Gambian teenagers Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally each scored first-half goals to lead the New England Revolution past the Kansas City Wizards, 3-1, on Wednesday night at CommunityAmerica Ballpark.
The loss was the first of the season for the Wizards (2-1-0, 6 pts.), who had won each of their first two matches at their temporary home.
New England was missing five regular starters for the match - Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, Chris Albright and Wells Thompson all didn't make the trip to Kansas City due to injuries, while Jeff Larentowicz was unavailable for selection while serving a one-game red-card suspension. As a result, Amaechi Igwe was handed his MLS debut with a start at left back, while second-year defensive midfielder Gary Flood made just his third career start.
The Revolution (2-1-0, 6 pts.) took a 1-0 lead courtesy of an own goal by Wizards midfielder Jack Jewsbury in the 12th minute. Shalrie Joseph's hard work earned a free kick for the Revs just outside Kansas City's 18-yard box, and Mauricio Castro swung a dangerous cross towards the center of the area. Jewsbury attempted to clear with his back to goal from six yards out, but he redirected the ball into the lower left corner of his own net.
Jewsbury redeemed himself in the 28th minute, as he converted a penalty kick to even the score at 1-1. The Wizards earned the spot-kick when Kurt Morsink was taken down in the box by Nyassi.
New England regained the lead in the 33rd minute through Nyassi, as the 19-year-old Gambian turned home a great Khano Smith cross to record his second goal of the season. Smith and Nyassi's fellow teenage Gambian, Mansally, played a 1-2 combination to send Smith in alone down the left flank. After dribbling all the way to the six-yard box and drawing Kansas City goalkeeper Kevin Hartman out, Smith slid a pass across the face of goal to Nyassi, who finished into the empty net.
The Revs' lead was extended to 3-1 in the 40th minute, as Mansally claimed his first career goal after a scramble in the box. Another long free kick from Castro was sent into the area, and after the ball popped free from a crowd of players, Mansally was on hand to finish from eight yards out.
Trailing by a pair of goals, the hosts began to push forward in the second half and created a number of early scoring chances, but were unable to beat Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis.
A 66th-minute substitution saw left back Chase Hilgenbrinck enter the match for Castro, altering New England's formation from a 3-5-2 to a more defensive 4-4-2 alignment. The move helped the Revolution close the Kansas City attack down and maintain the 3-1 win.
Reis made eight saves to preserve the lead, including several spectacular stops on point-blank shots.
The Revs will return home for their next match on Saturday, April 12, when they will host the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium at 7:30 p.m.
New England Revolution at Kansas City Wizards
April 9, 2008 - Kansas City, Kan. (CommunityAmerica Ballpark)
Scoring Summary
NE - Own Goal (Jack Jewsbury) 12
KC - Jack Jewsbury (penalty kick) 28
NE - Sainey Nyassi (Khano Smith, Kenny Mansally) 33
NE - Kenny Mansally (unassisted) 40
New England Revolution: Matt Reis, Amaechi Igwe, Michael Parkhurst, Jay Heaps, Khano Smith, Shalrie Joseph ©, Gary Flood (Joe Franchino 91+), Mauricio Castro (Chase Hilgenbrinck 66), Sainey Nyassi, Adam Cristman, Kenny Mansally
Substitutes Not Used: Doug Warren, Kheli Dube, Rob Valentino, Argenis Fernandez, Sam Brill
STATS: Shots 9; Shots on Goal 5; Saves 8; Corner Kicks 4; Offsides 1; Fouls Committed 14
Kansas City: Kevin Hartman, Michael Harrington (Chance Myers 46), Jimmy Conrad, Tyson Wahl (Eloy Colombano 75), Jonathan Leathers, Kurt Morsink, Kerry Zavagnin (Roger Espinoza 59), Carlos Marinelli, Jack Jewsbury, Scott Sealy, Claudio Lopez
Substitutes Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Aaron Hohlbein, Ivan Trujillo, Ryan Pore
STATS: Shots 16; Shots on Goal 8; Saves 2; Corner Kicks 10; Offsides 3; Fouls Committed 14
Misconduct Summary:
KC - Carlos Marinelli (caution) 39
Referee: Terry Vaughn
Referee's Assistants: CJ Morgante (SAR), Thomas Supple (JAR)
Fourth Official: Jorge Gonzalez
Time of Game: 1:57
Weather: Rain, 51 degrees
Attendance: 8,096
