The Daily Scoop

Revs Go Clear in East

by Ryan O'Hanlon - August 3, 2007

New England extended its Eastern Conference lead to four points with a 2-0 win against second place Kansas City on Thursday night.

Birthday boy Pat Noonan nearly put the hosts ahead in the second minute when his near post volley was saved by Kevin Hartman.

Fifteen minutes later, Eddie Johnson just missed the left post at the other end with a left-footed curler from distance. In the 21st minute, Jack Jewsbury hit a low right-footed drive that Matt Reis pushed wide for a corner.

Kansas City continued with the pressure when a long-range hit from Carlos Marinelli was pushed onto the post by Reis.

Four minutes from halftime, Khano Smith unleashed a powerful drive to the near post, but Hartman was able to punch away. Hartman again kept the game tied a minute later by tipping Andy Dorman's low strike wide.

New England continued to push the game in the second half and they opened the scoring in the 55th minute. Smith played a ball in from the left that found Taylor Twellman at the far post.

Noonan turned 27 by scoring for the third straight game. (photo: Ronald Martinez/Getty)

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The striker then headed the ball back across to Noonan, who found the empty net for his fifth goal of the year.

The Revolution dropped back to a more defensive formation that kept the Wizards from consistently threatening for the rest of the game.

In injury time, Adam Cristman iced the game. Steve Ralston broke out on a counter attack and played a ball to the onrushing Cristman, who slotted past Hartman.

Scoring
NE - Pat Noonan 5 (Taylor Twellman, Khano Smith) 55'
NE - Adam Cristman 4 (Steve Ralston) 90+1'

Line-ups
KC - Kevin Hartman; Jack Jewsbury (Ryan Raybould 70'), Jimmy Conrad, Jose Burciaga Jr., Nick Garcia, Sasha Victorine (Yura Movsisyan 64'), Carlos Marinelli, Kerry Zavagnin, Davy Arnaud, Michael Harrington (Kurt Morsink 80'), Eddie Johnson

NE - Matt Reis, Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Avery John, Steve Ralston, Andy Dorman (Wells Thompson 79'), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Khano Smith, Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan (Adam Cristman 85')