FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Khano Smith snatched three points for the New England Revolution with the only goal of the game two minutes from time to give the Revs a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium.
New England enjoyed the run of play for most of the contest as Colorado looked content to stay compact in the back and counter attack. The tactic may have paid off if Smith had not cut inside Ugo Ihemelu in the 88th minute and poked an effort home through Bouna Coundoul's legs in order keep New England within four points of Eastern Conference-leading D.C. United.
For Colorado, the late concession served as a bitter shot to their playoff hopes after holding out for most of the contest and generating few chances while remaining stout at the back.
Colorado suffered a blow in mid-week after Herculez Gomez tore the anterior cruciate and meniscus ligaments in his right knee on training in Wednesday. Gomez will miss 6-9 months recovering after his impending surgery. Colorado restored Pablo Mastroeni and Facundo Erpen after suspension, and Mike Petke after shaking off an injury. Kosuke Kimura, Stephen Keel, and Mehdi Ballouchy missed out, with Kimura left in Colorado with the injured Conor Casey (knee).
Avery John (shin) and Taylor Twellman (groin) were out for New England with an eye towards Wednesday's U.S. Open Cup final in Frisco, Tex. James Riley and Adam Cristman earned recalls to starting lineup.
Bouna Coundoul nearly gifted New England the opener in the 9th minute. Coundoul's distribution handed Cristman a chance, but Cristman could only shoot directly into Coundoul's hands.
Ballouchy's demotion lasted only twelve minutes after Tony Sanneh limped off injured. The injury shone as one of the few notable moments in the early stages of a choppy, physical game. Neither side could assert itself or gain consistent possession of the ball.
Colorado carved out the first chance of the contest on 28 minutes. Jovan Kirovski deftly chipped over the Revolution defense into the run of Jacob Peterson. But Peterson couldn't manage, and had to drop the ball back into Kirovski's path. The former American international's shot skimmed harmlessly wide of the far post.
New England's best chance of the opening stanza arrived after Ballouchy felled Jay Heaps on the edge of the Colorado penalty area five minutes from the halftime whistle. Steve Ralston tried to nestle the resulting free kick into the lower far post corner but missed just wide.
After the interval, New England applied significant pressure onto a Colorado side willing to sit back in its own half and soak up New England attacks.
Andy Dorman came close on 55 minutes after his deflected effort ended in Coundoul's hands. Shalrie Joseph's header a minute later also found Coundoul's arms.
Joseph sent another header goalward in the 60th minute, but Petke cleared the header away before it could pass the goal line.
New England felt the momentum and Heaps pinched up into the attack and lashed just wide of the left hand post five minutes later.
Omar Cummings injected pace after coming on with 30 minutes to go and the Jamaican nearly gave his side a shock lead in the 71st minute. He rose to head towards goal, but Dorman cleared the header off the line.
Controversy reared its head in the 78th minute. With Coundoul caught adrift after Pat Noonan beat him to a ball along the end line and lofted over his head, Cristman appeared certain to finish into an open net only to fall to the ground with Facundo Erpen at close attention. Erpen looked to brush Cristman and the striker slipped off-balance before heading wide.
But Smith would have the last laugh in the 88th minute after Joseph played a ball in towards Ihemelu. The defender reacted slowly and Smith cut inside him to latch onto the ball. Smith bore down on goal before shooting through Coundoul's legs to seal three points for the Revolution.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
