Traustason. The Revs then executed a double substitution in the 68th minute as Henry Kessler would replace a struggling Bell, and Teal Bunbury would come on for Buchanan. Bunbury would receive a yellow card in the 75th minute after committing a deliberate foul on midfielder Facundo Quignón.

In a last-ditch effort, the Revs went full offensive in the 81st minute as rookie forward Edward Kizza would replace Polster. Bunbury looked to even things in the 86th minute as he looked to head Brandon Bye’s cross, but it was a tad right.

Although things looked bleak for the Revs in the closing seconds of regular time, the electronic board read seven additional minutes added to the second half, giving the Revs time to find a late equalizer. Although awarded seven additional minutes, the Revolution could not find the equalizer and saw their five-game win streak come to an unfortunate end.

It was a tough set of games for the Revolution backline as they have allowed a total of six goals in the previous three outings. Something that will need to be improved on if the Revs want to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Sunday’s 2-1 loss to FC Dallas ends the Revs hectic schedule, which saw them play three games in eight days. With Sunday’s loss, the Revs remain atop the Eastern Conference with 23 points, two points ahead of second-place Orlando City.

The Revolution will look to take the loss on the chin and move on as they prepare to travel to Columbus as they take on the reigning MLS Cup champs, the Columbus Crew, on July 3rd at 5:00 PM EST.