The New England Revolution ended a nine-game winless streak as goalkeeper Matt Reis stymied D.C. United with a string a super saves.
It was the Revs’ (4-9-7, 19 pts.) first win since a 1-0 victory over Vancouver Whitecaps on May 14, while it was their first triumph away from home in 2011 after going 0-6-3 in nine previous road games. The loss snapped a five-game unbeaten streak for United (5-6-8, 23 pts.).
The Revs survived an early scare when Andy Najar’s right-wing cross almost found Dwayne De Rosario for a simple finish in the third minute, but the ball was just out of De Rosario’s reach as he lunged at the six-yard box. DeRo went close again in the 16th minute when his 20-yard effort was just over the bar.
D.C. continued to press and Reis came up with a pair of big saves to deny Davies in the 17th minute and De Rosario in the 18th minute.
New England struggled to get any offense going and their best effort in the first half was a 25-yard shot from Boggs straight at United goalkeeper Bill Hamid.
United were giving a golden opportunity to go one up before half-time when Pat Phelan handled inside the box, but Davies skied the spot kick well over the crossbar.
De Rosario continued to be the danger man for D.C., sliding a shot inches wide of the right post in the 70th minute, but the longer the second half went on, the more likely it looked like New England could steal all three points.
Lekic fired over the crossbar at the other end with a header following Tierney’s free kick in the 72nd minute and a minute later another Tierney set-piece opened up the DC defense when McCarthy met Tierney’s corner kick and expertly guided a flashing header inside the far post.
Reis was called into action twice more to preserve the shutout and the victory, standing tall on efforts from De Rosario in the 82nd minute and Joseph Ngwenya just as the game entered stoppage time.
