Revs unlucky in 0-0 tie featuring horrible refereeing


By Sean Donahue


FOXBORO, MA. - The Revs (7-9-9) dominated against the Colorado
Rapids (11-9-5), but were unlucky to come away with only a tie. The
game wasn't too physical, yet referee Alex Prus doled out 3
ejections, only one was deserved. The Revs outshot the Rapids 19 to
5 in a game where they played a man up at two different points.



Taylor Twellman, playing for the first time in 3 games, recorded 9
shots and almost gave the Revs the lead in the 19th minute. Twellman
headed a Brian Kamler cross on target, but it was tipped over the
net by Rapids goalie Scott Garlick. Twellman was off his game a
little the whole match, missing some shots by inches, but played
very well considering he hadn't played in over 3 weeks.



The referee was beginning to lose control of the game and hadn't
given out any cards despite some fouls deserving them. In the 43rd
minute, Kyle Beckerman had a late tackle on the Rev's Jose Cancela.
The tackle seemed late rather than malicious and probably deserved a
yellow, but Alex Prus was quick to bring out the red and put the
Revs a man-up.



The advantage was short lived, as Kamler was ejected just 11 minutes
later. Kamler ran into Wes Hart as he was looking up at the ball. It
was a questionable foul, but some good acting from Hart not only
earned him the foul, but got Kamler, who hadn't been involved in any
bad fouls all night, ejected. Head Coach Steve Nicol says he will
try to get the league to appeal the call.



Taylor Twellman had earned the Revs a penalty kick in the 68th
minute, when he was fouled in the box. Twellman seemed to have been
hurt from the foul, but stepped up to take the PK anyways. Twellman
shot to the lower right hand corner, but Scott Garlick guessed right
and made the save. The Revs would continue to pressure the rest of
the half, but couldn't score and the game went into overtime.



Jay Heaps headed a corner kick on target and forced Garlick into a
diving save in the second minute of overtime. Heaps was taken down
by the referee later in the match when Prus was running with his arm
out to yell at a player. Prus didn't notice Heaps and knocked him
over. Prus had a horrible game as referee and the league should
seriously consider taking him out of the pool for the rest of the
season.



Pablo Mastreoni went studs up with both feet at Marshall Leonard in
the 94th minute. His actions warranted a straight red card, but Prus
gave him a yellow. Since he had received a yellow earlier, he was
ejected. Mastreoni took time to retie both his shoes before leaving
the field and Prus made no attempt to hurry him off.



The Revs remain in last place, but the tie brings them to within 1
point of Columbus for the last playoff spot. The Revs next face
Columbus on Sunday, September 28th in a critical match for both
teams.