TUCSON, Ariz. – Kelyn Rowe scored the game-winning goal in the first minute of stoppage time as the New England Revolution earned a 1-0 win over the Chicago Fire in the teams’ final group game of the Desert Diamond Cup at North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex.
Chicago had a last-minute attempt as Quincy Amarikwa hit the cross bar off the restart from Rowe’s goal, but the referee blew the whistle and the Revs secured the win ahead of Saturday’s final preseason match against the Colorado Rapids at 5:30 p.m. ET.
The two teams played a quiet first half but Brad Knighton was forced to make a diving save on Jeff Larentowicz in the 33rd minute.
The 0-0 draw held through halftime as Chicago changed out almost its entire roster at the break and Revs head coach Jay Heaps made changes to almost every field player in the 61st minute. The Revs then had the better of the chances as the second half continued.
Rowe had a chance in the 75th minute, but substitute keeper Kyle Reynish made a save on the effort. Knighton then responded with another big save – on Amarikwa – in the 86th minute.
Rowe broke through after Diego Fagundez sprung him open on the left side of the penalty area. Rowe then calmly slotted his shot back across the face of goal for the game-winning strike.
The Revolution returns to the field Saturday, March 1, when the team faces the Colorado Rapids at 5:30 p.m. ET, in the final match of the Desert Diamond Cup. A live stream of that match will be available on revolutionsoccer.net and mlssoccer.com.
MLS Preseason – Desert Diamond Cup
New England Revolution (MLS) vs. Chicago Fire (MLS)
February 26, 2014 – North Stadium at Kino Sports Complex
New England Revolution 1, Chicago Fire 0
Scoring Summary:
NE – Kelyn Rowe (Diego Fagundez) 91+
New England Revolution: Brad Knighton, Donnie Smith (Chris Tierney 61), Jossimar Sanchez, Darrius Barnes (A.J. Soares 61), O’Brian Woodbine (Jose Goncalves 61, Darrius Barnes 63) , Andy Dorman (Gorka Larrea 46, Shalrie Joseph 61, Gorka Larrea 75), Dimitry Imbongo (Jamel Johnson 46, Diego Fagundez 61), Steve Neumann, Alec Sundly (Kelyn Rowe 61), Pierre Omanga (Patrick Mullins 61), Jerry Bengtson (Teal Bunbury 61)
Substitutes Not Used: Luis Soffner, Paolo DelPiccolo, Daigo Kobayashi
Chicago Fire: Sean Johnson (Kyle Reynish 46); Lovel Palmer (Thomas Piermayr 46), Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (Steven Kinney 46), Bakary Soumare (Patrick Ianni 46), Gonzalo Segares (Hunter Jumper 46); Jeff Larentowicz © (Logan Pause 46); Benji Joya (Victor Pineda 46), Alex (Yazid Atouba 46), Harry Shipp (Giuseppe Gentile 46), Dilly Duka (Marco Franco 46); Juan Luis Anangono (Quincy Amarikwa 46)
Substitutes Not Used: Alec Kann, Parker Walsh
Misconduct Summary:
CHI – Jhon Kennedy Hurtado (caution) 34
Referee: Fotis Bazakos
Assistant Referees: Corey Rockwell, Brandon Major
GAME NOTES
- Following today’s result, the Revs are now 2-1-3 in preseason action in 2014 … the team has one match remaining in preseason: March 1 in a placement game at the Desert Diamond Cup
- Darrius Barnes started the game as the team’s captain
- A total of six players were unavailable because of injury, illness or injury precaution: Scott Caldwell (illness), Charlie Davies (calf), Andrew Farrell (leg), Stephen McCarthy (groin), Lee Nguyen (groin), Saer Sene (ankle)
- Two additional players were rested: Kevin Alston, Bobby Shuttleworth
- Prior to the game, the Revs announced the signing of D Jossimar Sanchez, and then announced at halftime that the club had acquired – and signed – M Daigo Kobayashi via trade from Vancouver
