Revolution deliver knockout

FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution took a 2-1 win over Sporting Clube de Portugal last night in a game that turned quite unfriendly in the second half, as referee Erich Simmons issued eight cautions and ejected three Sporting players.

The Revolution, who host the MetroStars Saturday, and Sporting each lost two players to injury. Defenders Jay Heaps (facial cut) and Brian Kamler (jaw) are questionable for Saturday and Sporting's Anderson Polga (knee) is doubtful and Pedro Barbosa questionable for a match against the Western Mass. Pioneers in Ludlow Sunday.

"I can't say that was really soccer," Sporting coach Fernando Santos said. "The referee set the tone early, when there was a vicious foul on [Brazilian striker] Liedson that wasn't called. I have been in the game for a long time and I've never seen anything quite like this. I would have pulled the team off the field, except for my respect for the fans and the Revolution. It was not the Revolution's fault. But Sporting is an institution which is respected world-wide, which has won trophies for many years, and it shouldn't be treated this way."

Joao Pinto and Paulo Bento, both veterans with the Portuguese national team, were ejected as the game began deteriorating in the second half. In the final seconds, Silva entered as a substitute and was red-carded after punching Kamler.

"We stuck to what we do, which is to play hard, play fair, play physical," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "That is the way the game should be played and it was until the end. I can't blame the referee. He was unfortunate with the first sending off; I don't think Joao Pinto did anything intentional. Jay Heaps has a cut over his eye but it was an accident, it was unfortunate, I don't think there was any real malice. The second one [on Bento] was a bad tackle. But the last substitute [Silva] turned it into chaos. Kamler is sitting in there with teeth missing. There is no place in the game for players that do that."

Sporting took the lead in the 40th minute as Marius Niculae controlled a pass from Paito just outside the goal area, and while the Revolution defense hesitated, turned and roofed a left-foot shot. Sporting had the best chances of the first half. Liedson had two scissor-kick shots in the 32d minute, the first a bounced volley off the bar, and the second a hard drive just wide.

The Revolution, resting several regulars in the second half, capitalized on their numerical advantage in the second half. Andy Dorman started a play to set up the tying goal in the 65th minute, three minutes after Pinto had been ejected. Felix Brillant collected the pass and played a triangle with Clint Dempsey and Richie Baker, who crossed for Dempsey to head past goalkeeper Tiago. At the time, the Revolution also had 10 men as Heaps was sidelined briefly.

Bento received his second caution and was ejected in the 74th minute. In the 81st minute, Sporting's Rodrigo Tello was cautioned, and seconds later teammate Tinga was called for a foul on Dorman near the end line. Steve Ralston converted the penalty for a 2-1 lead in the 82d minute.

"It was nice to be on the end of a pass and to find a good friend [Dempsey], who scored a great goal," Baker said. "Clint can play any position on the field. He has the strength to play back, the brain to play in the middle."