KANSAS CITY, Kan. – The New England Revolution closed out a two-game road trip by battling Sporting Kansas City to a 0-0 draw on Saturday night at Livestrong Sporting Park.

Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis made six saves to record his fourth clean sheet of the season and help the Revs (6-9-5, 23 pts.) snap a brief two-game losing skid, while Sporting KC (11-6-4, 37 pts.) goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen made three stops for the hosts.

Both Shalrie Joseph and Stephen McCarthy returned to the starting lineup after missing New England’s midweek loss to the Montreal Impact, prompting a series of shifts in the Revolution’s formation. Darrius Barnes started at left back, Chris Tierney started at left midfield and Ryan Guy started at forward.

Guy had the game’s first quality chance in the fifth minute, forcing Nielsen into an awkward save with a knuckling drive after Benny Feilhaber had played him through. Nielsen denied Guy again in the 15^th minute – despite the Revolution’s claims that the ball had crossed the goal-line – sprawling to his right to parry Guy’s acrobatic diving header.

Those two chances proved to be the Revolution’s only two shots on goal in a relatively quiet first half, which also saw Sporting KC direct just one shot on target.

It didn’t take long for Kansas City to put a shot on frame in the second half, however, as Reis was called into action in the 52^nd minute. Michael Harrington’s cross from the right channel found Jacob Peterson streaking through the box for a glancing header, but Reis dove full stretch to his right to make a fantastic save.

Reis was massive again early in stoppage time as he was perfectly positioned to stop Kei Kamara’s header from the center of the box, while the Revs had a late chance of their own go begging when Guy picked up a loose ball only to see his shot blocked by a lunging defender.

The Revs will play their third straight road game next weekend when they travel to PPL Park to battle the Philadelphia Union on Sunday, July 29.

New England Revolution at Sporting Kansas City
July 21, 2012 – Livestrong Sporting Park (Kansas City, Kan.)
New England Revolution 0, Sporting Kansas City 0

Scoring Summary:

None

New England Revolution: Matt Reis, Darrius Barnes (Fernando Cardenas 58), A.J. Soares, Stephen McCarthy (Blake Brettschneider 78), Kevin Alston, Chris Tierney, Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph ©, Kelyn Rowe (Saer Sene 58), Lee Nguyen, Ryan Guy

Substitutes Not Used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Flo Lechner, Diego Fagundez, Sainey Nyassi 

STATS: Shots 9, Shots on Target 3, Corner Kicks 1, Saves 6, Fouls 7, Offsides 1, Passes (percentage) 272 (73.5%), Possession 37.7%

Sporting Kansas City: Jimmy Nielsen, Seth Sinovic, Aurelien Collin, Matt Besler, Michael Harrington (Lawrence Olum 98+), Paulo Nagamura, Graham Zusi, Jacob Peterson, Bobby Convey (Michael Thomas 70), Kei Kamara C.J. Sapong (Soony Saad 87), Teal Bunbury

Substitutes Not Used: Eric Kronberg, Teal Bunbury, Neven Markovic, Julio Cesar

STATS: Shots 16, Shots on Target 6, Corner Kicks 4, Saves 3, Fouls 12, Offsides 3, Passes (percentage) 448 (86.8%), Possession 62.3%

* Note that all statistics are unofficial

Misconduct Summary:
NE – Darrius Barnes (caution) 47
SKC – Michael Harrington (caution) 50
SKC – Matt Besler (caution) 66

Referee: Jasen Anno

Assistant Referees: C.J. Morgante, Matthew Kreitzer

Fourth Official: Leszek Stalmach
Weather: Sunny, 99 degrees

Attendance: 19,080

Team Records
New England Revolution: 6-9-5 (23 pts.)
Sporting Kansas City: 11-6-4 (37 pts.)

GAME NOTES

• Tonight’s meeting was the 44^th regular-season meeting between the two teams
• Tonight’s meeting was the second of three meetings between the teams this season … the squads will meet for the final time on Aug. 4 at Gillette Stadium, the only match in Foxborough this season
• With the draw, the Revolution improved to 13-21-11 overall against Kansas City
• The draw also moved the Revolution’s away record in Kansas City to 6-11-5 and 0-1-2 at Livestrong Sporting Park
• The Revs are now 2-5-3 in their last 10 meetings against Sporting
• The Revs are now winless in their last three games (0-2-1), which included losses against Toronto (1-0 at home) last Saturday and at Montreal (2-1 on the road) on Wednesday
• Stephen McCarthy returned to the lineup after missing Wednesday’s game at Montreal with concussive-like symptoms … he flew out to Kansas City on Friday morning and rejoined the team in time for training later in the afternoon
• Although there was only two personnel changes in tonight’s lineup from Wednesday night’s match at Montreal, a total of four different players lined up in different positions: Darrius Barnes (left back from center back), Ryan Guy (forward from right midfield), Kelyn Rowe (right midfield from left midfield) and Chris Tierney (left midfield from left back)
• Chris Tierney played his first game at left midfield since Sept. 16, 2011, a 3-0 loss at Portland … he has been the team’s starting left back in 23 of the 24 games since, the only exception being the first game of the 2012 season when he was suspended
• Darrius Barnes played his first game at left back since Sept. 16, 2011 … after that game, Barnes played center back in four of the final games of 2011
• Ryan Guy played his third game of the season at forward … the last time he played up top was April 5, 2012, a 1-0 loss at FC Dallas
• Shalrie Joseph started for the first time since June 30, 2011 – vs. Seattle Sounders FC at Gillette Stadium … he came off the bench in two straight games (July 8 vs. New York and July 14 vs. Toronto), and suffered from back stiffness and did not dress Wednesday at Montreal
• Matt Reis recorded his fourth shutout of the season and the 68^th of his career
• The shutout was the Revs’ fifth defensive shutout of the season and the team’s fourth in the last eight games
• The team was shut out for the seventh time this season and for the second time in the last three games
• After the game, Matt Reis required 12 stitches to close the cut on his forehead he suffered in a stoppage time collision, while Darrius Barnes required six to close a gash under his eye brow from a first-half collision
• Since 1996 in games that kicked off in 90+ degree weather, the Revs have picked up points in 21 of the 29 games, going 11-8-10