Nguyen Lifts Revolution To Important 3-1 Home Win

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Wednesday, September 03, 2014

Matt LaPan, GoLocal Worcester Sports Reporter

The atmosphere around Gillette Stadium was electric on Wednesday night. Not only for Revolution soccer, but for the home debut and start of Jermaine Jones. Jones earned his first start as a member of the Revolution in the midfield and helped elevate the Revolution to a massive 3-1 Revolution win.

"I was excited to start [Jermaine]. We were working on a plan here, and his plan was [to play] 45 minutes tonight," Revolution coach Jay Heaps said when talking about Jones following the game. "I thought he was really good. It was different because they were pressing him so he didn't get a ton of the ball. But when he was able to make a play he made the goal."

The Revolution looked to once again open the scorebook early, getting their first shot in just the 2nd minute. The shot was set up by a solid defensive play by Lee Nguyen, as he got a steal and laid the ball off for Diago Kobayashi. Kobayashi fired a shot from about 20 yards out, but it sailed wide to the right of the net.

It was Sporting Kansas City, however, that collected the early goal. The goal came off a long throw-in by Matt Besler. The ball was deflected back by Jermaine Jones, and ended up in a perfect spot for Soony Saad to head home the opening goal, making it 1-0 Sporting KC.

"Our entire game plan was not to give up a long throw-in goal," Heaps said when asked about the play. "That's where they're getting a lot of their offense. So it was a little deflating. But that was, what I think, we rallied around. Teal [Bunbury] in particular.

"From that moment on, he was a different player."

"That was my bad," Bunbury said "I lost my marker and that shouldn't happen. I just wanted to make it right." Bunbury did make it right at the end of the 1st half.

The Revolution broke through in the 45th minute, getting the equalizer from Teal Bunbury. Bunbury brought down a great long cross from Jermaine Jones and battled with Seth Sinovic before putting a strong shot on target. The shot deflected off Matt Besler and into the Sporting KC net to tie the game at 1-1. The assist was awarded to Jones, his first point as a member of the Revolution. For Bunbury, it was his 4th goal of the season and 2nd against his former club.

"I spoke a lot with [Bunbury] to tell him, in training, that he has to find that gap behind the people," Jones said about the assist. "It was funny that we spoke yesterday, and before the game today and he scores a goal [on that play] after that."

The late goal led the Revs into the half level 1-1. The Revs held a 6-3 advantage in shots with a 3-2 advantage in shots on target. The Revs also held an edge in possession, 54.8% to 45.2%. The half saw four yellow cards, two by each team and was extremely physical.

Jermaine Jones saw his night come to an end at halftime, as Steve Neumann entered the game for Jones following the half. "Halftime, I asked him to stay in," Jones said about the decision to play him 45 minutes. "It was perfect. The team came back and we won the game. So we look for the next game."

The Revolution got the 2nd half started with a bang as they found the net in the 48th minute by none other than Lee Nguyen. Nguyen netted his team-leading 11th goal of the season on a perfect ball from Kelyn Rowe. Nguyen delivered a shot that was nearly unstoppable in the upper right corner, giving the Revolution the 2-1 lead. Rowe was credited with the assist on the goal.

"I think Lee is showing you what he can do," Heaps said when asked about Nguyen's night. "We've seen it for a while, and you guys see it game in and game out. But we see it every day. He is really special. He's got the quickest feet in the league and if you give him a little space he can hit the ball as good as anyone."

Nguyen was back on the attack in the 55th minute. Nguyen got the ball and made a run from near midfield before delivering another strong shot, this time from about 25 yards out. The shot appeared to be destined for the net but Gruenebaum made a great diving save to keep it 2-1 Revs.

Sporting KC nearly found the equalizer off a free kick opportunity in the 58th minute. Graham Zusi laid off the ball to Soony Saad, who unleashed a low, powerful blast that was just inches away from being the equalizer.

The Revs were still looking for a goal in the 87th minute, when Patrick Mullins ripped a shot from distance. The shot appeared destined for the goal but again Gruenebaum made a great save.

The Revs did find the net one final time as in stoppage time at the end of the game Lee Nguyen found the net again. Nguyen and Mullins played a great back-and-forth before Nguyen hammered in his second of the game and 12th of the season.

Although Sporting KC put pressure throughout the four minutes of stoppage time, the deficit was too much. "I thought it was a hard fought match, all around," Heaps. "I was really pleased with the way we handled the game, coming back." 

The Revolution took the 3-1 win, improving to 36 points with an 11-12-3 record. The Revolution defense was able to held Sporting KC to just two shots on target, and just one following the 7th minute goal. "It was a team performance," Heaps said following the game. "I thought [our back line] were really solid. A.J. [Soares] in particular, along with [Andrew] Farrell, Joes [Goncalves] and Darrius [Barnes]. All of them battled." The Revolution have a short break before taking the Gillette Stadium turf again, hosting the Chicago Fire on Sunday.

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Related Slideshow: New England Revolution vs. Sporting Kansas City - 09/03/2014

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