ESPN

If the Revolution want to make a move over the last 10 games of the season, they need more production from Benny Feilhaber, says ESPN's Taylor Twellman.

It wasn’t a win, but the Revolution were certainly pleased to escape LIVESTRONG Sporting Park with a point against a potent Sporting K.C. squad on Saturday. And it’s easy to see why.

On paper, it looked like the guests didn’t have shot. Not in the stifling 99-degree heat or against Sporting’s bold attack. Clearly, the odds weren’t smiling on the Revolution going into Saturday’s clash.

But somehow, through a combination of relentless defending and an all-star performance from keeper Matt Reis, the guests pulled off something almost as important as three points: a much-needed morale boost.

“We needed that,” Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said after Saturday’s 0-0 draw. “We’ve been giving up too many goals, whether it be (against) Montreal last week or Toronto the week before. To get the 0-0 result against a team like Kansas City with so many offensive weapons feels good.”

No doubt the losses to Toronto (July 14) and Montreal (July 18) weighed on their minds prior to Saturday’s game. But once the opening whistle sounded, all of it was forgotten.

From the outset, it was apparent that the Revolution were a team that would refuse to bow before their guests. Using a hybrid 4-5-1 that kept Ryan Guy -- a midfielder by trade -- as the striker, they looked like a team ready to suffocate their opponent into submission.

But only four minutes into the match, the Revolution almost found a way to make an early statement. Benny Feilhaber led a long pass through to Guy, who pounded a shot that keeper Jimmy Nielsen denied. Clearly, the guests were up for the task.

“I’m pleased with the effort the guys put it,” Feilhaber said after the game. “It was good for everybody to stand up for themselves and put the responsibilities on each others’ shoulders.”

Although the attack may have faded in the second frame, the defense flexed its muscles to strong-arm K.C. away from the net.

Whether it was Joseph clogging the passing lanes or Stephen McCarthy and A.J. Soares winning the aerial battles, the Revolution’s form in the defending third was at its best under pressure.

“They were pushing a lot of numbers forward and we were just sitting back and defending and making sure we didn’t give up any chances,” Joseph said. “They are a good team going forward and we did well to get a 0-0 result.”

A big factor in the scoreless draw was the superb form of keeper Reis, who stopped six shots on the night for the shutout -- something he knew the Revolution would have to achieve to get a positive result.

“It was something that we talked about before the game,” Reis said afterward. “We knew that we had to defend first, and that’s what we did.”

But it wasn’t before they had to endure an extra 11 minutes of stoppage time in the sauna-like conditions at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park. With heavy legs and sweaty brows, the Revolution tapped into what little energy they had left to see the game out and pocket their first road shutout of the season.

“I think we were pretty tired at the end of the game,” Feilhaber said. “But we were able to hold the shutout, which was important for us. All in all, it is a good result for us.”

Revolution keeper Matt Reis denied a dangerous header from Sporting K.C. midfielder Jacob Peterson header in the 52nd minute to preserve a 0-0 draw Saturday night at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park.

Roaming near the edge of the box, Peterson ran to a Michael Harrington pass and snapped it toward an unguarded far post, but Reis leaped right to make an acrobatic save. Reis collected six saves to earn his fourth clean sheet of the season, while K.C. counterpart Jimmy Nielsen stopped three shots to rack up his ninth clean sheet of the season.

With the draw, the Revolution (6-9-5, 23 points) remain stuck in the eight spot while Sporting (11-6-4, 37 points) stays in second place.

Revs' two-game skid snapped: After falling short against Toronto on July 14 and Montreal on Wednesday, the Revolution were able to get their first point since a 2-0 win over the Red Bulls on July 8.

First road shutout of the season: The scoreless draw marked the first time in 2012 that the Revolution kept their host off the board.

Cranking up the heat in K.C.: The game time temperature at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park was recorded at 99 degrees, the hottest temperature at kickoff the Revs have seen all season.

Simms unavailable: Veteran midfielder Clyde Simms was given the night off after featuring in both of the Revolution's last two matches, which took place within a four-day span.

Happy returns: A pair of Revolution players who missed Wednesday's match in Montreal returned to the lineup against Sporting K.C. Skipper Shalrie Joseph returned to the field after back pain kept him out for the midweek clash. Meanwhile, center back Stephen McCarthy, who sustained concussion-like symptoms during the July 14 tilt against Toronto, saw his first action since the injury. McCarthy was forced to come off in the 76th minute for what appeared to be cramping.

