MLS New England Revolution

Revolution Capture Mobile Mini Sun Cup, Defeat Houston Dynamo in Penalties

Published on February 25, 2018 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


TUCSON, Ariz. - The New England Revolution captured the Mobile Mini Sun Cup after defeating the Houston Dynamo in penalties, 1(4)-1(3), on Saturday night. Krisztián Németh provided the lone regulation goal, as well as the decisive penalty to propel the Revs to victory. For his performance in all four matches of the tournament, Diego Fagundez was named Mobile Mini Sun Cup Most Valuable Player.

After the first 25 minutes, which were primarily played in the middle third of the pitch, both sides found scoring opportunities in the remainder of the first half. In the 26th minute, Houston's Mauro Manotas had the ball at his feet near the penalty spot, however, a Dynamo handball upended the threat. Just seconds later, the Revolution found their best scoring opportunity of the half. From the left side of the pitch, Teal Bunbury delivered a ball to Scott Caldwell, whose attempt on net was blocked, while Andrew Farrell's follow-up effort sailed over the crossbar. Just prior to halftime in the 43rd minute, Houston's Boniek García was sent off for a foul on Fagundez, and was replaced by Arturo Álvarez.

The Revs opened the second half on the front, scoring within the first five minutes after the resumption of play. After Kelyn Rowe rang a shot off the post, Németh pounced on the rebound opportunity with a right-footed strike to give the Revolution the first lead of the contest. The Dynamo looked to equalize in the 58th minute, as Alberth Elis' headed attempt struck the far post. Houston leveled the match from the penalty spot in the 63rd minute, with Elis providing the equalizer after Cody Cropper fouled the Honduran international in the box. Shortly after the penalty, Cropper was tested again, but provided two saves just seconds apart to deny Elis and Manotas to keep the two sides level. Rowe looked to have the game-winning goal in the 89th minute, but Houston's Joe Willis was able to redirect the shot off the near post and out for a corner. Following regulation, Caldwell, Bunbury, Chris Tierney, and Németh converted their opportunities from the penalty spot to seal the win.

The Revolution will return home to Foxborough, Mass. on Sunday ahead of the 2018 season opener at the Philadelphia Union at 7:00 p.m. ET on March 3. One week later, the club will open its home slate against the Colorado Rapids at 1:30 p.m. ET on March 10.

Scoring Summary:

NE - Krisztian Nemeth (Unassisted) 48'

HOU - Alberth Elis (Penalty Kick) 63'

Misconduct Summary:

NE - Andrew Farrell (Yellow Card) 40'

HOU - Boniek García (Red Card) 43'

HOU - Alberth Elis (Yellow Card) 45'+2'

NE - Antonio Delamea (Yellow Card) 58'

HOU - Leonardo (Yellow Card) 85'

New England Revolution: Cody Cropper; Gabriel Somi (Chris Tierney 75'), Claude Dielna (Jalil Anibaba 45' - HT), Antonio Delamea, Andrew Farrell (Brandon Bye 75'); Wilfried Zahibo (Kevin Vang 84'), Scott Caldwell; Cristian Penilla (Krisztián Németh 45' - HT), Diego Fagundez (Kelyn Rowe 45' - HT), Teal Bunbury; Juan Agudelo (Brian Wright 60')

Substitutes Not Used: Matt Turner, Brad Knighton, Nicolas Samayoa, Femi Hollinger-Janzen, Mark Segbers

Houston Dynamo: Chris Seitz (Joe Willis 66'); DaMarcus Beasley (Leonardo 72'), Phillipe Senderos (Alejandro Fuenmayor 72'), Adolfo Machado, Kevin Garcia; Juan David Cabezas, Eric Alexander (Darwin Cerén 75'), Boniek García (Arturo Álvarez 45'); Andrew Wenger (Memo Rodriguez 49'), Mauro Manotas (Tomas Martinez 79'), Alberth Elis

Substitutes Not Used: Nico Corti, Charlie Ward, Mac Steeves, Todd Wharton, Eric Bird

POSTGAME TRANSCRIPTS

New England Revolution Head Coach Brad Friedel

On if it is nice to wrap preseason up on a positive note:

Coach Friedel: "Yeah, it always is. Houston is a very good team, Wilmer [Cabrera] has put together a very athletic team that obviously can put the pedal to the floor, especially in the second half when they were down a goal. I thought in the first half we were pretty good, I thought the game was very even in the second half when we made some changes and went up a goal, and then I thought Houston was on the front foot. It was nice to see us at least maintain a draw and then penalties. I know it's not that meaningful so to speak in preseason, but it is nice that the boys had the character to win and now we get ready for the real thing."

