FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- In a season of injury and depletion, third-year player Kenny Mansally has barely been more than a spare part for the Revolution.

What’s unclear is whether his omissions are a slight skid in an otherwise promising future or whether the 21-year-old has thus far failed to reach the barometers set for him by the team.

But the 21-year-old Gambian, a starter in Wednesday night’s game at Gillette Stadium against Mexican team Puebla FC, played a huge role in the Revolution’s 5-3 win on penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw. The victory placed the Revolution into the SuperLiga final to be played later this month against the winner of Thursday night’s game pitting the Houston Dynamo against Monarcas Morelia, also of Mexico.

Mansally put the Revolution ahead in the 56th minute on a splendid goal that included an assist by Shalrie Joseph on a great overall play started by defender Kevin Alston. Mansally then scored the fifth penalty shot for the hosts against three penalty-shot goals by Puebla. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis, who scored the team’s second penalty shot, blocked Edgar Lugo’s shot in the fourth round to secure the victory. The match was tied 1-1 after 90 minutes as Andres Olivera scored for Puebla in the 58th minute.

Brought into the team along with fellow Gambian Sainey Nyassi following the 2007 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada, Mansally’s ascent into Major League Soccer was impressive. Blessed with lightning speed and a strong frame, the left-footed attacker has since taken a back seat to Nyassi, who has been a full-time starter on the right midfield. But he’s hoping his recent non-MLS performances have refocused the spotlight on his potential to the Revolution.

“Yeah, I think SuperLiga has helped me a lot,’’ Mansally said. “Since last year, I have not been getting chances in [MLS], but when the SuperLiga comes I get a chance and I just try to prove myself. I think it’s been hard on me just to get back into the league because when I used to play, I get confident. But the SuperLiga helped me a lot. Every time I play, I get confident and I get going and I get a couple of goals.’’

Mansally did come off the bench in the Revolution’s second game of the season April 3 to score two second-half goals and give the team a 2-1 road victory over D.C. United. His exploits also won him Player of the Week honors. But the achievement did little to enhance his overall role within the team.

Wednesday night, he was gifted another chance to win the game for his team when Puebla defender Juan Garcia carelessly gave it to Mansally in front of his own goal in the 60th minute from about 18 yards out. A charging goalkeeper Edgar Hernandez cut the angle and forced Mansally’s shot just wide of the post to his right.

“Yeah, I had one more chance,’’ Mansally said. “The one that deflected off the defender and I tried to spin it again the way I scored the first goal. But it went wide."

Mansally also was involved in a controversial non-call by referee Roberto Moreno in the first half when Mansally was taken down by Hernandez. While the Puebla keeper probably deserved to be cautioned for the play, it appeared on replay that Mansally was felled just outside the Puebla penalty area, though his momentum carried him into the box.

Revolution coach Steve Nicol said he thought Hernandez should have been ejected on the play and his team given a penalty shot.

“We probably had four chances that should have been put away,’’ said Nicol. “We should have had a penalty in the first half and they should have been down to 10 men. But we can’t complain. We’re through and we won the game.’’

Despite not getting the call, Nicol thought Mansally played a solid game.

“I think he got his confidence on Saturday [as a sub against Philadelphia Union] when he came on and worked real hard and caused them problems, and he just carried it into tonight,’’ said Nicol. “When you score goals, obviously if you don’t take confidence from it, then there’s a problem.’’

Mansally, however, revealed he has had issues keeping his confidence high when he hasn’t played that much, making 11 league appearances and only once as a starter. Wednesday night was his fourth consecutive SuperLiga start.

“I’ve been working hard and I just want to keep the level, and every year I want to go higher,’’ Mansally said. “So nobody knows what’s going to [happen] in the future. I think me sitting on the bench, I lose some confidence, but with SuperLiga I’m getting back on the track.’

Playing as a forward against Puebla and not as a wide midfielder, Mansally said he got specific instructions from his coach on how to approach the game from a tactical and positional standpoint.

“I just created a lot of space because Steve was telling me to stay more high because before I used to like to come and get the ball and go,’’ Mansally said after the game. “But today, he told me to stay high and I see the [openings] when I stay [closer to the goal]; I get more chances. I should have scored more than two goals during the game but I didn’t score. But thank God we won. That’s the most important thing.’’

Notes: Alston was removed from the game in the 64th minute after suffering a mild left hamstring strain. Marko Perovic, who has scored four goals in his past six games, came out in the 33rd with a left calf sprain and is questionable for Saturday’s home match against D.C. United. The Revs are unbeaten in their past six games with a win and a tie in MLS and four victories in SuperLiga. They have allowed just two goals in that time.