AUSTIN, Texas --
Michael Videira struck for the game's first goal in the fourth minute and the team added an own goal in the second as the New England Revolution earned a 2-0 victory over the Austin Aztex in the team's first game of its 2009 three-match preseason schedule. The Revs posted a shutout to cap a week-long training trip in the Texas capital.
The Revs used speed on the wings early to set up the game's first goal. Kenny Mansally, starting in left midfield, played left back Kevin Alston down the wing on the overlapping run. The speedy first-year Indiana man sprinted down to meet the ball and turned the corner toward goal. His threaded pass into the box kicked off an Aztex back and was redirected into Videira's path. The Duke grad stepped up to the ball and found the lower right corner of the goal to stake the Revs to a 1-0 lead.
The score was almost doubled in the 12th minute when Chris Albright played Sainey Nyassi into space on the right wing. The Gambia youth international cut inside and launched a 12-yard shot, but his strike smacked the crossbar and went out of play.
The 1-0 score held through halftime but was pushed to 2-0 in the 57th minute. The Revolution earned a corner kick and Mansally stepped up for the service on the right flag. His in-swinging service arrived at the edge of the six-yard box and Austin's center back attempted a diving header to clear the ball, but instead found the back of the net for an own goal.
Austin had a chance to cut into the lead in the 68th minute after earning a corner kick, but Nyassi cleared a long range shot after the clearance off the line.
Revolution keeper Matt Reis made the shutout stand with his third and final save of the evening in the 77th minute. He came way out off his line near the end of the penalty area and - in traffic - stopped a prime scoring chance with a save on an Austin counter attack.
The Revolution held the edge in play and won the game in the midfield, but neither team was able to fully connect in its attacking third. The Revs' speed on the wings gave Austin fits throughout the night, but the team was only able to capitalize early in the first half.
Several Revolution players were unavailable because of injury: defender Gabriel Badilla (back), midfielder Mauricio Castro (groin), midfielder Steve Ralston (quad strain) and forward Taylor Twellman (head/neck).
The Revs return to preseason action on Saturday, March 7, when they play the first of two games in North Carolina. Next Saturday, the Revolution will play perennial NCAA contender Wake Forest at 7 p.m. at Macpherson Stadium in Greensboro, N.C. New England's preseason schedule concludes on Saturday, March 14, when the team visits the Carolina RailHawks at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C.
New England Revolution at Austin Aztex (USL-1)
February 28, 2009 - Nelson Field (Austin, Texas)
Scoring Summary
NE - Michael Videira (Kevin Alston) 7
NE - Own goal 57
New England Revolution (4-4-1-1): Matt Reis, Kevin Alston, Jay Heaps, Darrius Barnes (Rob Valentino 76), Chris Albright, Kenny Mansally, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Sainey Nyassi (Ryan Maxwell 72), Michael Videira (Chris Tierney 59), Kheli Dube
Substitutes Not Used: Brad Knighton (GK), Zack Simmons (GK), Amaechi Igwe, Chris Salvaggione, Wells Thompson, Pat Phelan and Dado Hamzagic
Misconduct Summary:
ATX - (caution) 2
ATX - (caution) 42
NE - Videira (caution) 53
New England Revolution - Complete 2009 Preseason Schedule (1-0-0)
Feb. 28 - at Austin Aztex (USL-1): W, 2-0
March 7 - vs. Wake Forest University, 7 p.m. (Macpherson Stadium, Greensboro, N.C.)
March 14 - at Carolina RailHawks (USL-1), 7p.m. (WakeMed Soccer Park, Cary, N.C.)
