Sainey and Mansally’s goal helps Revs open preseason with win
- Monday, 30 January 2012
- Written by Modou Lamin Beyai
The New England Revolution of Sainey Nyassi and Abdoulie Kenny Mansally won its first preseason match, 2-1, against PDL [Premier Development League] expansion team FC Tucson in a modified 105 minute match on Saturday at Grande Sports World in Casa Grande, Ariz.
Gambian duo Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally each scored in the match that was broken up into two 35-minute periods and a final 45-minute period. The Revs switched line-ups all three periods.
The Revs started the match with veteran Matt Reis in goal behind a backline of Kevin Alston, A.J. Soares, John Lozano and Chris Tierney. Jeremiah White started with Benny Feilhaber, Shalrie Joseph and first round draft pick Kelyn Rowe in the midfield while Roach played up top with Sainey Nyassi.
The Revs went scoreless in the first 35 minute period, but came close with Lozano hitting the crossbar off a corner kick early in the match. For the second 35 minute period N’Tame replaced Lozano and Fernando Cardenas and Rick Smith played up top, replacing White and Roach with Sainey moving to right midfield.
Sainey opened the scoring three minutes after moving to the right, heading in a cross from Rowe. Smith had two chances to add to the lead, but saw a 40th minute header off a cross from Rowe go high and a 59th minute header off a Rowe corner kick cleared off the line. The Revs started the final 45 minute period with a completely new line-up. Bobby Shuttleworth was in net behind rookie Tyler Polak, Stephen McCarthy, Darrius Barnes, and Zak Boggs.
Purdie joined Clyde Simms, Diego Fagundez and Ryan Kinne in the midfield with Kenny Mansally and Zack Schilawski playing up top. Kinne would set-up the Revs winning goal 19 minutes into the final period after being fouled in the box by FC Tucson’s Harvey Martinez.
Mansally stepped up and finish the penalty to put the Revs ahead 2-0. FC Tucson later on put some pressure on the Revs as the match came to its conclusion, with Milos Dragic pulling one back for the local club in the 101st minute. Juan Mendez missed a couple of late chances for FC Tucson before the match finished 2-1.