Sene comes on as substitute: After a pair of uninspired performances, striker Saer Sene was dropped from the starting 11 on Saturday. He came on in the 58th minute for Kelyn Rowe, but failed to a register a shot on goal.

Curious configuration: With Sene parked on the bench, midfielder Ryan Guy was given a new role on Saturday: lone striker. Among the other changes: left back Chris Tierney got a start at left midfield, and center back Darrius Barnes pushed wide to get the nod at left back.

Revs avoid red: After racking up a red card in each of their previous two in Kansas City, the Revolution were able to walk off the field at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park with 11 men. However, AJ Soares and Barnes were cautioned in the 20th and 47th minutes, respectively.

No suit for Heaps: While Revolution head coach Jay Heaps is known to don a business suit and tie for game day, the high temperature at kickoff may have influenced him to go with a polo shirt and dress pants.

Nguyen resumes corner kick duties: Given the Revolution's documented set-piece woes, Lee Nguyen took over the corner kick duties for the second straight game. On his first corner, the winger nearly orchestrated a goal when he launched one across frame that Guy nearly nodded through before it was punched off the line by Nielsen.

Next up: The Revolution wrap up their three-game road trip on July 29 against the Union at PPL Park at 7 p.m. The conference clash will mark the first time the teams have played in 2012.

In Jay Heaps' view, two words sum up what he's expecting for Saturday's clash against Sporting Kansas City: hot and hostile.

With temperatures expected to break 100 degrees and a raucous crowd arriving at LIVESTRONG Sporting Park, the Revolution head coach knows his squad simply can't afford to make many mistakes.

"We have to be near perfect in how we play," Heaps said via conference call on Friday. "That's where we harp on no mistakes (and) we harp on the key matchups."

While the heat and environment are out of their control, Heaps cited one factor he and his squad can control: matchups. That, of course, is easier said than done.

With the likes of Kei Kamara and C.J. Sapong -- who've scored a combined 12 goals so far -- lurking near the New England net, the challenge for the seventh-place Revolution on Saturday is pretty obvious going up against the conference kings on their home soil.

"We're going to have to defend really well," Heaps said. "Every man is going to have to put that extra effort in."

Effort is one thing. Execution is another.

Although their effort has never been in question, the Revolution's inability to capitalize on chances has all but anchored them to the lower half of the conference.

And if there's one player who's anxious to cut down on the missed opportunities, it's none other than the playmaker himself -- Benny Feilhaber.

Despite being cast in a number of different roles in the midfield -- most recently, he found himself in Heaps' starting lineup in one of the defensive midfield slots -- the technically talented 27-year-old knows what he has to do to shed a recent bout of uninspiring performances.

"I just have to make sure I get that ball off the back and complete solid passes to kind of get the attack going," Feilhaber said via conference call on Friday. "I think that's one of the things I need to do better and I know I can."

If there's one thing the Revolution won't be lacking on Saturday, it's confidence. Sure, their road record is a look-the-other-way 1-7-1. And yes, they may be coming off a forgettable 2-1 loss to the expansion Impact.

But even with those numbers in the background, Feilhaber doesn't believe that there's a mental block that's affecting the team's play on the road.

In fact, Feilhaber believes that he and his teammates approach every road game with excitement. They're excited to send the home crowd to the exits unhappy.

"It feels like when we go into away games, we're almost kind of hyped up for it," Feilhaber said. "Because we know it's points that are up for grabs to steal."

Points are becoming a greater premium as the season progresses, and Feilhaber knows it. With the team six points outside of the playoff picture, he's aware that the Revs have to step it up on the road to harbor any hopes of ascending the standings.

"We haven't been able to produce away from home," Feilhaber said. "And that's something that has to change if we're looking to make the playoffs."

As for Heaps, he's not looking at the playoffs just yet. Instead, he's taking it one game at a time. And with Saturday's contest against the conference leaders, Heaps believes that Saturday's David vs. Goliath battle will provide an accurate glimpse of how his team stacks up against the best team in the East.

"It's a great time for a great test, to see what we're made of," Heaps said. "We have a quick turnaround and a hard environment, with a team that's number one in the league. What else can you ask for? If you're a player, you want to go out there and measure yourself, and that's what we have to do."

Montreal’s Sanna Nyassi broke a 1-1 tie with a 67th-minute goal to lead the expansion Impact to a 2-1 win over the Revolution in their inaugural matchup on Wednesday at Stade Saputo.

