RSL • Referees' calls stir outcries

Penalty • Defemder Borchers gets red card just 3 minutes in.

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A very controversial red card on RSL defender Nat Borchers caused quite a ruckus in Rio Tinto Stadium on Monday night as it swung the early momentum toward the New England Revolution.

Replays on the stadium's video screen clearly showed Borchers getting around Revolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber, but officials gave Borchers a red card that ejected him in the third minute.

"I don't agree with it obviously and I think it's a tough call," said Borchers. "But I thought the guys moved on with it well and [I] was really impressed with the way we reacted after it."

Rejko Lekic was awarded the penalty kick that whizzed past RSL goalie Nick Rimando's right shoulder, giving the Revolution forward his third goal of the season and his team an early 1-0 lead.

Borcher's red card was his first in MLS play with RSL, and his first in 108 league matches since he played with the Colorado Rapids in a September matchup with the L.A. Galaxy in 2005. The red card was the earliest in RSL history, ousting Jack Stewart's that took place in the eighth minute in an August game against the New York Red Bulls in 2006.

A tad bit of justice was granted to RSL in the 57th minute when Revolution defender Ryan Cochrane was given a red card after receiving his second yellow of the day.

"To be honest with you, I have nothing to say about the referees," said Revolution coach Steve Nichol. "If you don't have anything good to say, you better not say nothing. You all saw the game and you can report on it, but I'm not saying anything."

But even after the craziness and frustration was over, including a Fabian Espindola goal in the 83rd minute, RSL was unable to score again as the game ended in a 3-3 tie. The all-time series now stands in RSL's favor with six wins, four losses, and four ties.