Revs Beat Honduran Champs

Short Scrimmage Good Tune-up For Sunday

March 15, 2008

NEW ORLEANS – Khano Smith scored two second-half goals and Taylor Twellman scored one goal and added one assist to propel the Revolution to a 4-0 victory over reigning Honduran champions Marathon Friday evening in a 60-minute closed-door scrimmage at Tad Gormley Stadium.

The teams played two 30-minutes halves as a tune-up for Sunday’s full 90-minute public match. Newly signed Zimbabwe international Kehli Dube put the Revs up early, striking in the eighth minute to give the Revolution a 1-0 lead. Twellman sent him in at the top of the area, before he eluded Marathon central defender Milton Palacio to put in an 18-yard blast.

Khano Smith

Khano Smith scored twice for the Revolution Friday. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

Twellman pushed the score to 2-0 in the 12th minute, heading in a Steve Ralston corner kick from six yards out for his second goal of the preseason. He rose above his defender to snap in the header from close range to give the Revs a two-goal lead.

At the half, Revolution head coach Steve Nicol almost completely changed the lineup, sending out 10 new players and keeping Smith on the field on the left wing in a 4-4-2 alignment.

Smith pushed the score to 3-0 in the 38th minute, collecting a cross-field Adam Cristman pass and pushing down the left wing. He launched his left-footed blast from 16 yards, and beat Marathon keeper Victor Cuello for the three-goal advantage.

With time winding down the second 30-minute half, Smith struck again in the 53rd minute. From the edge of the half circle, guest player Brandon Tyler put Smith in on the left side, where he again struck with his left foot from 12 yards. The goals were Smith’s third and fourth of the preseason.

Although neither starting goalkeeper Matt Reis or second-half substitute Doug Warren was tested in the match, Warren made two late saves to help preserve the shutout.

Marathon and the Revolution will meet again on Sunday at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) at Tad Gormley Stadium in a full public match. It will mark the Revs’ final preseason match before beginning preparation for the 2008 MLS season.

New England Revolution vs. Marathon:

Scoring Summary:
NE – Kheli Dube (Taylor Twellman) 8th
NE – Taylor Twellman (Steve Ralston) 12th
NE – Khano Smith (Adam Cristman) 38th
NE – Khano Smith (Brandon Tyler) 53rd