New England Revolution 3, Sporting KC 1 | MLS Match Recap

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Taking advantage of a depleted Sporting KC side, New England bounced back from an early deficit, with Lee Nguyen coming through with two second half goals to once gain propel the Revs to victory, 3-1, on Wednesday night.

Not long after knotting the game just before halftime, the Revs responded to the second half whistle when Kelyn Rowe, after patiently holding up along the left side, found Nguyen streaking in. At the top of the box the New England midfielder calmly collected and fired, curling a beauty into the top right of the net past the diving Andy Gruenebaum in the 48^th minute for his 11^th goal of the season.

Nguyen would ice the game with his 12^th goal in stoppage time, one created by his own defensive effort, forcing a turnover and working with Patrick Mullins and shooting low to the far post.

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Despite leading scorer Dom Dwyer and leading assist man Benny Feilhaber both serving one-game suspension for yellow card accumulation, Sporting came out swinging, landing the first blow early, making the start to Jermaine Jones’ home debut a bit inauspicious as the Revs designated player found himself on the wrong side of a throw-in.

As Jones's former USMNT teammate Matt Besler unloaded a long entry pass from the sidelines just above the left corner, Jones got his head on the ball at the near post, only to deflect it straight back where Sonny Saad headed it home at the far post for a 1-0 lead in the 9^th minute.

Much of the rest of the first half would play into the hands of the officials who handed out four yellows including one each to Teal Bunbury and Seth Sinovic who were at each other’s heels all night.

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That matchup would become a factor before the teams headed to the locker rooms, as would Jones.

With New England’s ability to build up anything near invisible, Jones unleashed a beautiful diagonal pass from midfield to the feet of Bunbury who squared up against Sinovic, worked past the defender and despite being prodded and pulled the whole way, got off a shot that deflected off of Besler and in, squaring the match in the 45^th minute.

It was Bunbury’s second goal of the season against his old mates while Jones, who was subbed off at the start of the second half, picked up his first MLS assist in his first start.

Sporting KC looks to halt a three game losing streak with a Saturday night date at New York Red Bulls, while the Revs look to keep the momentum of a three match winning streak rolling at home against the Chicago Fire on Sunday.

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