TUCSON, Ariz. – The New England Revolution defeated Sporting Kansas City, 6-2, at Kino Sports Complex on Wednesday in the club’s third match of the 2017 Desert Diamond Cup preseason tournament. Braces from Juan Agudelo and Lee Nguyen, as well as tallies from Diego Fagundez and Daigo Kobayashi, powered New England to victory. Nguyen and Kei Kamara each finished the match with a pair of assists.
The Revolution struck early when Daigo Kobayashi put New England on the board in the first minute of play. Sporting Kansas City goalkeeper Andrew Dykstra misplayed a cross from Tyler Turner, and Kobayashi was able to convert the point blank chance. Kansas City equalized in the 21st minute as Jimmy Medranda curled a left-footed shot from outside the 18-yard box just inside the far post.
The Revs made wholesale changes at the start of the second half, which including the Revolution debut of defender Benjamin Angoua, who played in central defense alongside Antonio Mlinar Delamea. New England quickly pulled away by notching four goals in a span of 20 minutes. Juan Agudelo tallied his second goal of the tournament after Lee Nguyen found him with a through ball, allowing Agudelo to curl a shot past Adrian Zendejas inside the near post in the 54th minute. Minutes later, Agudelo completed his brace as Kei Kamara played a low cross through the six-yard box to find his left foot in the 60th minute.
New England continued to pile on the goals in the 67th minute, as Kamara gained possession and passed to Nguyen on the edge of the 18-yard box, who then found Diego Fagundez for a tight-angle finish at the far post to extend the lead to 4-1. Kamara continued to spark the attack when he was awarded a penalty in the 72nd minute following a challenge inside the box. Nguyen converted the attempt to extend the Revs’ lead to 5-1. Less than 10 minutes later, Nguyen added a second score after dribbling past Zendejas and firing a low shot into the net in the 81st minute. Graham Zusi recorded Sporting’s second goal of the contest in the 89th minute, firing a shot from outside the 18-yard box.
The Revolution are scheduled to play one more game in Tucson before beginning the regular season on March 4 at the Colorado Rapids. New England concludes Desert Diamond Cup play on Saturday, Feb. 25 against an opponent to be determined.
Scoring Summary:
- NE – Daigo Kobayashi (Unassisted) 1’
- SKC – Jimmy Medranda (Benji Joya) 21’
- NE – Juan Agudelo (Lee Nguyen) 54’
- NE – Juan Agudelo (Kei Kamara) 60’
- NE – Diego Fagundez (Lee Nguyen, Kei Kamara) 67’
- NE – Lee Nguyen (Penalty) 73’
- NE – Lee Nguyen (Unassisted) 81’
- SKC – Graham Zusi (Unassisted) 89’
Misconduct Summary:
- NE – London Woodberry 43’ (Yellow Card)
- NE – Andrew Farrell 56’ (Yellow Card)
- NE – Dom Dwyer 85’ (Yellow Card)
- NE – Joshua Smith 85’ (Yellow Card)
New England Revolution: Brad Knighton (Cody Cropper – HT); Tristan Bowen (Donnie Smith – HT), London Woodberry (Antonio Mlinar Delamea – HT), Joshua Smith (Benjamin Angoua – HT, Joshua Smith 81’), Tyler Turner (Andrew Farrell – HT); Je-Vaughn Watson (Scott Caldwell – HT), Xavier Kouassi (Diego Fagundez – HT); Femi Hollinger-Janzen (Kelyn Rowe – HT), Daigo Kobayashi (Juan Agudelo – HT), Teal Bunbury (Lee Nguyen – HT); Brian Wright (Kei Kamara – HT)
Sporting Kansas City: Andrew Dykstra (Adrian Zendejas 76’); Saad Abdul-Salaam (Graham Zusi 76’), Amer Didic (Ike Opara 76’), Kevin Ellis (Matt Besler 76’), Tyler Pasher (Seth Sinovic 76’); Soni Mustivar, Benji Joya (Benny Feilhaber 76’), Jimmy Medranda (Roger Espinoza 76’); Cameron Porter (Gerso Fernandes 76’), Soony Saad (Dom Dwyer 76’), Latif Blessing (Daniel Salloi 76’)