Patrice Bernier opened the scoring when he converted a penalty kick in the 28th minute before the Revolution benefited from an Impact own goal when Lee Nguyen fired a shot off the crossbar that rebounded off keeper Donovan Ricketts and into the net in the 44th minute.

But the game-winner arrived when Nyassi, the twin brother of Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi, volleyed a Justin Mapp ball through to deliver the Impact their seventh victory of the season.

With the win, the Impact (7-12-3, 24 points) leapfrogged the Revolution (6-9-4, 22 points) in the Eastern Conference and took over the sixth spot. The Revolution slipped to seventh.

Barnes back in action: With starting center back Stephen McCarthy feeling the lingering effects of concussion-like symptoms from Saturday’s collision with Ryan Johnson, backup defender Darrius Barnes earned his first start of the season at center back. Barnes’ only action prior to Wednesday’s game came on May 2 against Colorado, when he came on for Kevin Alston in the 42nd minute.

Five-man midfield returns: In the wake of Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Toronto, Jay Heaps employed a five-man midfield against Montreal, with Clyde Simms, Benny Feilhaber and Lee Nguyen central and Kelyn Rowe and Ryan Guy on the wings. Saer Sene was used as the lone striker in the formation.

Playing catch up … again: For the fourth time in their last five games, the Revolution conceded the opening goal to their opponents in the first half. In each of those four games, the Revolution have failed to come back to win (0-2-2).

Who’s that Guy? Another midfielder who returned to action after injury setbacks was Ryan Guy, who got the start on the wing. The 26-year-old speedster last saw action on May 26 at D.C., the same game in which he suffered a calf injury that kept him out of action for the Revolution’s last six games.

Revolution’s Nyassi makes 2012 debut: After missing the first 17 games because of injuries, Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi returned to the field for the first time this season when he came on as a 79th-minute substitute for Sene.

Rowe returns: After sitting out the Toronto game while serving a suspension, rookie midfielder Rowe returned to the field against Montreal.

Joseph unavailable: One noticeable absence from the Revolution’s gameday 18 was central midfielder Shalrie Joseph. The skipper, who traveled with the team to Montreal, was a scratch due to back pain.

What’s possession got to do with it? For the second straight game, the Revolution got the better of the possession scale (50.9 percent) only to fall a goal short on the scoreboard.

Reis back between the sticks: After watching Bobby Shuttleworth get the nod in net for the last two games, veteran Matt Reis resumed his duties at goalkeeper.

Next up: The Revolution resume their road trip on Saturday, when they face Sporting Kansas City at Livestrong Sporting Park at 8:30 p.m. ET. Sporting beat the Revolution 3-0 in their last matchup on March 17.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It’s no secret that set pieces have not been a Revolution specialty this season. And it became all the more obvious in Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Toronto.

Of the 28 total opportunities (13 corner kicks and 15 free kicks) afforded to them via the set piece, the Revolution couldn’t convert a single one into a goal. Not one.

Needless to say, Revolution coach Jay Heaps wasn’t exactly thrilled to watch so many opportunities fall by the wayside.

“The set pieces were not good enough all the way around,” Heaps said after Saturday’s game. “It was very disappointing. Corner kicks I thought were OK, but when we’re talking about free kicks, the chances we had were short (and) over.”

The Revolution's set-piece struggles have been an on-going theme all season, especially in recent weeks while in attack mode.

Whether it’s Chris Tierney or Benny Feilhaber standing behind the ball, the fact is that it’s a rare sight to see one of their efforts redirected into the net. And the stats don’t lie. With only one goal from an attacking set piece this season, the Revolution are one of the worst teams in the league in that department.

It would be easy to lay the blame squarely on Tierney or Feilhaber for the team’s ineptitude on dead ball situations. But the inescapable fact is that it takes more than a singular effort to convert free kick opportunities, which Tierney was quick to point out after Saturday’s loss.

“There (are) two aspects,” Tierney said. “The service has to be good and we have to attack the ball and we didn’t do any of those.”

Although Tierney accepted his share of the blame for the team’s lack of set-piece success, Heaps pointed out another reason why the Revolution fell flat on corner kicks in particular.

Given a season-high 13 corners to work with, the Revolution found plenty of chances to equalize. But as the game approached full time, their form on both free kicks and corners became all too predictable.

“We have four or five plays that we run on corner kicks -- different movements -- and after 11 of them, you pretty much exhaust them,” Heaps said. “So we tried to change it up. (But) we just didn’t do enough. We ran out of ideas and they defended well.”

