Back in the press box at a cold and damp Gillette Stadium for tonight’s MLS match-up between the New England Revolution and Sporting Kansas.
Looking forward to seeing the newest Revs in action: Forward Rajko Lekic and midfielder Benny Feilhaber. New England will also have midfielders Shalrie Joseph and Pat Phelan back after both players missed the loss to Houston last weekend while serving one-game red-card suspensions for getting sent off against Real Salt Lake.
New England won six of its first 11 meetings with the KC in the all-time series, but the Revs have struggled since … the Revs are 6-15-8 in their last 29 meetings with Kansas City dating back to 2000.
Starting Line Ups
New England: Reis – Domi, Soares, Coria, Alston – Feilhaber, Joseph, McCarthy – Lekic, Perovic, Boggs
Sporting Kansas :Nielsen, Espinoza, Besler, Collin, Harrington, Diop, Arnaud, Stojcev, Sapong, Bunbury, Kamara
First Half
12th minute: Goal New England from Marko Perovic. Perovic got a hold off a pass from Feilhaber at the top of the 18. Good first assist for Feilhaber.
14th minute: Revs lead last two minutes as Kamara beats Reis at his near post. Bad goal to concede if you are NE.
Entertaining first half in New England ends all-tied up ay 1-1. Revs 4-4-2 formation is leaving them exposed the Sporting Kansas counter-attacks and there looks like more goals in this match.
Benny Feilhaber has added a touch of class to the New England midfield. Great signing by Major League Soccer.
Second Half
68 minute: Goal Sporting Kansas. Terrible, terrible penalty decision as Alston wins the ball from Bunbury and sees Edvin Jurisevic somehow point to the spot.
72 minute: Goal New England 2-2: Joseph climbs all too easily above Kamara to head home Mansally’s free kick from the right flank and level the scoreline.
76: Game gets interesting as SKC’s Collin is given a straight red for Feilhaber to the ground after a goal mouth melee. Can NE take advantage of the man advantage?
83: Lekic meets Zak Boggs cross with a great header and its 3-2 New England.
Final Score: New England 3 Sporting Kansas 2
Big win for the Revs at home. Benny Feilhaber and Rajko Lekic add some class to the New England team. SKC on the other hand will point to the sending off of Collin as the turning point in the game
