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MLS New England Revolution

Revolution fall 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards

April 15, 2006 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Kansas City, Mo. - The New England Revolution (1-1-1, 4 pts.) fell to their first defeat of the season on Saturday night, losing 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards (3-0-0, 6 pts.) at Arrowhead stadium. Jimmy Conrad's goal after three minutes was enough to settle the contest on a disappointing night for the Revolution, despite an excellent performance by Matt Reis who made five saves, including a penalty save on Wizards forward Josh Wolff.

2005 Rookie of the Year Michael Parkhurst made his first appearance of the season in a Revolution defense, which had not conceded a goal in the Revs' opening two games. The Wizards settled into the game more quickly than the Revolution and in the 3rd minute, Davy Arnaud gave a sign of things to come, breaking the Revs offside trap on the left side. The well-positioned Parkhurst, however, cleared his cross. Moments later, Arnaud was again involved as he charged into the box from the left. Andy Dorman and Jay Heaps came across to challenge and it appeared the ball struck Arnaud last before going out over the end line. However, the assistant referee disagreed and awarded the Wizards a corner kick.

From the resulting corner taken by Sasha Victorine, Jimmy Conrad out-jumped Noonan at the back post and his looping header dropped in over Revs captain Joey Franchino at the far post to give the Wizards a 1-0 lead.

The Revs spent the next several minutes on the back foot. In the 7th minute, Josh Wolff turned sharply, riding the challenge from Michael Parkhurst before accelerating into the penalty area, where there appeared to be the slightest of contact from Parkhurst, before Wolff went crashing to the ground. Referee Marcel Yonan ignored the Revs protests, however, and awarded a penalty kick. Pat Noonan was cautioned for dissent before Wolff took the penalty.

On the spot kick, however, Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis plunged to his right and blocked Wolff's spot kick with his feet.

The Revs showed their first real signs of life in the attack in the 10th minute with a great run and shot by forward Clint Dempsey, which Wizards midfielder Sasha Victorine charged down.

In the 14th minute Franchino limped off with an injury and was replaced by Marshall Leonard. With the Wizards sitting in deep to protect their lead, the Revs resorted to long passes from the back, which were proving ineffective. Clint Dempsey started dropping deep to get in the game but possession kept breaking down at the final pass, leaving Taylor Twellman a virtual spectator.

However in the 17th minute the Revolution got their first sight of goal. Joseph created space for himself and clipped a beautiful ball over the defense for fellow midfielder Andy Dorman. Dorman's first touch was excellent as he rounded Nick Garcia at the corner of the penalty area, however, he slipped at the vital moment and only managed to direct his shot straight at Bo Oshoniyi.

In the 22nd minute, James Riley was called for a foul on the industrious Arnaud. Josh Wolff's resulting free kick was headed sharply toward goal - again by Conrad. Once again, however, Matt Reis came to the Revs rescue, plunging low to his left to save.

In the 27th minute the Revs had Matt Reis to thank again. From a cleared Revolution corner, Eddie Johnson broke on a 70--yard run which resulted in a good chance for Arnaud. He cut in from the left of the penalty area, but Reis excellently smothered the shot on goal.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol knew replaced Pat Noonan with José Cancela at half time. The lively Cancela made an immediate impact, taking a free kick and sending Dempsey through on goal. However, the Wizards defense closed in and cleared the danger for a corner kick. From the resulting corner, the Revs thought they had leveled the match, however, Andy Dorman's effort was ruled out on a Taylor Twellman handball.

In the 61st minute Taylor Twellman took matters into his own hands, and had a chance entirely of his own making; after battling for possession, he surged into the penalty area, but was closed down by three Kansas City defenders and his shot was blocked.

In the 70th minute Daniel Hernandez tried to force the issue, but his 30-yard shot sailed harmlessly wide. Tempers threatened to boil over seconds later after a crunching challenge by Hernandez on Davy Arnaud. Some pushing and shoving followed, after which Joseph was cautioned.

The Wizards demonstrated they were content to defend by withdrawing U.S. national team star Eddie Johnson, replacing him with the more defensive Alex Zotinca.

In one of the best moves of the half, Taylor Twellman dropped the ball off to Cancela in the hole, his slide-rule pass cut the defense, but was agonizingly too far ahead of Clint Dempsey, who checked his run to stay onside.

The Revolution started to increase the pressure, and in the 82nd minute, an excellent first time cross from Dorman was brilliantly cut out by Conrad before it could reach Twellman at the near, right post.

In the 87th minute, Dempsey picked the ball up on the left sideline, used some of his trademark trickery to cut inside and fire a shot on goal. Oshoniyi, however, saved well at the post. A minute later, another excellent first-time cross from Dorman almost resulted in an own goal by Conrad.

The game was now being played exclusively in the Wizards' penalty area and in the dying moments the Revolution had a strong shout for a penalty. Marshall Leonard drove into the box on the left and went down under a strong challenge from Matt Groenwald. The referee, however, ignored the appeals of the Revolution.

There was time for one more chance, and Cancela whipped in the resulting corner, which Oshoniyi only partially cleared to Andy Dorman. Despite his best efforts, Dorman could not direct his attempt goalward. This proved to be the last kick game and the Revs fell to the 1-0 defeat.

The Revolution does not play again until the team's home opener at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 30 vs. the Chicago Fire. Call 1-877-GET-REVS for ticket information.

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