FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Jeff Cunningham sliced through the New Engand Revolution defense, and Real Salt Lake picked up just its second-ever road win with a 3-1 triumph Friday night.
Cunningham's 51st-minute slalom run through a static Revolution defense provided the spectacular game winner after Chris Klein gave the visitors the lead after 16 minutes. Jason Kreis added a third in the 55th minute with a well taken strike from an Andy Williams corner before Taylor Twellman grabbed a consolation goal two minutes later.
The win gave Real its first triumph in Gillette Stadium over the Revolution, its first road win since May 13 over Los Angeles and its first victory since June 3 over Chicago, a span of seven games.
RSL introduced Williams, a former Revolution midfielder, back to the starting lineup and dropped rookie playmaker Mehdi Ballouchy to bench. Revolution head coach Steve Nicol gave Pat Noonan a start up top, with Avery John shuffled to the bench.
Although the Revolution dominated most of the possession in the opening quarter-hour, Real carved out the two best chances and took the lead with its second chance.
A counterattack caught the Revs defense out after nine minutes. It was Williams who created the chance for Cunningham; the Jamaican's ball across the field hit Cunningham in stride and allowed the American international to volley right at Matt Reis.
The breakthrough would come in the 16th minute after an RSL attack seemingly broke down with an overcooked Carey Talley cross stopping the counterattack. Revs defender Jay Heaps gave Cunningham time to chase down Talley's errant cross and space for Cunningham to deliver a cross to the near post where Klein beat James Riley to the ball and poked it past Reis to give the visitors a surprise lead.
Nicol's side pressed forward looking for an equalizer. The home team enjoyed the lion's share of possession but lacked any sort of dynamic thrust going forward in order to pierce the resolute RSL defense.
Noonan went close in the 24th minute with a volley from a Twellman chest pass with Real goalkeeper Scott Garlick getting down well to deny. Garlick was tested again by Twellman 10 minutes later as the Revolution striker had acres of space and plenty of goal to shoot at the near post but decided to go high to the far post and was denied by the bar.
The Revolution shifted things around to start the second half and gave Joe Franchino his first appearance in a month in place of Jose Cancela. The move would prove puzzling as Noonan was withdrawn on 60 minutes while struggling for fitness.
Within the span of three minutes, Real scored twice to open a stunning 3-0 lead.
Cunningham's scored a wondrous goal in the 51st minute, dribbling across the entire width of the field through numerous watching Revolution defenders. If the run was of class, the finish was a notch higher as Cunningham beat Reis to the far post with a sizzling drive.
The lead was remarkably extended to three after a Williams corner flew across the box unchallenged to Kreis. Unmarked and unchallenged, Kreis fired a shot that skimmed the ground and nestled into the far side netting.
Twellman replied almost immediately after Andy Dorman slotted him through and the Revolution striker made no mistake to grab one back.
Jeff Larentowicz hammered just over the bar from close range with a volley on 59 minutes, but the Revolution struggled to penetrate the RSL rearguard that was condensed in order to protect the two-goal lead.
A professional and comprehensive performance in the final 20 minutes saw the Revolution rarely threaten and fail to create any chances of note, giving John Ellinger's team three critical points in its fight to climb back into the Western Conference playoff picture.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
