Revolution get the last word
Smith's late goal stops Pachuca
FOXBOROUGH - So, Khano Smith may not have been Revolution coach Steve Nicol's first choice to take a penalty kick.
The third-year player has never taken a penalty kick for the Revolution, although he has when playing for the Bermuda national team. Last night against Pachuca, Smith got his shot.
Pachuca's Julio Manzur appeared to block Sainey Nyassi's shot with his arms. Referee Walter Quesada called a hand ball, and awarded the Revolution a penalty kick. Midfielder Shalrie Joseph was designated to take the shot, but Smith asked for the chance.
"[Nicol] was going nuts, he didn't want me to kick it," Smith said. "I asked Shalrie if I could have it, and he said, 'Yeah, go ahead.' If I would have missed it, I'm sure he would have something to say about it."
Said Nicol, "That certainly wasn't planned, I can assure that."
Smith's shot breezed past goalkeeper Miguel Calero in the eighth minute of stoppage time, landing in the bottom right corner to lead the Revolution to a 1-0 win in their second match of group play in the SuperLiga in front of 9,614 at Gillette Stadium.
Coupled with their win over Santos Laguna Sunday, the Revolution lead Group B with 6 points, and will travel to play Chivas USA Sunday in Fullerton, Calif.
But before the game, the Revolution will need to find out how many players will be healthy enough to participate. The Revolution already were playing with an inexperienced lineup when they lost midfielder Pat Phelan on a scary play in the 84th minute. While attempting to head away the ball, Phelan collided with Nyassi and was knocked unconscious. The Revolution medical staff rushed on to the field. Phelan was fitted with a neck brace and carted off. He regained consciousness and was determined to have a concussion, but was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital for further evaluation.
The Revolution were a depleted bunch, as a number of regulars were listed as injured and unavailable for the match against Mexico's oldest professional club and defending SuperLiga champion.
The Revolution were without defender Chris Albright (lower extremity), midfielders Mauricio Castro (groin), Jeff Larentowicz (quadriceps contusion), and Steve Ralston (quadriceps strain), and forward Taylor Twellman (hip flexor strain). That didn't include Adam Cristman (toe sprain) and Gary Flood (ankle sprain), who already were scheduled to sit out.
Even without some of their regular contributors, the Revolution kept pace with Pachuca in a scoreless first half. As opposed to the Revolution's defense-oriented 1-0 win against Santos Laguna, both teams had their share of offensive opportunities last night.
The Revolution outshot Pachuca, 5-4, in the first half, but Pachuca put two shots on goal, compared with one by the Revolution. Chris Tierney, earning his first career start for New England, showed off the strength of his leg, attempting a shot from 30 yards in the 30th minute that sailed to the left of the goal.
In the 39th minute, Smith made his way around Pachuca defender Paul Aguilar and launched an attempt from 20 yards that was wide of the goal.
In the 42d minute, Damian Alvarez dipped around Amaechi Igwe. Michael Parkhurst slid in to break up the play, but Alvarez maintained possession and with a clear view of the goal, sent the shot wide right. It was his second clear attempt of the half, as he delivered a shot in the sixth minute that Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis knocked away.
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com 