The New England Revolution took on Sporting Kansas City in a Eastern Conference showdown at Gillette Stadium.  The Revs currently are on a 3 game unbeaten streak (2 wins 1 tie), and 3-1-1 since breaking the 8 game losing streak from the summer.   Sitting in 3rd place in the east with 33 point (10-12-3), this game vs SKC will be difficult as they sit in 2nd place in the east at 42 points (12-8-6).    Even though SKC have done well this season, they will be playing without forward Dom Dwyer (17 goals scored this season), midfielder Benny Feilhaber, defender Ike Opara and defender Chance Myers, who are either suspended or hurt.    These players are normally starters for SKC.    All the Revs remaining games are vs Eastern conference teams so every game will be ” a do or die situation “, and this game vs SKC will be a big test.

We will also see the first start of World Cup star Jermaine Jones for the Revolution. It will be curious to see is how manager Jay Heaps will juggle the lineup in the midfield, who will sit, start, or see their playing time reduced. What will also be interesting to see is how the Revs play with Jones in the line-up, and who benefits from his presence in the lineup, and how well he can play with his new teammates.

PRE GAME OPINION:

with 3 games unbeaten and currently occupying a playoff spot, the Revs right now do look good and are starting to warm up at the right time for the end of season playoff push. With that losing streak now long behind them and Jermaine in the lineup, I feel more optimistic about the Revs chances of making the playoffs. They will need to continue to play good defense and get more scoring from their starting striker if they want to win, cant depend too much on Lee Nguyen who leads team with 10 goals.

During game:

  • Diego Fagundez does not start for second game in a row, Jermaine Jones got his first
  • Kelyn Rowe played left side where Diego normally plays
  • SKC scored first 9th minute , long throw in that Jermaine tried to clear with head but flicked on to Soony Saad who heads it in
  • game got chippy 4 yellow cards were shown in first half, 2 for each team
  • Teal ties game before half time with a shot deflected off Matt Besler, Jermaine Jones provided long pass for assist
  • Jermaine Jones came off at halftime, not ready for 90 minutes of soccer
  • Rowe assist Lee Nguyen’s 11th goal of the season to take 2-1 lead early in 2nd half
  • Mullins assisted 3rd goal scored by Lee Nguyen (again for number 12 of the season)
  • few other attacks and shots, but Revs looking more dangerous to score
  • Revs won 3-1 final


 

My  post game with interview with Lee Nguyen, have a listen:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QM5Ik0FfbFQ&w=420&h=315]

Jermaine Jones post game (no questions asked by me):

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SaimODWFYY&w=420&h=315]

  • It was planned for Jermaine to play only 45 minutes today, naturally at half time he asked to stay longer but was denied
  • starting to wonder how much playing time Diego will get going forward?

Final score is your Revolution over SKC 3-1.   Revs went down within 10 minutes when Sony Saad headed in a deflected header from Jermaine Jone, as he was trying to clear a long throw in.  The Revs hung on and tied it just before halftime.     Sporting KC were not much of a threat in the 2nd half, and the Revs ended up with the win. Another game where striker was not much involved, but this is to be expected when playing with a solo striker up top. Revs are 5-1-1 when starting striker scores a goal. Despite SKC not having their top goal scorer and starting mids, the Revs put on a good display. Their winning streak is now at 4 games (3 wins 1 tie). With less than 10 games to go the Revs have gotten hot, and at the right time, whether or not they can maintain it is yet to be seen. As it stands, Revs are alone in 3rd place in the east, 3 points ahead of Philly who are on the outside looking in.  Their next game is this Sunday night at home vs Chicago, who need to start winning.