SB Nation Boston - Revolution 1, Timbers 0: New England Defeats Portland In Home Openerhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-03-24T19:25:18-04:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/26634742012-03-24T19:25:18-04:002012-03-24T19:25:18-04:00Revolution Vs. Timbers Final: New England Makes 1-0 Lead Stick, Gets First Win Of Season Over Portland
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> picked up their first win of the 2012 season - and the first of head coach <span>Jay Heaps</span>' young managing career - over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> at Gillette Stadium tonight. <span>Saer Sene</span> scored his first MLS goal in the first minute of action to make the Revs' home opener a sweet occasion for players and fans alike.</p>
<p>"It took a little time for us to settle in," said Heaps after the match. "But I think as the game went on, there were some things against us and some things that hurt us, but we fought through it. I think that was the most important thing tonight - when the going got tough, we got tougher."</p>
<p>New England wasted no time breaking their duck for the season. After winning a quick throw-in, the ball was worked to the left side by <span>Clyde Simms</span> where <span>Chris Tierney</span> was open. The Wellesley native bent in a great cross, and Sene rose highest above all to nod the ball home over goalkeeper <span>Troy Perkins</span>. It took just 28 seconds, tied for the 8<sup>th</sup>-fastest goal scored in MLS history.</p>
<p>"Saer's great at getting at the end of crosses," Tierney remarked. "So I figured, why not put one in and try to put it in a good area? Saer did great to get on the end of it."</p>
<p>Portland troubled the Revolution goal a few times afterward, but the normally-lethal <span>Kris Boyd</span> did not bring his best game to the Northeast, fluffing several headed chances when anyone would have bet the farm that he'd at least get it on target. New England, for their credit, also created more chances through the inspired midfield play of <span>Kelyn Rowe</span>, <span>Lee Nguyen</span>, and <span>Ryan Guy</span>, but were unable to convert. In the end, it was just the one goal that decided the contest.</p>
<p><span>Shalrie Joseph</span>, playing in defense due to the Revs' injury woes in the back, surpassed his head coach as the Revolution's all-time leader in minutes played. The captain played a commanding game at center back, winning aerial challenges and dealing handily with the dual threat of Boyd and pacey forward <span>Darlington Nagbe</span>.</p>
<p>"It feels good to have that sort of longevity with this team and this league, and I look forward to playing a lot more minutes," he said of the milestone after the match.</p>
<p>Speaking of milestones, goalkeeper <span>Matt Reis</span> made his 1000<sup>th</sup> career save in the 69<sup>th</sup> minute when he gobbled up a shot from distance by Timbers substitute <span>Franck Songo'o</span>. Reis was instrumental in the Revs shutout effort tonight, making three saves and commanding his box well.</p>
<p>"I didn't know till they told me after the game," said the modest Reis. "It's nice. It just means that I've been playing for a long time and faced a lot of shots, but it's nice to have the longevity and keep making saves. I think the more I make saves, the more the team has a chance to win, like we did tonight."</p>
<p>The match was not without its battles, and both teams lost a man to injury. Timbers defender <span>Hanyer Mosquera</span> was stretchered off in the first half and eventually sent to a local hospital for facial injuries after colliding with <span>Blake Brettschneider</span>, and <span>Kevin Alston</span> suffered an apparently broken nose when Songo'o caught him in the face with his boot.</p>
<p>New England resumes MLS action next Saturday when they travel to Carson, California to take on the defending champion <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.lagconfidential.com/">LA Galaxy</a>.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-revolution/2012/3/24/2900373/revolution-vs-timbers-final-score-2012-saer-sene-shalrie-joseph-matt-reis-mls-newsSteve Stoehr2012-03-24T17:03:33-04:002012-03-24T17:03:33-04:00Revolution Vs. Timbers Update: New England Carries 1-0 Advantage Into Half
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> have managed to hold onto their early 1-0 lead against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> this afternoon in front of an exuberant home crowd at Gillette Stadium. Frenchman <span>Saer Sene</span> opened the scoring just 28 seconds into the match, getting his head onto a <span>Chris Tierney</span> cross and finishing well over <span>Troy Perkins</span> for the Revs' first goal of 2012. The goal also tied for the 8th-fastest scored in league history.</p>
<p>Due to an injury crisis in defense, the Revs have started captain <span>Shalrie Joseph</span> in central defense, and the Grenadian has acquitted himself well, winning headers and leading the back line. He even found time to wind the clocks back a bit and make an athletic play to prevent <span>Kris Boyd</span> from a certain goal in the latter stages of the first half.</p>
<p><span>Lee Nguyen</span> and <span>Kelyn Rowe</span> both had good chances to extend the home side's lead, but were unable to convert. Boyd himself has had several looks for the visitors, but his usually-lethal accuracy appears to have remained behind in Portland because he has botched some pretty easy chances.</p>
<p>Timbers defender <span>Hanyer Mosquera</span> had to leave the match in the 23rd minute after possibly breaking his nose in a collision with <span>Blake Brettschneider</span>. He was replaced by <span>Andrew Jean-Baptiste</span>.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-revolution/2012/3/24/2900116/revolution-vs-timbers-2012-saer-sene-halftime-score-update-mls-scores-newsSteve Stoehr2012-03-24T16:28:48-04:002012-03-24T16:28:48-04:00Revolution Vs. Timbers Score Update: Saer Sene Puts New England Ahead In First Minute
