FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – In the second leg of Sunday's Eastern Conference Semifinals match-up between the New England Revolution and Columbus Crew, the first goal was always going to be the most crucial.
With a two-goal advantage coming in, the Revolution knew that scoring first would be crushing to a Crew team that had to push hard to erase a 4-2 first-leg deficit with an opener of their own at Gillette Stadium.
So during a scoreless first half, New England head coach Jay Heaps saw an opportunity to take advantage of the Crew's penchant to push forward, and had wingers Kelyn Rowe and Teal Bunbury swap flanks.
Heaps and the club were rewarded when Bunbury’s efforts on the left side set up the game’s first goal in the 43rd minute and it ultimately paved the way for a 3-1 win that saw the Revolution move on to the Eastern Conference Championship against the New York Red Bulls.
“Around the 30th minute we had to a make a switch between Kelyn and Teal just because we felt Kelyn could pinch a little bit more,” said Heaps. “I felt like they were dropping [Justin] Meram in and putting him more as a midfielder, creating more of a 3-5-2. That was the talk right before half on the field.”
Heaps also knew that the switch would provide Bunbury with more room on the left side of the field, and it was the winger’s speed that set up the opening salvo for the Revolution.
Collecting the ball on the Crew's back line, Bunbury’s initial cross was blocked and bounced right back to him. Then, with a step to his right and plenty of time to see things develop, he flicked it over the top of three defenders, finding a streaking Lee Nguyen, who buried it home from just outside the six-yard box.
“I was a little bit surprised,” Bunbury said of the time he had to set up the play. “I was sitting there and I thought for sure I was going to be under a little bit more pressure. Lee had a great finish. That was an important goal for us.”
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More than just setting up the goal that truly put his club in the driver’s seat, Bunbury also showed strong work ethic throughout the match and his ability to switch spots in the middle of the game was seamless. It was while operating on the left side that Bunbury also added the final goal of the game in the 77th minute (WATCH IT HERE).
“It’s not too much different than the right side to be honest,” Bunbury said. "It’s the same defending, you’re getting forward, trying to make runs in behind, keep possession. I felt fine out there.”
Added Heaps: “His soccer sense was really good tonight and he’s really fast and he can make the play when he gets through. That’s what we love about him.”
Craig Forde covers the New England Revolution for MLSsoccer.com.
