Jose Moreno scored the first goal of his New England Revolution and MLS career to give the Revs an early lead, but Maicon Santos popped up at the other end to spoil it as New England and D.C. United leave the field for the halftime break at 1-1. The Revs have had to make do without captain Shalrie Joseph, who was suspended retroactively for a foul committed last week in Dallas.
New England had the earlier signal of intent when Kevin Alston bombed into the box and had a shot deflected. He had a legitimate shout for handball turned down, but it looked like the DC defender's arms were kept tucked in anyway. Just a minute later, Dwayne De Rosario nearly put United ahead with a vicious drive, but it was saved well by Reis.
In the next sequence, Lee Nguyen sprung Saer Sene free down the left. The Frenchman played a left-footed cross intot he box, where Jose Moreno lost his marker and buried on the volley to stake his claim to the Revolution forward spot. The goal was Moreno's first for the Revolution and in MLS, and puts his record at one goal in two appearances.
DC worked hard to get back into the match, fashioning several dangerous chances, mostly through the creativity and quality of Nick Deleon and Danny Cruz. In the 13th minute, the two combined on a rehearsed corner routine to produce a blistering Cruz drive from outside the box, but Reis was equal to it and dove out to his right to deflect it away.
Still, United found their equalizer in the 19th through Maicon Santos. DeRo's bicycle kick attempt deflected to the Brazilian's head, and he nodded the ball home from point-blank to tie things up.
The Revs face a challenge in trying to get back the lead in this match as DC appeared to be taking some of the initiative as the half wore on.
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