The New York Red Bulls trail the New England Revolution, 1-0, after 45 minutes of play in Foxborough.
Red Bulls head coach Jesse Marsch sent out a new-look starting XI at Gillette Stadium. New York had the need for fresh legs entering its third match in seven days.
Four players made their first starts of the season – Connor Lade and Karl Ouimette on the back line, Dane Richards and Sean Davis in the midfield – while some of the early season fire power in Bradley Wright-Phillips and Lloyd Sam started on the bench.
The Revolution opened the scoring in the ninth minute, when a long cross from the right wing found the head of Charlie Davies at the edge of the six yard box. Davies redirected the ball, leaving Red Bulls’ ‘keeper Luis Robles no time to react.
The Red Bulls best chance of the half came in the 38th minute, when a Kemar Lawrence cross was headed down by Dane Richards into the path of forward Mike Grella. Grella took an early swing at an unsettled ball and could not find the frame.
Minutes later Davis found Felipe at the top of the box, but his shot was handled easily by New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth.
The Red Bulls settled into the game after giving up a few chances in the early going, and will look to carry that momentum into the second half to keep the unbeaten streak alive.
