By Danny Picard
CSNNE.com
FOXBORO -- @font-facefont-family: "Times New Roman";p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormalmargin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; table.MsoNormalTablefont-size: 10pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; div.Section1page: Section1; It wasnt pretty, but then again, it doesnt have to be.
The New England Revolution entered Saturday nights matchwith the Vancouver Whitecaps at Gillette Stadium, knowing they had to improveon the creativity of their offense, after being shut out in two straight games.
That creativity was supposed to lead to more scoringchances, and eventually, more goals.
The Revolution were out-shot 6-4 by the Whitecaps onSaturday night, and while the offensive chances werent created at the ratethey had hoped, there was one major difference in New Englands attack in thefinal third on Saturday.
They finished.
Shalrie Josephs goal on a penalty kick in the 49th minutewas all the Revs needed on this night, as they defeated the expansion Whitecaps1-0 to earn their third win of the season.
I feel like we created more chances against Colorado lastSaturday, but it was about actually putting the ball in the net today, saidRevolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber after the win. And we were able to dothat. So I think the one thing we can say is that we were able to score, andthats what we improved on.
Feilhaber should have made it 2-0 in the 56th minute, butthe officials blew the play dead because he was off-side.
Off-side, according to the officials. Not to anyone else whosaw Feilhaber accept a lead ball up the left wing, beat the defense, and flip ashot up and over Vancouver goalkeeper Jay Nolly and into the net.
There was my play, from which Ive heard was notoff-sides, said Feilhaber. I dont know if it was. You guys can tell me.
So that should have been 2-0 right there, and that wouldhave made the game easier.
The first half, without a shadow of a doubt, we justencouraged them by giving the ball away, said Revolution coach Steve Nicol.The second half was better. I mean, the second goal was a great move, a greatfinish. And hes onside. But were looking to do more of that.
Josephs goal on the penalty kick signified what theRevolution are trying to do. Theyre trying to score. Because defensively, theRevs have been pretty stingy as of late. And with Saturdays win, New Englandhas now posted two straight shutoutstheir first two shutouts of the season.
But unlike last weekends scoreless draw with Colorado, theRevs picked up three pointd on Saturday night against Vancouver. They did thatbecause Joseph was able to finish.
And penalty kick or not, at this point, theyll take it.
Tonight, when I went up, I knew what corner I was goingto, said Joseph after the win, who put the penalty kick into the low-leftcorner of the net. I picked it out already in my mind. I just wanted to put itthere, low and hard, and tonight it went in for me, and it felt great.
--Revolution forward Rajko Lekic left Saturday nights gamein the 81st minute with a left knee contusion.
Nicol didnt seem too worried after the game.
It shouldnt be too bad, said the Revolution coach. Justa tweak. Precautionary, more than anything else. So it shouldnt be bad.
Danny Picard is on Twitter at http:twitter.comDannyPicard.