FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The New England Revolution (10-13-9; 39 pts.) defeated Sporting Kansas City (12-13-7; 43 pts.), 3-1, at Gillette Stadium on Saturday evening.

Kei Kamara scored the game’s opening goal in the fourth minute, marking the second time he has scored before the five-minute mark in the Revs’ last three games. Sporting Kansas City equalized in the 53^rd minute, but New England pulled away later in the second half thanks to an own goal in the 75^th minute and an insurance goal from Juan Agudelo in the 83^rd minute. Both Kamara and Agudelo also recorded assists, as did Lee Nguyen, who now has a team-high nine helpers this season.

New England returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 16, when the club travels to play the Chicago Fire at Toyota Park. The match kicks off at 3:00 p.m. ET and will be broadcast locally on Comcast SportsNet with Brad Feldman and Paul Mariner on the call. The game can also be heard locally on the radio on 98.5 The Sports Hub in English and on WMVX 1570 AM “Nossa Radio” in Portuguese.

New England Revolution 3, Sporting Kansas City 1
October 1, 2016 – Gillette Stadium (Foxborough, Mass.)
Revs Defeat Sporting Kansas City, Remain in Tight Eastern Conference Playoff Race

The Revolution topped Sporting Kansas City, 3-1, to improve the club’s record to 10-13-9 (39 pts.) on the season. The Revs are now two points below the red line in seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

The Revolution finished their Western Conference slate with a 4-2-4 mark, including a 3-1-1 record in matches played at Gillette Stadium. This season, the Revs have also earned wins over the Colorado Rapids, Seattle Sounders FC, and Vancouver Whitecaps FC.

Revolution Attacking Duo Combine for Goal and Assist Performances

Forwards Juan Agudelo and Kei Kamara each posted a goal and an assist in tonight’s contest.

Agudelo has now recorded two performances this season where he has posted at least one goal and one assist. His first goal and assist match came in the 3-1 victory over NYCFC on Sept. 10.

Kamara has also now recorded two performances in 2016 where he has posted at least one goal and one assist. His first goal and assist match came in the 3-1 victory at Montreal on Sept. 17.

Agudelo Registers Sixth Goal; Scores in Third Consecutive Home Match

Forward Juan Agudelo continued his strong run of form by recording a goal in the 83^rd minute of tonight’s contest. The goal was Agudelo’s sixth of the season and the 20^th of his Revolution career.

Agudelo has now scored in three consecutive home matches after previously tallying against Colorado (Sept. 3) and New York City FC (Sept. 10).

Forward Kei Kamara recorded an assist on Juan Agudelo’s 83^rd minute goal. The assist was Kamara’s second of 2016, as well as his second assist in the club’s last three matches.

Kamara Records Sixth Revolution Goal

Forward Kei Kamara gave the Revolution an early advantage, recording his sixth Revolution goal in the fourth minute of tonight’s contest. The goal was Kamara’s second goal within the first five minutes over the club’s last three games. Kamara scored in the first minute at Montreal on Sept. 17, which marked the Revs’ fastest goal this season and the third fastest in club history.

Kamara has now recorded 85 career goals and ranks fourth among active MLS players in goals scored, trailing only LA’s Landon Donovan (145), San Jose’s Chris Wondolowski (120), and FC Dallas’s Carlos Ruiz (88).

Agudelo Adds to Career Year with Fifth Assist

Forward Juan Agudelo provided an assist on forward Kei Kamara’s fourth minute goal, giving him five assists on the season.

With five assists this season, Agudelo has a new career high for helpers in a single campaign. Prior to this season, Agudelo recorded three assists on two separate occasions: 2015 with New England and 2012 with Chivas USA.

Nguyen Inches Closer to Career-Best Year in Assists

Midfielder Lee Nguyen also recorded an assist on forward Kei Kamara’s fourth minute goal. The assist was Nguyen’s ninth of the 2016 MLS regular season, which places him in a tie for 11^th most among MLS players.

Nguyen is now one helper shy of tying his career high for assists, which he posted last season after recording 10 assists with the Revolution.

In his career, Nguyen has now registered 33 assists, of which have come as a Revolution player. He ranks fifth in assists in club history, trailing only Shalrie Joseph (34), Chris Tierney and Joe-Max Moore (35), and Steve Ralston (73).

