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New England Revolution

Twellman and Ralston score, but Revs see seven-game winning streak snapped

May 26, 2007 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution saw its seven-game unbeaten streak snapped when the Kansas City Wizards topped the Revs, 4-3, at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. Despite New England recording its fifth multiple-goal game this season, Kansas City's Eddie Johnson led the Wizards to the win with his first career hat trick, including the game-winning goal in the 82nd minute.

New England (5-2-2, 17 pts.) also saw its nine-game unbeaten home streak ended as Kansas City (5-2-1, 16 pts.) pushed its own undefeated streak in Foxborough to 11 games dating back to 2000.

The Revs built a 2-0 lead by the 23rd minute with unassisted goals by Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman, but Kansas City negated the lead with two goals scored one minute apart in the 25th and 26th minutes from Davy Arnaud and Johnson. Twellman's goal was his MLS-leading seventh goal of the season.

Johnson scored his second goal of the night in the 38th minute to send the Wizards into halftime with a 3-2 lead. After the half, New England's Shalrie Joseph converted a penalty-kick attempt in the 69th minute to equalize for the Revs, but Johnson scored his third goal of the night in the 82nd minute to give the Wizards the victory.

New England out-shot the Wizards in the game - 15-10 - and had a 7-6 advantage in shots on goal, but was unable to convert several chances in the second half.

Ralston put the Revs ahead in the 10th minute, slotting home the rebound of his own shot for his second goal of the season. Twellman then increased the Revs' lead to two goals in the 23rd minute, scoring on a 23-yard shot that was deflected past K.C. goalkeeper Kevin Hartman when it hit the foot of one of the Wizards' defenders.

Arnaud pulled Kansas City within one goal when he ran onto a Sasha Victorine lobbed pass and beat Revolution keeper Matt Reis in the 25th minute. One minute later, Johnson made a similar move, running on to a Jack Jewsbury pass to beat Reis in the 26th minute.

Johnson struck again in the 38th minute, taking Arnaud's long pass on the left wing, and working into the center of the penalty area before launching the go-ahead goal.

The Revs made personnel changes in the second half, inserting a pair of rookies into the comeback effort. Wells Thompson replaced Andy Dorman in the 57th minute, and Adam Cristman came on for Pat Noonan in the 62nd minute, and minutes later, Joseph leveled the score at 3-3. In the 69th minute, after his pass across the penalty area hit Jewsbury's left hand, referee Abby Opkulaja pointed to the spot for the penalty kick. Joseph sent his shot straight into the net as Hartman dove to his right, converting his second attempt of the season to remain perfect from the spot in his MLS career.

However, with the Revs pushing forward for the go-ahead goal, Johnson again struck on the counterattack when he took Carlos Marinelli's pass out of the midfield and beat his defender to create a one-on-one with Reis. He beat the Revs' keeper for his third goal of the evening, finishing the scoring on his first-career hat trick.

Saturday evening's game was the second match of a special doubleheader at Gillette Stadium. Prior to the MLS contest, the national teams of the Republic of Ireland and Bolivia played to a 1-1 draw.

The Revs return to action on Saturday, June 2, when they host teenage sensation Freddy Adu and Real Salt Lake at 7:30 p.m. at Gillette Stadium. For ticket information, call 1-877-GET-REVS, or visit revolutionsoccer.net.

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