MLS-2-Infinity at Yahoo Sports
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by MLS.net staff

The New England Revolution and Columbus Crew split four first-half
goals - then saw all the scoring dry up - as the teams settled for a
2-2 draw on Saturday afternoon at Gillette Stadium.
Kyle Martino opened the scoring for the Crew in the 20th minute,
before Steve Ralston leveled terms in the 28th minute from the
penalty spot. Two headers on free kicks in first-half stoppage time,
from the Crew's Edson Buddle and Pat Noonan of the Revolution,
finished the scoring.

The Revolution started brightly, spreading the pitch and attacking
with vigor in the first 10 minutes. But the match settled, and
Columbus gradually wrested control from the home side and had the
first quality chance. Manny Lagos went close in the 15th minute, as
Duncan Oughton found Lagos ghosting in at the far post, but he
pushed his header just past the post.

Five minutes later, defensive miscues by the Revolution and a
slashing run by Kyle Martino staked the Crew to the lead. A poor
pass out of the back by Jay Heaps was intercepted by Martino, who
wriggled free from both Steve Ralston and a desperate Heaps lunge to
fire past Matt Reis from just outside the area.

The Revolution answered seven minutes later through a questionable
penalty decision against the visitors. A teasing ball from Jose
Cancela over the top of the Crew defense was chased down by Taylor
Twellman. As Crew 'keeper Jon Busch charged off his line, there was
contact between Twellman and Busch -- and referee Kevin Terry
pointed to the spot. Ralston coolly sent Busch the wrong way to
level the score.

After a long period where both teams struggled to cope with the
match, neither creating many clear-cut scoring opportunities, the
game suddenly exploded.

Buddle snapped the match from its stupor after the 45-minute mark
rolled over with glancing header that oozed of class. Buddle rose
high over the Revolution defense on a well-flighted Simon Elliott
free kick, sending his header to the far corner of Reis's net to
send the Crew in front.

But Noonan replied instantly to level the scores in startlingly
similar fashion. A well-struck free kick from Jose Cancela on the
right allowed Noonan to place a glancing header inside the far post
past the dive of Busch.

The second half was much less frantic than the first, with both
teams seemingly fatigued from their first half exertions. The
Revolution failed to maintain any sort of possession, while Columbus
failed to create chances in the final third.

Rusty Pierce made his long-awaited return to the Revolution lineup
in the 77th minute, slotting into his familiar role in central
defense after missing nearly the entire season with a thigh injury.

The telling chance of the second half fell to Crew right wingback
Frankie Hejduk in the 80th minute. Kyle Martino placed the ball from
a corner kick into the run of an unmarked Hejduk, but the veteran
U.S. international scuffed his glorious chance well wide.

Neither side truly forced the issue to the end, though Columbus
tried to attack by sending on Jeff Cunningham in 81st minute. Crew
head coach Greg Andrulis also sent on Danny Szetela in the 85th
minute for his professional debut.

MLSnet.com Man of the Match: Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew)

Columbus Crew (6-5-7) vs. New England Revolution (4-8-7)
August 8, 2004 - Gillette Stadium

Scoring Summary:
CLB -- Kyle Martino 3 (unassisted) 20
NE -- Steve Ralston 2 (penalty kick) 28
CLB -- Edson Buddle 6 (Simon Elliott 4) 46+
NE -- Pat Noonan 7 (Jose Cancela 6) 48+

Columbus Crew -- Jon Busch, Duncan Oughton, Robin Fraser, Chad
Marshall, Frankie Hejduk, Simon Elliott, Ross Paule (Danny Szetela
85), Chris Wingert (Jeff Cunningham 81), Manny Lagos (Brian
Maisonneuve 59), Edson Buddle, Kyle Martino

Substitutes not used: Matt Jordan, Nelson Akwari.

SHOTS: 6; SHOTS ON GOAL: 4; FOULS: 17; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 5;
SAVES: 6.

New England Revolution -- Matt Reis, Joe Franchino, Avery John, Jay
Heaps, Steve Ralston, Brian Kamler (Rusty Pierce 77), Jose Cancela
(Andy Dorman 81),Shalrie Joseph, Richie Baker (Felix Brillant 66),
Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan

Substitutes not used: Doug Warren, Luke Vercollone, Perek Belleh,
Bobby Thompson

SHOTS: 13; SHOTS ON GOAL: 8; FOULS: 7; OFFSIDES: 2; CORNER KICKS: 7;
SAVES: 2.

Discipline:
CLB -- Edson Buddle (caution; Reckless Foul) 19
CLB -- Jon Busch (caution; Interference (GK or Throw-in)) 28
NE -- Steve Ralston (caution; Pushing, Holding) 45

Referee: Kevin Terry
Referee's Assistants: Thomas Supple; Chip Reed
4th Official: Erich Simmons
Time of Game: 90:00
Weather: Partly Cloudy -and- 68 degrees
Attendance: 9,156