The New England Revolution had to wait nearly an extra two hours before they could start their defense of the 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup crown. The wait was worth it as the Revolution romped to a 3-0 victory against USL Second Division club Richmond Kickers on Tuesday night at Veterans Stadium in New Britain, Conn.
Sam Brill opened the scoring with a thunderous header befitting the weather moments after the break. Joe Germanese and Taylor Twellman added goals as a reserve-laden side outclassed the Kickers to schedule a quarterfinal date with Crystal Palace Baltimore on July 8 in New Britain.
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol opted to play his first-choice strikers in front of a reserve-laden lineup. Kenny Mansally and Taylor Twellman, trying to find the chemistry together after each missed the past month, played alongside each other. For reserves like Chris Tierney and Chase Hilgenbrinck, the match gave them an opportunity to assert their first-team credentials.
Richmond named former Revolution midfielder Luke Vercollone in its starting lineup. Vercollone played for the Revolution in 2004 and 2005. Former D.C. United midfielder Mike Burke also started on the right wing for the USL-2 side.
The Revolution gained possession from the opening whistle, passing the ball around comfortably and testing veteran 'keeper Ronnie Pascale with a long-range effort or two on the drenched surface.
But the Kickers tried to push forward as well, collecting multiple offside calls for their adventure and generating a couple of chances of their own. Adrian Bumbut rattled the side of the net after his sharp-angle shot deflected into the side of the net. Then Doug Warren, making only his fifth appearance for the team in his fourth season with the team, showed his alertness by rushing off his line to clear after a through pass split the Revolution defense.
Richmond should have taken the lead on 23 minutes after Burke's left-wing cross found the open Stanley Nyazamba eight yards from goal, but the Zimbabwean fluffed his effort and the danger dissipated.
New England responded as Twellman tried to shake off his rust with a subtle chip over the Kickers defense, but the effort hit Mansally in the back as he streaked through on goal. More out of character was Twellman's mangling of a Tierney cross at the far post after the ball missed everyone and fell invitingly to the striker at the far post.
Brill didn't miss on Tierney's corner kick less than a minute after halftime as the inevitable goal finally arrived.
The Kickers tried to get back into the contest, but a smart save from Doug Warren denied Bumbut again after a tidy counterattack.
There would be no magical comeback for Richmond after Germanese slotted home at the far post from Chase Hilgenbrinck's diagonal ball.
Twellman finally found net soon afterwards with a predatory finish of another Tierney cross from the left side. Twellman was denied another goal soon afterwards after skying for a header only to see his goalbound header cleared off the line.
The match petered out comfortably as the Kickers made wholesale changes after playing twice at the weekend and the Revs played out time to ensure a quarterfinal date in a week's time.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
