Revs 2, Red Bulls 0

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – Lee Nguyen scored his third goal of the season and newly-signed forward Jerry Bengtson added his first career MLS goal in the closing minutes as the New England Revolution secured a 2-0 victory over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday night at Gillette Stadium. Bobby Shuttleworth, making his first start of the season, recorded three saves in shutout victory that pushed the Revolution’s (6-7-4, 22 pts.) unbeaten streak to five games (W-T-T-T-W), dating back to June 2.

The win was the team’s sixth of the season, surpassing the club’s 2011 season win total (5). The victory also extended the Revs’ regular-season home unbeaten streak against Red Bulls (9-5-4, 31 pts.) to 15 games (11-0-4), dating back to 2002.

Nguyen’s goal midway through the first half staked the Revolution to a 1-0 halftime lead, and the team withstood a tough second-half onslaught from New York to pull out the victory. Bengtson’s goal in the 84th minute added insurance as the Revs picked up the win, their fifth at home (5-1-3) this season.

With his start, Shuttleworth made his first appearance of 2012 and his first since Oct. 22, 2011. He replaced Matt Reis in goal, who had started the team’s first 16 matches. Shalrie Joseph, who suffered up a left knee sprain in training earlier in the week, was an available substitute this evening, later coming into the game in the 73rd minute. With both Shalrie Joseph and the team’s usual deputy captain Reis on the bench, Clyde Simms donned the captain’s armband for the Revs for the first time.

Kevin Alston returned to the right back spot after missing last Saturday’s game against Seattle with left hamstring tightness. Also returning to the starting lineup in Joseph’s place was Kelyn Rowe, who came off the bench last Saturday against the Sounders.

The Revs came out of the gates flying and almost took a 1-0 lead early through Blake Brettschneider or Benny Feilhaber. Brettschneider had his effort saved by Red Bulls keeper Ryan Meara in the 12th minute, and his 15th-minute header was high. Feilhaber broke in on goal in the 16th minute but his right-footed, re-directed angled shot was wide of the far post.

Nguyen put the Revs on the board in the 24th minute, taking a feed from Chris Tierney for his third goal of the year. Nguyen played Tierney forward down the left-center channel and after Tierney advanced to the edge of the penalty area, he cut the ball back to a surging Nguyen. The former U.S. international took a couple of touches and launched a shot from 22 years that snuck past Meara, inside the left post for a 1-0 Revs lead.

The Revs almost doubled the lead one minute later through Saer Sène. A.J. Soares played the Frenchman through down the left-center channel into a one-on-one situational with Meara, but Sene’s shot was wide of the far post from 12 yards on an angle.

New England out-shot New York 9-0 in the first half – including five shots on target – and the Revs nearly capitalized again in a 40th minute flurry. Feilhaber’s free kick found Soares, whose flicked-on header kicked off the upper right corner of the goal frame and fell at Blake Brettschneider’s feet inside the six-yard box. His first shot was blocked by the New York defense, and his follow-up was also stuffed, preserving the Revs’ one-goal lead headed into the half.

After New England dominated the first half, New York roared back in the second half, out-shooting the Revs, 12 to 6.

Kenny Cooper had the Red Bulls’ best chance of the night in the 56th minute when his shot from distance on the break clanged off the far post and back across the face of goal. He later stood over a free kick in the 80th minute, but his low, hard shot was right at Shuttleworth, who smothered it to preserve the then 1-0 lead.

After Bengtson put the Revs up 2-0, New York defender Wilman Conde twice had go’s at goal in the 89th minute – his first shot deflected and his second wide of frame.

The Revs close their three-game home stand on Saturday, July 14, when they host Toronto FC, at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m., and Comcast SportsNet will televise the game regionally while 98.5 The Sports Hub will carry the game on the radio. Limited-edition Shalrie Joseph bobbleheads will be given away at the gates, so fans are encouraged to come early.

New England Revolution vs. New York Red Bulls
July 8, 2012 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
New York Red Bulls 0, New England Revolution 2
Scoring Summary:

NE – Lee Nguyen (Chris Tierney) 24

NE – Jerry Bengtson (unassisted) 84

New England Revolution: Bobby Shuttleworth, Chris Tierney, A.J. Soares, Stephen McCarthy, Kevin Alston, Lee Nguyen, Clyde Simms ©, Benny Feilhaber (Shalrie Joseph 73), Kelyn Rowe (Diego Fagundez 89), Blake Brettschneider (Jerry Bengtson 60), Saer Sene

