Revolution 2, Rapids 1: Saer Sene Powers New England Past Colorado

The New England Revolution snapped a three-match losing streak in Foxboro Wednesday night with a 2-1 victory over the Colorado Rapids at Gillette Stadium. Colorado opened the scoring through Jaime Castrillon in the first half, but the Revs responded twice before the break, getting goals from Saer Sene and Fernando Cardenas to topple their Western Conference opponents and get their first come-from-behind win of the season.

"It certainly wasn't our best game, from a standpoint of how we played," said coach Jay Heaps after the win. "What I really was excited about was the resolve we showed. Going down a goal, we didn't hang our heads, we fought back, and I asked a lot of the guys tonight and each one of them stepped up."

Castrillon rose up in the 21st minute to head home a corner kick and give the Rapids the lead, and for a moment the sparse crowd at Gillette seemed to lose any life it may have had. New England had been the ascendant side before the goal, though, and they made sure to capitalize on that momentum in the 27th minute.

Clyde Simms played a corner to the far post where Stephen McCarthy headed back across goal. Saer Sene stood all alone in the six-yard box and buried a left-footed volley to bring the home side level. Sene squandered several great chances against New York and in previous matches since his last goal against Los Angeles, so getting the goal was a bit of redemption for him.

"This is a goal, I am a striker!" said Sene. "It was a long ball in the box, and I saw Macca go to the [far post] and head the ball. I stayed back, I thought maybe the second ball would come to me, and it came, and I scored the goal."

The next goal was not long in coming, either. Jay Heaps responded to Fernando Cardenas's public complaints of his lack of playing time by including the Colombian in the starting lineup, and the little winger/forward did not disappoint. Sene flicked a quick little pass out to the right from the edge of the box and Cardenas cut inside, bamboozling a Colorado defender before launching an excellent curling strike that beat Pickens and clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way into the back of the net.

"Goals give me confidence," said Cardenas, through a translator. "I just have to work work work to get better, and the more important thing is to get the three points."

The Revs then rode out a second half where the Rapids dominated most of the possession to seal away their third win of the season. Not only did the win break the Revs off a skid, but it was also Matt Reis's 100th win of his MLS career. The team honored Reis with a number-100 jersey and a small ceremony in the locker room after the match.

"It's kind of a relief," said the longtime netminder. "It's something that, for the last three games, has been there in the back of my mind, but it's finally a hurdle to get over and move on, and focus on the rest of the season."

The Revs are back in action on Saturday in Utah against Real Salt Lake. For more Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.