New England Revolution sets a dubious MLS record against Atlanta United

Tonight, for the first time in MLS history a team finished a game having recorded no shots at all.

Having given Atlanta the lead less than 2 minutes into the contest, and graciously allowing that lead to increase to 3 goals and 2 men, the New England Revolution found themselves in a hopeless situation before the end of the first half.

With that kind of double deficit, they had no choice but to defend, doing a poor job of that too. In the process, they conceded any opportunity to score themselves and finished the game without even trying.

Interestingly, the Revolution were also on the wrong end of the first MLS game in which a team recorded no shots on goal. They weren't that team, though; the winning team, the Kansas City Wizards, failed to put a shot on frame, but won the game 4-3 in a penalty shootout. That was on July 16, 1997, back on the era when MLS did the American thing and disallowed draws.

A similar feat was achieved by the Seattle Sounders in last year's MLS Cup game, in which they went a full 120 minutes with only 3 shots off target. They also ended up winners in a penalty shootout.