MLS Standings 2012: New England Revolution Eliminated From Playoff Contention

The New England Revolution's playoff dreams were officially put to rest following a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the D.C. United on Saturday night.

The Revolution currently sit in eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings with an overall record of 7-15-7 and 28 points in 29 games played. The club is 16 points back of a playoff spot. New England has five games remaining in the 2012 season and only two more games at home. They will return to action on Saturday night when they host the New York Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium.

With the win over the Revolution, the United were able to hold onto the fifth and final playoff spot in the East as the club currently holds a two-point lead over the Columbus Crew.

Here is how the playoff picture looks in the East:

1. Sporting Kansas City, 51 points (28 games played)
2. Chicago Fire, 50 points (28 games played)
3. New York Red Bulls, 49 points (28 games played)
4. Houston Dynamo, 46 points (29 games played)
5. D.C. United, 44 points (28 games played)

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. United Final: New England Finally Out Of Playoff Contention With 2-1 Loss

The New England Revolution fought hard, but it wasn't enough as D.C. United came away with a 2-1 victory at RFK stadium. The win ensured a clean sweep of the season series for D.C., and officially knocked the Revs out of the playoff hunt.

Revolution Vs. United Score Update: Substitute Lewis Neal Puts D.C. Ahead 2-1

The New England Revolution played well in the first half and looked to stand a decent chance of taking the lead, but D.C. United spoiled their plans in the second half. Lewis Neal’s substitute goal put the home side in the driver’s seat with a 2-1 lead.

Chris Pontius had the ball out on the left flank and went to work. At first, it looked as though the New England defenders were stepping to the ball well, but Pontius turned on the style. After dribbling through two, maybe three defenders, Pontius skipped up toward the top of the box.

D.C.‘s leading goalscorer then laid the ball off toward the half circle at the top of the box where Lewis Neal sat all alone. The midfielder wasted no time, side-footing the ball first-time and burying it at Matt Reis’ right post to give his side the lead.

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution vs. United Halftime Update: Physical Play Dominant Theme With Score Knotted 1-1

The New England Revolution and D.C. United started the match off a little slow, but have since picked up the pace on Saturday night as they enter the locker rooms at halftime tied up at 1-1. Kelyn Rowe and Chris Pontius traded goals near the half-hour mark in what has been a physical, end-to-end affair.

The Revolution had the early chances, with a Lee Nguyen cross nearly finding Jerry Bengtson at the back post in the 8th minute. Ryan Guy almost converted a corner kick from Kelyn Rowe in the 22nd, but his volley was skied high.

The Revs have perhaps had the majority of the clear chances in the first half, but D.C. has nevertheless threatened apart from their goal. Branko Boskovic nearly scored in the 24th minute off of a free kick when his delivery passed through the box untouched, and only some incredible reflexes from Matt Reis kept him from putting United ahead.

After the goals were scored, the Revs threatened again. Nguyen and Alston fired wide, and Bengtson nearly headed in a corner in the 36th minute. On the D.C. side, Andy Najar unleashed a 30-yard rocket out of nowhere that Reis did well to parry and then smother on the rebound.

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. United Score Update: Rowe and Pontius Trade Quick Goals, Tallies Level At 1-1

The New England Revolution and D.C. United played about a half hour of sloppy, uninspired soccer before the match came alive with two goals in three minutes. Kelyn Rowe opened the scoring with a screaming drive at close range before Chris Pontius equalized with a worm-burner past Matt Reis.

Rowe's goal began with a long ball out of the back from Darrius Barnes. Jerry Bengtson got up and flicked the ball on with his head, putting it on the feet of Diego Fagundez in space. Fagundez picked his head up and saw Rowe streaking alongside him on the right, then played a simple diagonal ball to the former UCLA standout. Rowe took a touch into the box and then ripped a screamer right over Hamid's head and off the underside of the crossbar to get the visitors on the board.

Unfortunately, D.C. wasted no time replying. With Florian Lechner lying injured on the other half of the field, United streaked into the attacking third on the counter. Branko Boskovic found himself on the ball and played a clever back-heel to Pontius, who teed up the ball and ripped a daisycutter that beat Reis to his right post and found the bottom corner of the net.

For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.

Revolution Vs. United Lineups: Fagundez Starts Again, Toja Makes The Bench

After a long rest, Jay Heaps was able to take stock of a nearly full-strength roster when picking his starting eleven for the New England Revolution's match against D.C. United on Saturday night. With Chris Tierney and Saer Sene the only first-choice contributors injured, he elected to leave the back four that shut out Columbus and Philadelphia unchanged, along with much of the rest of the squad.

Up top, Diego Fagundez earned another start at striker, this time pairing up with Jerry Bengtson, who comes fresh off of two goals in two games for Honduras. Fagundez looked dangerous and was highly effective alongside Dimitry Imbongo against Columbus, although Imbongo got the score in that game. The Congolese-born striker will start the match on the bench, likely due to a desire to keep the big-little size-speed combination up front rather than matching up two bigger strikers with each other.

In midfield, Benny Feilhaber is once again relegated to the bench as Heaps apparently prefers the central midfield pairing of Clyde Simms and Ryan Guy. Speculation about Feilhaber's future in Foxboro is rampant after this run without getting a start.

Notably, Juan Toja is on the bench for New England, and conventional wisdom seems to indicate that he is in line for his first appearance with the Revolution. Toja last played in MLS in 2008, when he suited up for Dallas.

Lineups

Revolution: Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes, Stephen McCarthy, Florian Lechner; Lee Nguyen, Simms, Guy, Kelyn Rowe; Fagundez, Bengtson

Bench: Shuttleworth, Soares, Tierney, Toja, Feilhaber, Cardenas, Imbongo

United: Bill Hamid; Chris Korb, Dejan Jakovic, Brandon McDonald, Andy Najar; Chris Pontius, Perry Kitchen, Branko Boskovic, Nick DeLeon; Maicon Santos, Lionard Pajoy

Bench: Willis, Russell, Salihi, Augusto, Dudar, Neal, Tan

Revolution Vs. United: New England Looks To Play Spoiler In Nation's Capital

The New England Revolution will try to dent D.C. United's playoff hopes on Saturday night as they travel to the nation's capital for their third encounter of the season with their Eastern Conference Rivals. (TV/Radio: CSN/98.5)