Positive reinforcement
Revolution have developed nicely
Both the Revolution and Kansas City Wizards brought in reinforcements in recent months. Both teams shopped in many of the same places, but produced different results.
Judging by their 3-1 win over the Wizards Wednesday night, the Revolution might have come up with the better bargains.
Gambian teenagers Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi produced goals and Honduran midfielder Mauricio Castro's free kicks set up two scores for the Revolution. Meanwhile, though the Wizards' veteran Argentines exhibited some stylish soccer and threatened offensively, they simply did not produce enough.
Midway through last season, the Revolution brought in Mansally and Nyassi and the Wizards added forward Eloy Colombano, 24. Both teams have 26-year-old, left-footed central midfielders, the Revolution signing Castro last month and the Wizards inking Carlos Marinelli last year. The Wizards seemed to have pulled off a coup with Claudio "El Piojo" Lopez as a designated player this year, the Revolution failing to sign any Argentine prospects and being turned down by other prospective high-priced talent.
There are many more games to be contested, tomorrow's matches - the Revolution host Colorado and the Wizards host Houston - just another gauge.
But the Revolution's performance in Kansas City boosted morale and bolstered confidence in the team's tactics and methods of player development. The result also pulled the Revolution (2-1-0, 6 points) into a tie with the Wizards for first place in the Eastern Conference.
Neither Lopez nor Marinelli was able to control the tempo, though both were involved in buildups in midfield. And when Lopez and Marinelli did break free, they either allowed defenders to recover, lost control of the ball with long touches (Lopez), or misfired from close range (Marinelli).
The speed of Mansally and Nyassi allowed them to capitalize on breakdowns. If Mansally or Nyassi did go past an opposing player, there was no catching up, at least in the first half, when all the goals were scored.
The result was determined by the Revolution's success on the wings and Castro's laser-guided free kicks. The sequence leading to Nyassi's goal started on the left wing, Mansally freeing Khano Smith for a run into the penalty area, Nyassi finishing in the 33d minute. Seven minutes later, Nyassi went past Marinelli, who was cautioned for taking him down, and Mansally finished Castro's free kick.
The Revolution, instead of playing conservatively in an attempt to avoid a disastrous start (they gave up a goal and lost a player to a red card in the first seven minutes of a 4-0 loss at Chicago April 3), attacked aggressively from a 3-5-2 formation.
The Wizards adjusted in the second half, bringing in Chance Myers, 20, at left back to counter Nyassi. Myers, the No. 1 choice in this year's MLS draft, might have won a starting position with his performance. But the Wizards were 45 minutes late in adding young defensive prospects. The Revolution had Amaechi Igwe, 19, starting at left back in an impressive professional debut. Igwe was also a first-round draft choice, the No. 12 pick last year, but had been serving an apprenticeship until replacing Chris Albright (ankle) in the lineup.
"He was solid," Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said of Igwe. "Once he calmed down, he played well. We know what he brings to the table and they expect a lot from him because he was a first-round draft pick.
"The young guys are inexperienced, a little immature. But they work hard in practice and that shows on the field. Plus, they add that passion."
Argenis Fernandez, who joined the Revolution just before kickoff Wednesday, scored in the 30th and 69th minutes in a 2-2 tie with the Wizards in a reserve game yesterday. Ryan Pore (22d) and Geoff Miles (81st) scored for the Wizards. 