Nguyen’s Strike off Post Leads to Game-Winning Own Goal

Midfielder Lee Nguyen put a shot off the woodwork in the 75^th minute, which deflected off Sporting Kansas City defender Kevin Ellis for the game-winning goal.

The goal marked the third time this season the Revolution have benefitted from an own goal. Portland’s Jermaine Taylor (April 27) and Columbus’s Wil Trapp (July 9) also recorded own goals against the Revolution.

The goal marks the Revolution’s third game-winning score in the 75^th minute or later this season. New England also earned game-winning goals in the final 15 minutes against Seattle Sounders FC on May 28 (Femi Hollinger-Janzen, 80’) and the Chicago Fire on July 23 (Je-Vaughn Watson, 85’).

Revolution Make One Change to Starting XI

Revolution Head Coach Jay Heaps made one change to the starting lineup from New England’s most recent match on Sept. 25 at Columbus. Midfielder Kelyn Rowe replaced midfielder Steve Neumann.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS

• 4^th minute (GOAL) – Kei Kamara puts the Revolution on the board early, reeling in a pass from Juan Agudelo in space and finishing past Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Tim Melia with a curled, right-footed shot (WATCH).

• 19^th minute (CHANCE) – Juan Agudelo plays Kei Kamara and Kelyn Rowe into a two-on-one scoring opportunity as New England looks to double its lead. Kamara lays a pass off to Rowe inside of SKC’s penalty area, but goalkeeper Tim Melia comes off his line just in time to deflect Rowe’s shot to safety (WATCH).

• 45^th minute (SHOT) – Diego Fagundez executes a give-and-go with Juan Agudelo and nearly picks the far corner with a curling, right-footed shot, but it sails just above the crossbar (WATCH).

• 45^th minute (STOP) – Sporting Kansas City forward Dom Dwyer has multiple chances to punch in a goal from inside of New England’s scoring area, but several Revs players lay out to protect the lead (WATCH).

• 55^th minute (CHANCE) – Lee Nguyen plays Kei Kamara into a scoring chance with a chipped through ball, but a Sporting Kansas City defender is able to strip Kamara from possession and thwart the chance (WATCH).

• 75^th minute (GOAL) – The Revolution retake the lead thanks to an own goal. Lee Nguyen hits the near post with a shot from inside of the 18-yard box, and the rebound deflects off SKC defender Kevin Ellis and into the net (WATCH).

• 83^rd minute (GOAL) – Juan Agudelo seals the win for the Revolution late in the match, punching a cross from Kei Kamara into the back of the net (WATCH).

GAME CAPSULE

Referee: Alan Kelly

Assistant Referees: Matthew Nelson (AR1), Brian Dunn (AR2)

Fourth Official: Jorge Gonzalez

Weather: 55 Degrees and Rainy

Attendance: 25,280

Scoring Summary:

NE – Kei Kamara 11 (Juan Agudelo 5, Lee Nguyen 9) 4’

SKC – Dom Dwyer 16 (Kevin Ellis 1, Benny Feilhaber 12) 50’

NE – Kevin Ellis (Own Goal) 75’

NE – Juan Agudelo 6 (Kei Kamara 2) 83’

Misconduct Summary:

SKC – Ike Opara (Yellow Card – Handball) 17’

New England Revolution: Brad Knighton; Chris Tierney, Darrius Barnes, London Woodberry, Andrew Farrell; Scott Caldwell; Diego Fagundez (Daigo Kobayashi 77’), Kelyn Rowe (Steve Neumann 89’), Lee Nguyen ©; Juan Agudelo (Femi Hollinger-Janzen 85’), Kei Kamara

Substitutes Not Used: Bobby Shuttleworth, Je-Vaughn Watson, Donnie Smith, Teal Bunbury

Sporting Kansas City: Tim Melia; Jimmy Medranda, Ike Opara, Kevin Ellis, Saad Abdl-Salaam; Paulo Nagamura, Nuno Coelho (Graham Zusi 45’ - Halftime), Soni Mustivar; Benny Feilhaber (Diego Rubio 82’), Dominic Dwyer, Jacob Peterson

Substitutes Not Used: Alec Kann, Matt Besler, Seth Sinovic, Brad Davis, Benji Joya