MLS New England Revolution

Revolution knock off FC Dallas

Published on June 6, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Revs use two early goals and a career-high 10-save effort from Matt Reis to hold off Dallas and extend their unbeaten run to five games

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Adam Cristman and Steve Ralston scored first-half goals and goalkeeper Matt Reis made a career-high 10 saves, as the New England Revolution held off FC Dallas, 2-1, on Friday night at Gillette Stadium.

Second-half substitute Arturo Alvarez scored in the 90th minute to pull a goal back for Dallas late in the match, but it wasn't enough, as Reis' strong effort in net helped the Revs hold on for the win.

New England (7-3-2, 23 pts.) remained atop the Eastern Conference and MLS standings by extending its league-best unbeaten run to five games, as the club is 4-0-1 over that span, while Dallas (3-5-4, 13 pts.) is now winless in its last three matches.

The Revs opened the scoring in the fifth minute when Cristman - starting his first match since May 3 against Chicago - scored his third goal of the season. Right midfielder Sainey Nyassi worked his way past his defender down the wing, creating space to send in a cross from the end line. His cross was curled to the back post, where Cristman escaped his marker and buried a diving header inside the post from six yards out.

The Hoops almost tied the game just three minutes later, but Bobby Rhine's curling drive from the left side of the box hit the crossbar. Dallas midfielder Marcelo Saragosa was first to the rebound and hit a low cross to the far post for Kenny Cooper to put in the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

New England extended its lead to 2-0 in the 22nd minute, as Ralston converted a penalty kick after Jeff Larentowicz was fouled in the box by Dallas defender Drew Moor. The play began with a Revolution corner kick, on which Shalrie Joseph's powerful header was saved by Hoops goalkeeper Ray Burse. However, in the course of the play, Moor elbowed Larentowicz to create the spot-kick opportunity.

Larentowicz came close to pushing the Revolution's advantage to 3-0 just over one minute into the second half, but his driven header from 12 yards out was pushed wide by Burse.

Reis made an important save in the 62nd minute to prevent Dallas from cutting the lead in half. Rhine stole the ball off of Revs defender Jay Heaps just outside the box and had an open shot from 10 yards out, but Reis made the stop with his legs and then scrambled to gather the loose ball before Rhine could reach the rebound.

Reis was again called into action to deny Cooper on a trio of close-range chances in the 74th, 79th and 85th minutes, stopping two right-footed drives and a diving header.

Alvarez did finally put the visitors on the board - and spoiled Reis' shutout bid in the process - in the 90th minute. Forward Dominic Oduro sent a looping cross from the right wing to the back post, where a wide open Alvarez struck a full volley into roof of net from inside the six-yard box.

The Revs will return to the road for their next match on Thursday, June 12, when they will visit two-time defending MLS Cup champion Houston Dynamo at Robertson Stadium, with coverage beginning at 9 p.m. ET. The match will be televised nationally as part of ESPN2's MLS Primetime Thursday - marking the Revolution's fourth appearance on ESPN2 this season - and will include a 30-minute pregame show. The game will be available on ESPN2 HD, while radio listeners will be able to tune in on the WEEI Radio Network.

New England Revolution vs. FC Dallas

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