FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The LA Galaxy dominated the ball, but the New England Revolution were the ones who found the net – repeatedly – as they demolished the defending champions by a 5-0 count at Gillette Stadium on Sunday.
Behind a goal and an assist from Fagundez and a goal and two assists from second-half substitute Kelyn Rowe, the Revs scored four times in the second 45 to win their third straight league game and left the shorthanded Galaxy wondering how their edge in possession failed to replicate their four-goal form from last weekend's rout of Seattle.
The final result spoke volumes about the Revolution's incisiveness and precision in the final third on a wonderful afternoon for the home side. Saer Sene celebrated his first start since August with his first goal since returning from an ACL tear. Lee Nguyen grabbed the second after 71 minutes to secure the result before Fagundez, Chad Barrett and Rowe struck in the late stages to complete the scoreline.
The visitors arrived less than an hour before kickoff due to heavy traffic in the Boston area. But despite missing starters Omar Gonzalez and Robbie Keane to international duty, they did not take long to assert control over the match in the early stages. Gyasi Zardes lashed off the side netting after just two minutes to sound a warning before Juninho forced Bobby Shuttleworth to parry over the bar.
Landon Donovan then squandered a pair of opportunities as the Galaxy attempted to translate their territorial dominance into the opening goal, but the home side eventually dashed those plans with the well-worked opener after 33 minutes.
Sene drifted into a vacant area on the right side and picked up the ball on the Revolution counter. The French striker cut inside and played a neat one-two with Fagundez on the edge of the penalty area. He capped off the move by latching onto the perfectly weighted return pass and slotting home off the far post.
The visitors regrouped after halftime and took control of the possession in a bid to procure the equalizer. Instead of finding a way to collect it, the Galaxy instead conceded in a manner that left Bruce Arena fuming on the sidelines.
OPTA Chalkboard: Galaxy dominate the ball with nothing to show for it
Arena and his players protested bitterly after referee Fotis Bazakos and assistant referee Adam Garner conflicted on a call between a Galaxy throw and a Revolution free kick. Bazakos overruled Garner's flag with his foul call and permitted Fagundez to play a quick free kick to catch out the visitors.
Nguyen entered the penalty area and tucked his effort through Tommy Meyer's legs and inside the near post to double the Revolution advantage.
Fagundez grabbed the goal his work on the day deserved three minutes from time after an enterprising run from the right side. Barrett nicked a goal against his former side in second-half stoppage time before Rowe offered the perfect ending with a sumptuous curling strike mere seconds before the final whistle.
New England improve to 5-4-4 with the win and pull even on points in the Eastern Conference with fifth-place Philadelphia. The Revolution next host reeling D.C. United on June 8.
LA, meanwhile, fall to 6-5-2 and remain in fourth place in the West, even on points with Colorado. The next head to Real Salt Lake, also on June 8.
