This is not the way the Kansas City Wizards wanted to head into a 17-day break.
New England used a dominating second-half performance to dispatch the Wizards, 2-0, on Thursday night at Gillette Stadium.
Pat Noonan and Adam Cristman wrought the damage for the home team, snapping the Wizards' four-match unbeaten streak (2-0-2).
"It was a very tight game," Wizards coach Curt Onalfo said. "Both teams had chances."
Those chances for Kansas City predominantly occurred in the first half, as the Wizards and the Revs traded blows searching for the opening goal.
Carlos Marinelli had a deflected effort pushed onto the right post in the 29th minute before the Revs put together three or four chances prior to the end of the first half. Both Matt Reis and Kevin Hartman kept their first-half sheets clean with multiple crucial saves to ensure the deadlock.
"I think both goalkeepers made some great saves," Onalfo said.
When the second half started, the Revolution grasped control quickly and Kansas City never recovered.
Noonan's 55th minute strike set into motion a twenty-minute period in which New England dominated possession and limited Kansas City's chances.
"Whatever they talked about at halftime, it worked," Wizards defender Jimmy Conrad said. "They limited our chances."
Hartman believed that his team just didn't apply enough pressure on the offensive end during that period.
"I don't think we threatened [the goal] as much as we could have," Hartman said.
The Wizards tried to push forward in the final 15 minutes in search of the equalizer, but did not create the necessary chances to earn a point.
"We started taking risks," Hartman said. "Unfortunately, we weren't able to find a goal."
Cristman sealed the Revs' victory in the 90th minute from a Steve Ralston cross to snap Kansas City's nine-match unbeaten streak at Gillette Stadium (5-0-4). Kansas City had not lost in Foxborough since 1999.
The loss dropped the Wizards four points behind the Revolution in the race for the Eastern Conference crown. Hartman believes that his team needs to find its consistency before it worries about ascending to the top of the standings.
"We keep talking about playing for first place," Hartman said. "No one's in first place until the end of the season when they hand out the Supporters' Shield."
Hartman and his teammates have an extended break to reflect. Onalfo said that his team will have four days off before returning to training.
Conrad said the break will be beneficial as the season enters the home stretch.
"It gives us some time to reflect," Conrad said. "It gives us a chance to rest our legs before we come into the stretch run."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