On what tonight's match can do for Krisztián Németh's confidence:

Coach Friedel: "I'm sure it does a world of good. It is never nice being injured and he worked really hard to get himself back to fitness. He got 30 minutes in the last game, 45 tonight, so I'm sure he feels pretty good."

On the progression the club has made over the course of preseason:

Coach Friedel: "Yeah, we made a lot of changes here with the way things are run and I thought the players' application has been very, very good and now we're all just excited to get the season rolling."

On shifting the focus to preparing for Philadelphia in the season opener:

Coach Friedel: "We're ready. We have all of our things that we want to do next week in preparation for Philadelphia, while also trying to get those one or two other pieces into the squad. Hopefully, the majority of the squad will be up to full fitness, or they're going to need to be because we have Philadelphia in a few days time."

On his impression of the preseason process:

Coach Friedel: "Preseasons are a process, they are very similar all over the world. The only downside is the weather in Boston, so we have to travel a lot. We had a very good camp at IMG [Academy], a very good camp out here and now we get to go back home and we get the season started."

New England Revolution Midfielder Diego Fagundez

On ending the preseason on a high:

Fagundez: "I think ending any game on a high is actually very good for us, especially [now that] the season starts in a week away. I think we were all working hard knowing that today was the last game of the preseason, and it's getting the tournament starts. I think we're all looking forward to it. I know myself, I'm very excited a week away to start our season and now it's just a matter of days."

On how it felt and what it means to be named Mobile Mini Sun Cup Most Valuable Player:

Fagundez: "It's a good achievement, it shows that I've been doing well on the field, but it's all thanks to my teammates and coaching staff, of course, they're putting me on the field... Hopefully, this a good step towards our season and hopefully, I can do a lot more once our season starts."

On takeaways heading into the regular season:

Fagundez: "I think every game, we have our good things and bad things. We need to get some of the bad things out of here and get the good things. We're going to look through film and make sure that we're all ready, when Saturday comes it's going to be a big time. We all have to step on the field and make sure we're giving 100-percent."

On how he feels the team has progressed through preseason:

Fagundez: "From the first day, I knew it was going to be tough. The coaching staff and players knew it was going to be a tough road, but I think we all worked hard, we all got fit, and we all got to where we want to be and I think it shows in this tournament and all the games that we have been playing. Now we're fit, and we're ready to go. The season is so close and I think we're all ready."

On preparing for the season opener at Philadelphia:

Fagundez: "Well, first of all, I think when we go home, we need to rest. I think everyone is looking forward to sleeping in their own beds and resting there. Of course, we all have to be focused on Philadelphia now. This game is already in the past, now we just need to move forward and we're going to go over the film and the way we want to play and we get those chances. When we go to Philly, we just need to get three points."

New England Revolution Forward Krisztián Nemeth

On if it is nice to wrap preseason up on a positive note:

Németh: "Yeah, it was a difficult game. I think Houston is a good team, so it was a good test for us before start of the season. Of course we are happy to win this tournament and now we can start to focus for next week and prepare for [Philadelphia]."

On how he felt physically after playing 45 minutes:

Németh: "As I told you last time, every time I feel much better. I think next week, it's the sharpness that's coming back. I already feel better than the last game."

On what it does for his confidence to score the regulation goal and winning penalty:

Németh: "It's always important to score goals, but the most important now, I got minutes after the injury. I feel much better."

On how he feels about the team after concluding preseason:

Németh: "We did a great job with the new staff, so I think we still have to improve a lot of things, but [as] I said, we work very hard. Next week, we're getting fresh and we are ready to start the season."

On the preseason experience in Tucson:

Németh: "It's always good to be here. Nice weather, everything is perfect for us to prepare for the season, so thanks for everything to Arizona and time to go back to Boston."

For up-to-the-minute information on the Revolution, visit the team's official web site at RevolutionSoccer.net, or join the conversation and interact with fans on any of the team's social platforms.

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