So what’s the solution? According to Tierney, it all boils down to a simple concept that many flawed teams struggle with.

“It’s just a matter of executing during the game,” Tierney said. “We had a few that got cut out and weren’t great, so it’s disappointing, but that’s a small part of the game.”

A small part of the game that ultimately played a huge role on Saturday -- much to the chagrin of the Revolution.

The Revs announced Monday that they have acquired French striker Dimitry Imbongo on a free transfer. Imbongo will be officially added pending the receipt of his U.S. P-1 Visa, and will count as an international player on the roster.

“Dimitry will give us another option up front and provide us with more depth in our attack,” General Manager Michael Burns said. “When he was in training with us last month, he fit in well with our players and now we’re looking forward to his arrival back to Foxboro this time on a permanent basis.”

Imbongo, 22, spent the 2011-12 season on loan from 1860 Munich to German third division club SV Darmstadt 98.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It didn't take long for Saturday's game to take a turn for the worse -- at least from where Revolution head coach Jay Heaps was standing.

Just 2 minutes into the match, Revolution center back Stephen McCarthy collided with Toronto forward Ryan Johnson near the edge of the box on a 50-50 ball. And it left McCarthy shaken enough for Heaps to use his first substitute just as the game got under way.

"It's a tough one, getting hit like that," Heaps said after the 1-0 loss. "[Getting] hit with an early sub really changes what you need to do the rest of the game and how you utilize your subs."

But McCarthy's early exit didn't just change the way Heaps planned to use his subs. It changed the Revolution's form -- and not exactly for the better.

With Shalrie Joseph -- a center half by trade -- stationed out of position at McCarthy's spot in the defense, it didn't take long before Toronto took advantage.

Six minutes after McCarthy's collision, the Reds held the ball inside the attacking third ready to exploit the vulnerable Revolution defense. And they executed their first opportunity to perfection.

Reggie Lambe beat two defenders and went centrally to find a teammate. Luis Silva ran into position and grabbed the pass from Lambe, then played a give-and-go with Danny Koevermans before Silva slipped it past Bobby Shuttleworth to score what proved to be the lone goal of the game.

"They got that early goal and we knew what it was going to be," Revolution left back Chris Tierney said. "They were going to try and get that early goal and then bunker in, which is what they did."

And they did it to perfection. After falling short in their previous six attempts at Gillette Stadium, the Reds weren't going to risk going forward and leaving holes behind them. It wasn't in their nature.

As expected, the Reds dropped back, ready and waiting to absorb whatever the Revolution threw at them. And were happy keep it that way until the final whistle.

"That's their game plan," Tierney said. "They were trying to slow the game down and they were trying to take fouls and be strong."

Attempting to pry the lock on Toronto's defense would prove to be especially difficult, especially with Joseph stuck in the back. Although the Revs were able to advance the ball into the Toronto end, a timely tackle awaited them.

Whether it was a 28th-minute through ball from Benny Feilhaber to Fernando Cardenas, who had his sights set on frame before Terry Dunfield punched it away, or a 51st-minute Saer Sene pass that Logan Emory dismantled before Lee Nguyen reached it, the Reds executed their game plan in textbook fashion.

When it wasn't working from the run of play, the Revolution found plenty of opportunities to equalize via the set piece. In fact, on corner kicks alone, 13 such chances were made available to them.

But whether it was Tierney, Feilhaber or Lee Nguyen taking them, not a single teammate could slot one through. Some were high. Some were cleared away before the box. Some were steered wide of frame.

"The set pieces were not good enough all the way around," Heaps said. "It was very disappointing. Corner kicks I thought were OK, but when we're talking about free kicks, the chances we had were short, they were over. That to me is disappointing."

In the end, all the Revolution could do was look in the mirror. In the 82 minutes they had to find an equalizer, they came up short each time. Slick passes yielded brief moments of hope. But each time, the Reds met the challenge and held on for the win.

"It was a good road performance from them," Tierney said. "They were strong defensively and they probably wanted it a little more, you could say."

NOTES

• The Revolution's five-game unbeaten streak (2-0-3) came to an end with the 1-0 loss.

• Toronto's 1-0 win was its first in seven tries at Gillette Stadium after going 0-4-2 in its previous six.

• Bobby Shuttleworth earned his second straight start in goal, but also picked up his first loss of the season. His record stands at 1-1-0.

• Revolution center back Stephen McCarthy was diagnosed with concussion-like symptoms after his 2nd-minute collision with Ryan Johnson.

