Edgaras Jankauskas' first MLS goal salvaged a 1-1 draw for the New England Revolution against a 10-man Toronto FC at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night.
Jankauskas slid home a Shalrie Joseph knockdown on 76 minutes to hand the Revs a point after Dwayne De Rosario's sublime first-time volley had given TFC the lead in the 34th minute. TFC played the last 40 minutes down a man after Chad Barrett collected his second yellow card for a tackle, but managed to weather the pressure to secure its first-ever point at Gillette Stadium.
New England head coach Steve Nicol made two changes to the side that won 1-0 in Houston last Saturday. Jay Heaps came in at left back after returning to the Revolution from U.S. national team duty at the CONCACAF Gold Cup, while Jankauskas shook off a hamstring complaint to make his first MLS start. Shalrie Joseph (knee), Pat Phelan and Chris Tierney all had to settle for a place on the bench as the Revs attempted to keep their unbeaten streak against Toronto at Gillette Stadium (3-0-0) alive.
Influential playmaker Amado Guevara had to settle for a place on the Toronto FC bench after failing to overcome a rib complaint. Guevara's absence forced TFC into one change from last Saturday's 3-2 loss in Columbus, with Sam Cronin restored to the lineup after his stint with the United States at the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Adrian Serioux shook off the knee injury that kept him out of TFC's 1-0 loss to Puerto Rico in the first leg of its CONCACAF Champions League qualifying round tie on Wednesday night, but Nana Attakora (hamstring) wasn't fit enough to make the trip.
New England started the better of the two sides, pressing TFC back into their own half and probing for an early goal. Aside from a few long heaves into the box and Jeff Larentowicz's header over the bar from Steve Ralston's free kick after 11 minutes, the Revs didn't really have much to show for it.
The visitors gradually came into the game and started to ask questions of a Revolution defense that hadn't been breached in 352 minutes entering the contest. De Rosario's through pass played Ali Gerba behind the defense, but the Montreal native's first touch pushed the ball too far around Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis and his resulting dive drew a yellow card.
Toronto continued to grow into the match and hit the bar on 20 minutes. De Rosario's dummy set up Jim Brennan on the left side. Brennan's cross found Pablo Vitti at the far post and the Argentinean steered his header off the bar.
De Rosario gave Toronto the lead on 34 minutes just one minute after the Revolution had established a new club record by going 385 minutes without conceding. Barrett cut in from the left side and fired towards goal, but his effort deflected off Gerba's head and out to De Rosario on the right side. De Rosario reacted quickest and rifled his first time volley into the far side netting.
New England probably should have responded three minutes later after Kevin Alston ran towards the penalty area and played a ball through to Kheli Dube. Dube pulled his pass back to Jankauskas, but the Lithuanian's first touch let him down and the chance went begging.
Revolution boss Steve Nicol sent Joseph on at halftime after watching his team lose the midfield battle during the first half. Joseph slotted into central midfield alongside Larentowicz with Ralston pushing up top and Dube taking a seat on the bench.
The match changed significantly five minutes into the second half when Barrett collected his second yellow card. Barrett and Alston had tussled on a few occasions in the first half with Barrett picking up a yellow card for a 36th minute foul. Referee Terry Vaughn had enough when Barrett's late tackle on Alston sent the Revolution defender tumbling.
New England sent on Mike Videira for Emmanuel Osei and switched to a 3-5-2 formation with just under a half-hour to play in an attempt to get extra bodies into the attacking third. As expected, the Revs enjoyed the majority of the possession, but they struggled to find the creative spark to break down the compact TFC defense.
TFC's resistance finally broke in the 76th minute as Jankauskas registered his first MLS goal. Heaps wriggled free on the left side and floated a cross to the far post. Joseph rose highest and knocked the ball down towards the far post. Jankauskas reacted quickest and slid home the loose ball.
Amadou Sanyang came on moments before the goal for his MLS debut and it took the Gambian defender just four minutes to make an impression with a stunning tackle to deny Wells Thompson as he shaped to shoot from 12 yards.
Vaughn dismissed Nicol in the 90th minute to compound the Revolution's frustration as the home side had to settle for a point.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.
