FOXBROUGH - Revolution has had little success in the CONCACAF Champions League. But after a 3-0 win over UNAM Pumas on Wednesday night, they are a game away from advancing to the semi-finals.
Sébastien Lelet (19th minute) and Adam Buxa (72nd, 90th) converted for the Revolution as they secured their first victory in the tournament since a "home" game played in Costa Rica in 2003. The return leg of the total goals series is scheduled for next Wednesday in Mexico City.
The Revolution received a warm welcome from the Pumas, a match played in freezing temperatures and snow, which turned into freezing rain. Revolution set the tone in the opening half, then stopped Puma in the second half and added to the lead on the counterattack.
Lelet opened the scoring with a back post finish after a sequence starting on the left wing. Gustavo Bu touches DeJuan Jones, then Carles Gil lays down Llette, making a late run in the penalty area.
The Revolution's high-pressure tactics limited Puma's ability to play off the back. And Puma seemed content to absorb strikes and counter in the opening half, nearly breaking apart as Juan DiNeno overtook Omar Gonzalez and went alone on Earl Edwards Jr., who saved in the 28th minute.
Pumas came out on attack in the second half, and after adding Washington Corzo and Diogo de Oliveira, Edwards made a point-blank save in the 71st minute. Buxa took the lead from a high pass from Gil, finished at the close post after his opening shot by Alfredo Talavera was blocked in the 72nd minute, and ended things after a Gil feed in the second minute of extra time. .
"It's a 180-minute game, basically," said Revolution sports director/head coach Bruce Arena. "Away goals count - CONCACAF is almost a year behind the rest of the world on this stuff. Scoring was important as well as not conceding. So we go to Mexico City with a little padding but it's not going to be easy If we're to blame for something it's not getting more goals. The third goal at the end of the game was huge because 2-nil is actually inviting this team next Wednesday, not that they This goal will not be prepared to make up the difference.
Overview of Wednesday's game:
Arena's proactive strategy paid off for Revolution, which capitalized on Puma's conservative, five-defender, setup in the opening half. Puma abandoned a cautious approach in the second half, leaving more room for revolution, which took advantage of the lead on two counterattacks. Pumas coach Andres Lilini's strategy may have paid off, but Edwards saved Rosario de Oliveira in the 71st minute. Lillini said that Puma made a mistake by playing with a "five-man back line" and that the defending revolution at the corner could be questioned, as Jones guarded the pass keeping Rosario in the side.
Winter weather and Gillette's artificial turf worked in the revolution's favor, but the Puma are hoping for an advantage at their home turf and Mexico City's 7,000-foot elevation and expected strong fan support to help them recover at home . Puma retaliated after a 2-2 draw in the first leg with CD Saprisa, winning the home leg 4-1 in the previous round.
"I thought our guys weren't too bothered by it," Arena said of the weather. "We didn't get any advantage. We haven't even practiced in the snow, so it was as challenging for us as it was for our opponent, but it looks like we've made better adjustments." Gill on terms: "Difficult. I've never had that kind of game. We know it was tough for both the teams so we tried to play easy and try to keep the space behind the defense and many crosses, you know. The second half, without snow, was better to play. ,
A period of silence was observed before the game in memory of the disturbance at the stadium in Queretaro during a Liga MX game last week, which led to the postponement of Sunday's Puma-Mazatlan game. Mexican teams may also recognize the Tuesday death of former national team captain Tomas "El Jefe" Boy, 69, who coached Morelia to a 2-1 win over Revolution in the 2010 North American Superliga final at Gillette.
The Revolution, who meet Real Salt Lake in a league game on Saturday, went on to improve 8-1-1 against Liga MX teams, with all 10 matches played at home. The Revolution has held pre-season training camps in Mexico, going 3–0–0 against Liga MX teams in Guadalajara in 1998 and 0–1–0 in Cancun in 2006.