• Shalrie Joseph, a central midfielder by trade, saw his third game at center back this season after coming on for McCarthy in the 6th minute.

• Toronto head coach Paul Mariner, who served as a Revolution assistant from 2004 to 2009, made his first return to Gillette Stadium as member of the Toronto coaching staff.

• Revolution striker Jerry Bengtson made his second appearance of the season when he came on at the start of the second half for Blake Brettschneider. Bengtson will fly out to London later this week to join the Honduran squad for the Olympic Summer Games.

• The Revolution's loss was their first in three months at home. Their last home loss came on April 14 versus D.C. United, a 2-1 defeat. In between the losses, the Revolution went 4-0-2.

• The Revolution recorded a season-high 13 corners on Saturday.

• The shutout marked the sixth time the Revolution came away without a goal.

• Revolution midfielder/forward Diego Fagundez made his third straight appearance off the bench when he came on for Fernando Cardenas in the 72nd minute.

• The Revolution had the overwhelming advantage on open-play crosses with a total of 27 to Toronto's 6.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The last time the Revolution met Toronto, back on Jun. 23, it was a classic tale of two halves.

In the first 45, Toronto capitalized on a couple of defensive errors and went into halftime with a two-goal lead.

But in the second frame, the Revolution scored two unanswered goals -- including a 94th minute equalizer -- to salvage a precious road point with a 2-2 draw at BMO Field.

Guess which half the Revolution are anxious to resume in Saturday’s rematch?

“We’re going to start the game against Toronto like we played in the second half (in Toronto),” Revolution center back A.J. Soares said after training on Wednesday. “Keeping the ball and just pushing them back.”

Soares and his teammates should have no problem keeping the ball on Saturday. And that’s by design.

Although Toronto’s form has improved over the last five weeks, the Reds are still very much a direct team. A team that relies on long passes and a strong aerial presence. In short, the idea is to push the ball forward and hope that either Danny Koevermans or Ryan Johnson get a hold of it and finish.

It may sound like a simple challenge. But Revolution defender Chris Tierney, who scored the 94th minute equalizer three weeks ago, is aware of the danger that a team like Toronto presents, especially after they built a two goal halftime lead during their initial encounter.

“You know what you’re going to get with Toronto,” Tierney said after training on Wednesday. “They’re going to be well-organized. They’re pretty direct and they like to get it wide and get balls in the box to two strikers who can you with good service.”

While it’s only been three weeks since the 2-2 draw in Toronto, don’t think that the Revolution are approaching Saturday’s rematch in the same fashion.

In the weeks that followed their last encounter, Toronto has reeled off a 2-1-2 mark. Most recently, they flashed their offensive weapons in a wild 3-2 win against Vancouver on Wednesday.

With Toronto’s sudden surge, Tierney advised that Saturday’s match up won’t present the same challenge seen three weeks ago.

“It’s a different game for us,” Tierney said. “We’ll be confident in the way that we played there. We had a good amount of the ball and used it pretty well in the second half so we’ll try to carry that momentum over.”

Meanwhile, Soares has high expectations for the conference clash. After the Revolution shut down the Red Bulls with a 2-0 win last weekend, he’s confident that he and his teammates can extend their current five-game unbeaten run to six on Saturday.

“We’re going to (push them back) and get some early goals,” Soares said. “We’re going to lock them down defensively like we can do (and) like we showed in (the Red Bulls game).”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Revolution head coach Jay Heaps likes what he sees midway through his first season on the sidelines.

In the first 17 games of the season, he’s watched his team not only employ the attacking style promised during his introductory press conference, but translate that style into results.

But even though the Revolution (6-7-4, 22 points) are a much improved squad this season, Heaps was hesitant to give a mid-season grade after Wednesday’s training hesitant.

“It’s hard to say where you are,” Heaps said. “We feel we’ve made progress but I think we want to be a better team than we’ve shown, at least better in the standings.”

The reason why the Revolution aren’t better in the standings? Simply put: team defense.

Earlier this season, the Revolution allowed late-game goals to Dallas (Apr. 5), D.C. (Apr. 14) and Houston (May 19) -- thus depriving the side of a potential four point climb. That, combined with poor first half performances in Toronto (Jun. 23) and against Seattle (Jun. 30), have kept the Revolution on the outside of the playoff picture.

Even so, Heaps is encouraged by the way the attack has sharpened. He is encouraged that the mistakes are starting to get cleaned up. In short, Jay Heaps sees the potential. The potential of team that, he believes, will be better in the second half.

