Joseph Leads Revs to Sound Win

New England Escapes Seattle Crowd with 1-0 Victory

August 21, 2009

SEATTLE, Wash. – Shalrie Joseph matched his career high with his sixth goal of the season to guide the New England Revolution to a 1-0 victory over Seattle Sounders FC Thursday night at a sellout crowd of 32,705 fans at Qwest Field.

Joseph, back in his normal central midfield position, scored the game’s only goal in the 21st minute and the Revs’ defense held strong with goalkeeper Matt Reis not even having to make a save to earn his sixth shutout of the season.

Shalrie Joseph

Shalrie Joseph scored the Revs' lone goal in their 1-0 win over Seattle.

It was the first-ever meeting between New England (7-6-6, 27 pts.) and expansion Seattle (8-6-8, 32 pts.) and it ended with the Sounders’ second-ever home loss. Playing regularly in front of raucous sellout crowds like Thursday’s, the Sounders have gone 6-2-4 in their home digs.

It was an intense game, one that saw the Revs led to victory by goalkeepers coach Gwynne Williams, who took over after assistant coach Paul Mariner was ejected in first-half stoppage time. Mariner was leading the team from the bench in place of head coach Steve Nicol, who was serving the second game of a two-match suspension.

The Revolution’s early pressure paid off in the 21st minute, when Joseph put the finishing touches on a brilliant piece of one-touch interplay. Jeff Larentowicz began the move with a pass into the feet of Steve Ralston, who quickly played a one-touch pass to Edgaras Jankauskas, who then played the ball directly back to Ralston. With his first touch, Ralston chipped the ball over the top of the defense and into the path of Joseph, who whiffed on his initial shot but was able to bundle the ball over the line as both he and Sounders goalkeeper Kasey Keller fell to the ground.

Seattle responded to the deficit immediately and almost leveled the score just two minutes later. Reis came off his line to claim a cross from the right wing, but the ball sailed over his head to the back post, where Nate Jaqua was waiting. The powerful forward managed to direct a shot towards goal, but rookie defender Kevin Alston was on the line to clear the ball to safety.

The Sounders had a great chance to pull even before the halftime break when Ralston was adjudged to have fouled Fredy Montero in the box in the 44th minute, presenting the home side with a penalty kick. Montero stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, but blasted his effort off the crossbar and the ball was eventually cleared out of danger.

The hosts would ultimately rue their missed opportunity to equalize, because neither side seriously threatened in the final 45 minutes. Seattle undoubtedly controlled the run of play and created a series of half-chances, but the club never managed to direct a shot on target and test Reis.

The Revs return to action just three days from now on Sunday, Aug. 23, when they’ll host Real Salt Lake at Gillette Stadium at 6 p.m.

New England Revolution at Seattle Sounders FC

Scoring Summary:
NE – Shalrie Joseph (Steve Ralston, Edgaras Jankauskas) 21

New England Revolution (4-4-2): Matt Reis (GK), Jay Heaps, Emmanuel Osei, Darrius Barnes, Kevin Alston, Kenny Mansally (Mauricio Castro 80), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Sainey Nyassi (Wells Thompson 67), Steve Ralston ©, Edgaras Jankauskas (Kheli Dube 65)

Seattle Sounders FC (4-4-2): Kasey Keller (GK) ©, Leo Gonzalez (Zach Scott 90), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, Patrick Ianni, James Riley, Steve Zakuani, Osvaldo Alonso, Peter Vagenas (Sanna Nyassi 69), Brad Evans, Fredy Montero, Nate Jaqua (Sebastien Le Toux 64)

Return from Joseph Leads Revs to Sound Win to New England Revolution

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