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HAMILTON, Bermuda – The New England Revolution scored two first half goals en route to a 3-1 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy in a preseason friendly match at the National Stadium on Thursday evening. James Riley and Arsene Oka notched goals five minutes apart to give the Revs an early 2-0 victory before each team added a goal in the second half.

After Peruvian trialist Jorge Ramirez earned a Revs corner kick in the 22nd minute, Andy Dorman sent in an inswinging service, which Riley met at the near post six yards out. He headed in the ball across the face of goal, past Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon, who was acquired by L.A. in the offseason from Colorado.

Five minutes later, in the 27th minute, Joe Franchino side-footed a pass off of a Jay Heaps throw in straight to Oka, who was charging quickly down the right wing. Oka knifed into the penalty area on the dribble and launched a powerful, bending shot from 15 yards out beat Cannon inside the upper right, near post corner of the goal. The goal came in the former Ivory Coast youth internationals’ first-ever appearance for the Revs, having joined the team last September at the signing deadline.

New England took the 2-0 lead into intermission, having maintained the edge in possession and attacking chances through the first half. Neither team, however, was able to build a sustained attack, with most of the action having taken place in the middle third of the field. Los Angeles’ two chances in the first half came off Landon Donovan free kicks, with both efforts caught by Revs keeper Matt Reis.

In the second half, Revs head coach Steve Nicol made six substitutions, and Los Angeles – keeping the same starting lineup on the field – began to increasingly push into the attack. The Galaxy had two excellent chances early in the second half as the Revs adjusted to its new lineup, before breaking through off a corner kick by an own goal.

In the 52nd minute, Chris Albright’s cross from the right nearly met the surging Pete Vegenas and Alan Gordon, but Reis scooped up the ball before either player could connect. Five minutes later, in the 57th minute, Donovan sent a shot just wide right after Cobi Jones connected with a cross from the left side. On ensuing the corner kick, Tyrone Marshall headed down Donovan’s serve, but Reis made a reaction save, diving quickly to his left, to keep L.A. off the board.

Los Angeles, however, finally broke though two minutes later in the 59th minute when Albright’s header from a Donovan free kick, taken 26 yards out on the left flank, ricocheted off the Revs’ Jeff Larentowicz for an own goal to pull the Galaxy to within one goal at 2-1.

After absorbing a period of sustained L.A. pressure, the Revs regained its two-goal advantage in the 81st minute when Kyle Veris headed in a Larentowicz cross from the right for an own goal. Larentowicz made a powerful run down the right wing to the endline and played a line-drive cross to the near post, where Chris Loftus was angling in for a header. Veris came back to make a play on the ball and inadvertently headed the ball past Cannon along the near post. The own goal was the second of the 2007 preseason for the Revs.

With the victory, the Revs concluded their first preseason excursion of 2007 with a 2-0 record, having also defeated the Bermuda National Team, 3-1, on Tuesday evening.

The Revolution will return home on Saturday, Feb. 24, to train for two weeks before departing on March 8 for a preseason trip to Cancun, Mexico.

New England Revolution at Los Angeles Galaxy
February 22, 2007 -  National Stadium (Hamilton, Bermuda)

Scoring Summary
NE – James Riley (Andy Dorman) 22
NE – Arsene Oka (Joe Franchino) 27
LA – Own goal (Jeff Larentowicz) 59
NE – Own goal (Kyle Veris) 81

New England Revolution: Matt Reis (Doug Warren 66), Avery John, Michael Parkhurst (Gary Flood 66), James Riley, Jay Heaps (Steve Ralston © 46), Khano Smith © (Takasi Hirano 46), Joe Franchino (Takuya Yamada 46), Andy Dorman (Jeff Larentowicz 46), Arsene Oka (Wells Thompson 46), Jorge Ramirez (Willie Sims 46), Taylor Twellman (Chris Loftus 66).

Substitutes Not Used: Miguel Gonzalez, Tony Lochhead, Brad Knighton, Phil Marfuggi

Los Angeles Galaxy: Joe Cannon, Ante Jazic, Tyrone Marshall, Kyle Veris, Chris Albright, Josh Tudella, Pete Vagenas, Cobi Jones (Josh Gardner 66), Nate Jaqua (Robbie Findley 73), Landon Donovan ©, Alan Gordon (Gavin Clinton 66).

Misconduct Summary:
LA – Jaqua 20
NE – John 49

Time of Game: 1:50
Weather: Clear, 64 degrees