“We’ve shown well,” Heaps said. “But we feel we can be higher in the standings. That’s a good feeling to have. We know we’re leaving points on the field and if we can correct those (mistakes), we should be in a better position.”

GOALKEEPER CONTROVERSY?
With Bobby Shuttleworth’s 2-0 shutout against New York on Sunday still fresh in the minds of many, Heaps was non-committal about the second-string keeper’s short-term future in the first XI.

On Sunday, Heaps said he wanted to give his regular keeper Matt Reis -- who played every minute between the sticks prior to Sunday -- a rest. Thus the door opened for Shuttleworth to get the nod.

But Heaps also mentioned that the timing of the surprise start wasn’t unrelated to Reis’ struggles against Toronto and Seattle.

“The mistakes we were making in the back were due to air balls,” Heaps said. “That happens to be one of Bobby’s strengths.”

In the interim, Heaps said that Shuttleworth’s performance will likely warrant some tough decisions on the goalkeeper front in the coming weeks.

“Bobby got in the game and did a very good job,” Heaps said. “Now, I think as we approach game day, we’ll start making those hard decisions on who starts in goal.”

A FAMILIAR FOE
For the second time in four weeks, the Revolution will play conference bottom-feeders Toronto FC on Saturday.

Although Toronto conceded two late goals in their 2-2 draw to the Revolution on Jun. 23 at BMO Field, they’ve been unbeaten in four of their last five (2-1-2) and are playing some of their best soccer of the season as of late.

In light of that, Revolution center back A.J. Soares assured the media on Wednesday that he and his teammates won’t be sleeping on their conference foe come Saturday.

“Their team is growing,” Soares said. “They’re becoming better every day. They’re not a team to take lightly, by any means.”

BUILDING HOME FORM
Since Day 1 of his tenure, Heaps has preached the importance of being strong at home. And it seems like that’s a lesson the Revolution are taking to heart.

With Sunday’s 2-0 win, the Revolution’s home mark went to 5-1-3 -- a record which left back Chris Tierney believes is affecting their opponents’ mentality even before stepping onto the Gillette Stadium field.

“We know that a lot of teams don’t want to come here, which is a good thing,” Tierney said after Wednesday’s training. “That’s the atmosphere we’re trying to create: making it a miserable place for opposing teams to come in and play and I think we’ve done that so far.”

We talked about Chris Tierney in a blog entry on Tuesday and today he stopped by to chat with ESPN Boston's Adam Jones. Click here to listen to the podcast of their conversation.

This isn't a Revs blog entry, but we thought there might be interest in news about Liverpool's upcoming games in the U.S.

Liverpool Football Club announced earlier this week that ESPN will televise two U.S. matches on Liverpool FC’s 2012 North America Tour.

The live broadcasts of both the July 25 AS Roma vs. Liverpool FC match at 6:30 p.m. ET at Fenway Park and the July 28 Tottenham Hotspur vs. Liverpool FC match at 1 p.m. ET (in Baltimore) will air on ESPN2, ESPN3 and ESPN Deportes in the United States.

“World football has experienced consistent growth in the U.S. over the last two decades and ESPN has played a critical role in that growth through its award-winning coverage and analysis, and by providing Barclays Premier League fans with live access to key matches across its network,” said Liverpool FC Chief Commercial Officer Billy Hogan. “This partnership will allow our U.S. supporters to see the club live in action this summer and presents a signature opportunity to introduce Liverpool football to new audiences across the globe.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Midway through the first half of a scoreless game, Revolution left back Chris Tierney pushed into the attacking third before he made a big mistake.

At least he thought he did.

With three Red Bulls defenders closing in, Saer Sene ran into the area completely unmarked. All Tierney had to do was slip it through.

But, Tierney hesitated. He held onto it for too long. So, instead, he cut it back to Lee Nguyen, just hoping that his fellow left-sided teammate could bail him out.

Like a good teammate, that’s exactly what Nguyen about a second later when he fired a 20-yard shot that found the back of the net.

“(Chris) played me a ball with enough pace on it to give me time to take a touch towards goal and take a shot,” Nguyen said after Sunday’s 2-0 win over the Red Bulls. “It was just a nice setup from the beginning to the end.”

Although replays show that Sene may have been the better option, Tierney’s pass to Nguyen in the face of danger isn’t all that surprising.

In all but one game this season, Tierney and Nguyen found themselves stationed together on the left flank, an area that only a year ago, was a point of weakness for the Revolution a year ago.

