CASA GRANDE, Ariz. – With a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls at Casa Grande Sports World on Friday, the New England Revolution are now 1-0-1 in the 2017 preseason. Goalkeepers Brad Knighton and Bobby Shuttleworth combined for the shutout, while forwards Kei Kamara and Brian Wright provided the scoring for New England.
The Revolution first found the back of the net in the 25th minute when Kamara netted a goal for the second straight game, this time off a corner kick from Lee Nguyen. Nguyen’s service found Kamara inside the six-yard box and the forward headed it into the upper left corner to give the Revolution a 1-0 lead. Knighton preserved the lead in the 43rd minute with a leaping save, deflecting away a shot from close range.
In the second half, both sides had quality chances, but it was rookie Wright who scored for New England in the game’s final minutes. Teal Bunbury sent a low cross into the box, where Wright stepped in front of his defender to notch his first professional goal since being drafted 20th overall in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft.
The Revolution will resume training in Casa Grande, Ariz. and then travel to Tucson for a meeting with Sporting Kansas City on Tuesday, Feb. 7 at Kino Veterans Stadium. The club will return to Foxborough on Feb. 8 before traveling back to Tucson on Feb. 13 for the second leg of the preseason, which will feature Desert Diamond Cup games against Real Salt Lake (Feb. 15), the Colorado Rapids (Feb. 18), Sporting Kansas City (Feb. 22) and an opponent to be determined (Feb. 25).
Scoring Summary:
NE – 25’ Kei Kamara (Lee Nguyen)
NE – 88’ Brian Wright (Teal Bunbury)
New England Revolution (1st Half): Brad Knighton; Tyler Turner, Joshua Smith, Jeremie Sabaly, Otis Earle; Scott Caldwell; Daigo Kobayashi (Zachary Herivaux 31’), Kelyn Rowe, Diego Fagundez; Lee Nguyen, Kei Kamara.
New England Revolution (2nd Half):Bobby Shuttleworth; Andrew Farrell, Antonio Mlinar Delamea, Jeremie Sabaly (Joshua Smith 48’; Donnie Smith 50’), Chris Tierney; Scott Caldwell (Emmanuel Appiah 56’); Kelyn Rowe (Napo Matsoso 56’), Zachary Herivaux, Diego Fagundez (Tristan Bowen 56’); Teal Bunbury, Brian Wright.