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> wasted little time breaking their scoring duck in their home opener today. Just after the opening kickoff, <span>Clyde Simms</span> worked the ball out to the left and to <span>Chris Tierney</span>. The overlapping fullback played an excellent cross to the middle of the penalty area, where Saer Sene rose highest and nodded the ball home over <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> keeper <span>Troy Perkins</span>.</p>
<p>That goal was <span>Saer Sene's</span> first of the season and his young MLS career, as well as the first goal the Revolution have scored in competitive play in 2012. It was also Tierney's first assist of the year.</p>
<p>New England opened the match in a 4-4-2 and have dealt with their injury crisis in the back line by slotting captain <span>Shalrie Joseph</span> in next to <span>A.J. Soares</span> at center-back. <span>Blake Brettschneider</span> has returned to the lineup at striker, partnering Sene. <span>Tyler Polak</span> is the only natural defender on the bench.</p>
<p><u>Lineups</u></p>
<p><b>Revolution:</b> <span>Matt Reis</span>; <span>Kevin Alston</span>, Shalrie Joseph, A.J. Soares, Chris Tierney; <span>Ryan Guy</span>, Clyde Simms, <span>Kelyn Rowe</span>, <span>Lee Nguyen</span>; Blake Brettschneider, Saer Sene</p>
<p>Bench: Shuttleworth, Cardenas, Fagundez, Mansally, Polak, Purdie, White</p>
<p><b>Timbers:</b> Troy Perkins; <span>Lovel Palmer</span>, <span>Hanyer Mosquera</span>, <span>Eric Brunner</span>, <span>Rodney Wallace</span>; <span>Kalif Alhassan</span>, <span>Diego Chara</span>, <span>Jack Jewsbury</span>, Eric Alexander; <span>Darlington Nagbe</span>, <span>Kris Boyd</span></p>
<p>Bench: Bendik, Braun, Chabala, Dike, Jean-Baptiste, Perlaza, Songo'o</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-revolution/2012/3/24/2900041/revolution-vs-timbers-score-update-saer-sene-puts-new-england-aheadSteve Stoehr2012-03-24T10:47:08-04:002012-03-24T10:47:08-04:00Revolution Vs. Timbers: New England Set To Welcome Portland In Home Opener
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<img alt="FOXBORO, MA - APRIL 2: Shalrie Joseph #21 of the New England Revolution battles Jeremy Hall #17 of the Portland Timbers at Gillette Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/vABqdhjkBSMlQd4evXiIuDov1jA=/0x192:472x507/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/2353410/GYI0064182249.jpg" />
<figcaption>FOXBORO, MA - APRIL 2: Shalrie Joseph #21 of the New England Revolution battles Jeremy Hall #17 of the Portland Timbers at Gillette Stadium on April 2, 2011 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) | Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Shalrie Joseph and the New England Revolution will be hoping for some home cooking when they welcome the Portland Timbers to Gillette Stadium tonight at 4 PM EST for their MLS home opener. (TV/Radio: CSN/98.5)</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thebentmusket.com/">New England Revolution</a> are all set to open the gates at Gillette Stadium and welcome the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.stumptownfooty.com/">Portland Timbers</a> to the East Coast tonight for the Revs home opener. New England is returning from a harrowing road trip, where back-to-back losses to San Jose and Kansas City left them 0-2-0 in the young 2012 season. Portland, meanwhile, sports a 1-0-1 record and is coming off a great win over Philadelphia in the first week of the season, followed by a creditable draw with Dallas last week.</p>
<p>New England needs to truly act like the home team in this match. The Revs have to dictate the tempo and manner of play and control possession so they may impose their will upon the Timbers. Portland has started poorly in the first half in both of their matches this season, so the Revs should look to jump on them early and put the game away before half time.</p>
<p>Portland, on the other hand, appears to be a young team that is gelling quite nicely. <span>Kris Boyd</span> is their number-one threat now, and the Scottish Premier League's all-time leading scorer will capitalize on <i>any</i> defensive mistake around the net. It's been said that all the man can do is score, but if that's his only talent, he's polished it to a mirror shine. Other dangerous players include winger <span>Kalif Alhassan</span>, forwards <span>Jorge Perlaza</span> and <span>Darlington Nagbe</span>, midfielder <span>Diego Chara</span>, and captain <span>Jack Jewsbury</span>. Any one of these players, plus a handful of others, could unlock the Revolution defense and it will require all hands on deck to protect the nets at the Razor tonight.</p>
<p>New England once again finds itself with an injury crisis at the back, but things are looking particularly bleak considering that <span>Stephen McCarthy</span> is serving a red-card suspension for his dismissal last week. <span>John Lozano</span> and <span>Darrius Barnes</span> are also ruled out, along with <span>Zak Boggs</span>, <span>Sainey Nyassi</span>, and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/fifa/players/110923/benny-feilhaber">Benny Feilhaber</a>, who has not recovered sufficiently from a peroneal strain to take the pitch this weekend. Including the newly-arrived <span>Florian Lechner</span>, this leaves the Revs with just five listed defenders available (most of which are fullbacks, not center-backs), but there's a solid chance Lechner won't feature, leaving <span>Jay Heaps</span> with a serious quandary that may result in a switch to a three-man back line, unless <span>Shalrie Joseph</span> or <span>Clyde Simms</span> slot into defense. <span>Jose Moreno</span> has also arrived, but is not expected to feature, either.</p>
<p>The Revs are 0-1-1 against Portland since the Timbers entered the league, losing 3-0 at Jeld-Wen Field and drawing 1-1 at Gillette in 2012. The suspended Stephen McCarthy is the only active Revolution player with a goal against the Timbers.</p>
<p>The match will be televised live at 4 PM EST on CSN, while 98.5 The Sports Hub will have the live radio call.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/new-england-revolution/2012/3/24/2898149/revolution-vs-timbers-2012-shalrie-joseph-aj-soares-kris-boyd-mls-news-scoresSteve Stoehr