Whether it was due to a shaky core, injuries or a simple lack of cohesion, the Revolution weren’t especially effective on the left side. So first year head coach Jay Heaps decided to do something about it.

A day after the Whitecaps put Nyugen on waivers in early-March, Heaps and general manager Miek Burns rushed in to sign the suddenly-unemployed midfielder. It turned out to be a fortuitous move -- one that Tierney quickly became a fan of.

“I love playing with Lee,” Tierney said after Sunday’s game. “He’s as technical as you get in this league. He’s been awesome for us all year and I think we have a good understanding of when one goes, one covers.”

While Nguyen’s fearless runs into the attacking third have endeared him to the Revolution faithful, Tierney noted that his left-footed accomplice also puts in work off the ball, whether the team’s pressing or defending.

“What he doesn’t get enough credit for is how hard he works,” Tierney said. “You see his work rate. He’s not only creating for us offensively and controlling the game, but he’s always tracking back and getting in tackles.”

There’s no doubt that Tierney’s thrilled to have Nguyen’s and his unquenchable work ethic in front of him. Not only does it help the defense as a whole, it’s obvious through the team’s first 16 games that the Tierney-Nguyen combination has improved the Revolution’s form on the left side this season.

And while the overall defending has improved as a result, Nguyen (three goals, two assists) and Tierney (two goals, four assists) have also made notable offensive contributions during the first half of the season.

But after Sunday’s 2-0 win -- which extended the Revolution’s current unbeaten streak to five -- Nguyen was simply focused on his team’s success rather than his 24th minute goal.

“(Winning) was huge, especially at home,” Nguyen said. “We need to get three points and now going into the next game it’s going to give us confidence and hopefully we can make it a couple wins in a row and push up the leaderboard.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It was a memorable first impression for the Revolution's newest Designated Player on Sunday, one that won't be soon forgotten by the Revolution faithful.

Twenty-four minutes after stepping onto the Gillette Stadium field for the first time, Jerry Bengtson bagged his first Revolution goal before a crowd of 14,374, who loudly voiced their approval of the recently acquired Honduran striker.

For Bengtson, there was no doubt that he could deliver the goods in his Revolution debut. No doubt whatsoever -- even if he was afforded only a half-hour to do so.

"As a forward, I'm always thinking about scoring goals," Bengtson said through a translator after Sunday's 2-1 win over the Red Bulls. "But the more important thing was the team getting three points and winning the game."

However, before Bengtson could make his mark on the match, there was one important thing Revolution head coach Jay Heaps wanted Bengtson to do: watch. Watch his teammates move the ball and play it forward.

While Heaps wanted Bengtson to observe his teammates' tendencies, he also wanted to handle Bengtson's introduction with care. No need to rush him into action with the ink yet to dry on his contract.

"You can't just expect a player to come in and start," Heaps said. "He's coming in, getting to know the team. But to throw him out there for more than (30 minutes) would've been unfair to him."

So at halftime, Heaps gave his new striker the heads up: Be ready to go in the second half.

With his squad up a goal in the 60th minute, Heaps summoned Bengtson from the bench. It was time to show the crowd what Bengtson could do.

Out on the field as the lone striker with Saer Sene going out wide, the Bengtson battled for 50-50 balls and stretched the defense with his speed and positioning.

"(This) was the kind of game where we wanted him to fight for headers," Heaps said. "He was all by himself on an island just to kind of open up the defense."

While Bengtson may have found himself isolated up top, it was evident he applied what he observed on the bench out on the pitch.

When Sene tucked inside, Bengtson went wide. And when Sene went out on the right, Bengtson cut inside, anxious to put one into the back of the net.

And that's exactly what he did in the 84th minute. With the Revolution pressing for an insurance goal, Sene played a give-and-go with Shalrie Joseph and barreled through Red Bulls defender Wilman Conde before Ryan Meara stopped his close-range shot. But Bengtson arrived late to shove the rebound into the back of the net.

"It was a beautiful play by my teammate," Bengtson said. "It was very unlucky that he took as a shot and the keeper made a save. But I was focused enough to lead it into the goal. I never lost focus on following the play."

It wasn't the prettiest or most technically sound strike. Some may call it the quintessential "garbage goal." But it's the kind of goal that Heaps expects his newest striker to score.

"I think you're going to see more goals like he scored where it's a poacher's goal," Heaps said. "He's offside on the first part of the buildup, but then he comes back onside and he fights off the goalkeeper and scores. Those are his kind of goals and we need someone who puts those away."