Substitutes Not Used: Matt Reis, Darrius Barnes, Fernando Cardenas, Ryan Guy

STATS: Shots 15, Shots on Target 9, Corner Kicks 4, Saves 3, Fouls 13, Offsides 0, Passes Completed (percentage) 292 (73.3%), Possession 37.7%

New York Red Bulls: Ryan Meara, Brandon Barklage, Stephen Keel (Victor Palsson 83), Wilman Conde, Roy Miller, Mehd Ballouchy, Connor Lade, Joel Lindpere ©, Dax McCarty, Kenny Cooper, Dane Richards

Substitutes Not Used: Jeremy Vuolo, Jhonny Arteaga, Jonathan Borrajo, Ryan Maduro, Tyler Ruthven

STATS: Shots 12, Shots on Target 3, Corner Kicks 8, Saves 7, Fouls 16, Offsides 2, Passes Completed (percentage) 476 (81.7%), Possession 62.3%

* Note that all statistics are unofficial
Misconduct Summary:

NY – Dane Richards (caution) 9

NY – Roy Miller (caution) 45+

NY – Joel Lindpere (caution) 67

Referee: Drew Fischer

Assistant Referees: Daniel Belleau, Bill Dittmar

Fourth Official: Geoff Gamble
Weather: Clear and 86 degrees

Attendance: 14,374

Team Records

New England Revolution: 6-7-4 (22 pts.)

New York Red Bulls (9-5-4, 31 pts.)

GAME NOTES:

The win extended the Revs’ lead in the all-time, regular-season series with the New York Red Bulls (formerly the New York/New Jersey MetroStars) to 26-19-12 … the Revs hold a 18-4-5 mark in Foxborough – including a 11-1-4 record at Gillette Stadium
With the win, New England now has a 15-game, regular-season undefeated streak (11-0-4) at Gillette Stadium against New York, dating back 2002
The win was the Revs’ sixth victory of the season, surpassing the team’s five-win total during the 2011 season … the win was also the Revs’ fifth win at home this year after winning just four games (4-7-6) at Gillette Stadium last year
The Revs are riding a five-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3), dating back to June 2 against Chicago … the streak is the team’s first five-game unbeaten streak since 2008 … that year, the Revs had seven-game winning streak (5-0-2, May 11 to June 18)
The victory also extended the Revs’ home unbeaten streak to six games (3-0-3) which dates back to May 2 against Colorado … the six-game unbeaten streak is the club’s longest of the season … the team’s longest unbeaten streak at home is 11 games as the Revs went 7-0-4 at Gillette Stadium from April 2 to June 11, 2005
Bobby Shuttleworth earned his first start of the season and first since the season-finale at Toronto on October 22, 2011 … Shuttleworth is now 2-1-1 in his Revolution career against New York, with one shutout
Tonight was Bobby Shuttleworth’s third career victory, and his second career shutout recorded … it was his first win since October 16, 2010, a 1-0 victory against Kansas City – also a shutout
Tonight’s shutout was the team’s fourth this season, and third in the team’s last four games at Gillette Stadium
All four of the team’s shutouts this year have been at Gillette Stadium … the Revs are now 5-1-3 at home this year
Clyde Simms served as team captain tonight for the first time as a member of the Revolution … it marked the first time since May 15, 2010, that a Revolution player other than Shalrie Joseph or Matt Reis wore the captain’s armband
Lee Nguyen scored his third goal of the year in the 24th minute on a pass from Chris Tierney … the goal was Nguyen’s first since his two-goal effort on May 12 against Vancouver … Nguyen ranks second on the team with three goals, behind Saer Sene (8 goals)
Chris Tierney recorded his team-leading fourth assist of the season on Lee Nguyen’s 24th-minute goal … Tierney’s assist was his first since May 26 at D.C. United … his four assists in 16 games this season match his best season high, which he set in 2010 (27 games) and 2011 (27 games)
Jerry Bengtson made his Revolution – and MLS – debuts in the 60th minute when he replaced Blake Brettschneider at forward … Bengtson was signed on Thursday, July 5, and was officially added to the team’s roster on Friday after receiving his International Transfer Certificate and U.S. P-1 Visa
Jerry Bengtson scored his first career MLS goal in the 83rd minute on Saer Sene’s rebound … with his goal, Bengtson became the team’s 12th goal scorer this season
Shalrie Joseph made his first substitute appearance of the year when he came on for Benny Feilhaber in the 73rd minute … it was Joseph’s first substitute appearance since July 25, 2009
Matt Reis did not start tonight as a coach’s decision, marking the first game that he has missed this year … Reis started the team’s first 16 games this season
The Revs will play their second game in seven days when they host Toronto FC on Saturday, July 14