The New England Revolution gave up the tying goal in the final minute of stoppage time in an inexplicable 2-2 draw with Austin FC on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Austin midfielder Alex Ring scored his first of the season in the fourth minute of stoppage time that nullified a phenomenal effort by Revs forward Tomas Chancalay, who scored two goals in his second MLS start.
The Revolution (13-5-8) extended their record home unbeaten streak to 10-0-4 on a bad note. The Revolution went 1-1-1 in three games in eight days and will play the next three on the road beginning with Minnesota United FC on Sept. 9.
Interim head coach Richie Williams (1-1-1) made his third straight MLS start as field manager in place of Bruce Arena, who remains on indefinite administrative leave pending an investigation by MLS for making “insensitive and inappropriate remarks.”
“We should have gotten three points and at the end of the game we didn’t manage the game,” said Williams. “All we had to do was dribble the ball to the corner and kill the time off the clock and they shouldn’t be shooting the ball on goal at that moment.”
Williams went after Austin FC with primarily the same Starting XI that produced a 1-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls in the middle match of the three-game set at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 30. Giacomo Vrioni was prudently paired up top with Chancalay, who started in place of striker Gustavo Bou (right leg injury).
The back end was bolstered by the return of center back Andrew Farrell, who missed the last two games with an undisclosed injury.
“He (Chancalay) did great, he is playing really well and obviously he scored two big goals for us,” said Williams. “He is adjusting well and fitting in and he is slowly getting better each game.”
Homegrown midfielder Noel Buck began the game on the sideline and joined the fray in the 71st minute. Buck will depart for Spain after the game to join the England’s Under-19 Men’s National Team for a pair of friendlies against Germany on Wednesday and Switzerland on Sept. 9.
The Revs brought the game to AFC keeper Brad Stuver in the early going. Stuver made an excellent stop of Carles Gil, who fired an uncontested shot from the top of the box in the eighth minute.
AFC scored first in the 27th minute. Midfielder Emiliano Rigoni got a centering pass from Jan Gallagher and redirected the ball over Revs’ keeper Earl Edwards for his fourth of the season.
The Revolution’s response was fast and furious in the 28th minute. Ian Harkes fired a cross through the box that elude two AFC defenders and found Chancalay unattended on the left side. Chancalay was quick on the ball and kicked it home for his first of the season. The Revolution enjoyed a 14-4 advantage in shots after one.
“They scored the first goal and we had a great reaction to get the goal back,” said Williams.
The Revolution went up 2-1 when Chancalay scored in the 47th minute. Nacho Gil sent a perfect cross that Chancalay redirected into the goal. Chancalay exited the game to a huge ovation in the 86th minute.