Meanwhile, Bengtson credited his teammates and coaches for helping him transition not only to a new squad, but a new country.

"All of my teammates and the coaching staff have always supported me and helping me out," Bengtson said. "But the more important thing is the fans. The fans have been key for me."

And the fans? If the applause and cheers following Bengtson's 84th minute goal were any indication, the fans are just as happy to have him here.

NOTES:

• With their sixth win of the season on Sunday, the Revolution surpassed their victory total from all of last season (5).

• The 2-0 win extended the Revolution's unbeaten streak to five (2-0-3).

• The Revolution have scored two goals in four of their past five games.

• The shutout was the Revolution's fourth of the season.

• Lee Nguyen's 24th-minute goal was his first since a 74th-minute strike against Vancouver on May 12.

• Blake Brettschneider led the Revolution with four shots on goal during Sunday's match.

• In his first start of the season, second-string goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth earned his first career MLS shutout.

• Shalrie Joseph, who was listed as "doubtful" with a knee injury on the team's injury report on Friday, came on as a 73rd-minute substitute for Benny Feilhaber.

• Saer Sene, who started on the right side of the midfield last week, returned to his familiar striker's spot up top to start the match.

• Red Bulls forward Thierry Henry was not available for selection on Sunday.

• After suffering a hamstring strain during the first half of the June 23 match at Toronto, right back Kevin Alston returned to action on Sunday and went the full 90.

• When Joseph came on in the 73rd minute, it marked the first time in Revolution history that two of its Designated Players were on the field at the same time.

• Revolution midfielder/forward Diego Fagundez, who scored the 94th-minute equalizer in last week's match against Seattle, came on as an 89th-minute substitute for Kelyn Rowe.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Revolution midfielder Benny Feilhaber isn’t going to whine about the way in which the last two games have gone to the wire.

Staring at 2-1 deficits against Toronto and Seattle as the final seconds of stoppage time approached, the Revolution found a way to equalize in dramatic fashion on each occasion.

The Comeback Kids of the Eastern Conference? You could call them that.

And while Feilhaber is certainly proud of his team’s relentless pursuit of points, he doesn’t want it to become a habit.

“It’s good to see us fight for that long, (going) into the 94th minute for the second game in a row,” Feilhaber said after training on Thursday. “But, I’m hoping we don’t have to keep it that late every game.”

That sentiment rings especially true with one of the league’s most potent attacks in town on Sunday.

New York enters the conference clash with 32 goals in its pocket -- the second-most in the conference. And it’s no surprise why.

With Kenny Cooper (11 goals) and Thierry Henry (9 goals) leading the charge, the Red Bulls have let their attack do the talking this season. But the goals aren’t just coming from the front of the pack.

In the last two weeks, defenders Brandon Barklage and Jan Gunnar Solli have each added a pair of goals to help get the Red Bulls results against D.C. (3-2 win) and Toronto (1-1 draw).

Given the Red Bulls’ propensity to push forward, Revolution center back Stephen McCarthy knows exactly what he and his teammates need to be better on come Sunday.

“In the past two games, it’s been crosses,” McCarthy said after training on Thursday. “We have to be better marking, and when the ball gets wide, we have to be better marking up. It’s kind of a mental thing as a much as a physical thing.”

But it isn’t just defending out wide and inside the area that they'll have to improve. Rather, McCarthy believes that he and his teammates have to open up sharper -- especially after surrendering four first-half goals in their last two games alone.

“I think the bigger problem is the way we’re starting games,” McCarthy said. “I think we can really do so much better in the first half of games, then show what we’re really capable of in the second half.”

Putting together two quality halves is the only chance the Revolution stand at getting all three points from a conference contender on Sunday. And their initial encounter with New York on Apr. 28 should serve as a reminder.

Although the Revolution played a strong second half, a first frame full of errors allowed Henry to score the deciding goal only seven minutes into the match at Red Bull Arena. Given the series of scoring chances the Red Bulls found inside the first 45, the Revolution were fortunate to keep the margin at 1.

This time around, however, the Revolution know first-hand what to expect from the Red Bulls. In light of that, Feilhaber believes that the key to three points on Sunday has more to do with what they can control the game rather than what the Red Bulls bring to the table.

“We know they’re a good team going forward,” Feilhaber said. “But for the most part, we’re worried about ourselves (in terms of) playing the right game, the right style, not giving up soft goals and then creating our chances.”