New England Soccer Today

Bunbury Scores, Assists in Win

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

Teal Bunbury scored the opening goal, then assisted on the winner to help the Revolution claim a 2-1 victory over the Dynamo on during Round Three of the Desert Diamond Cup tournament at Kino Stadium in Tucson, Ariz. on Wednesday.

Bunbury, who collected his first goal of the preseason on Saturday against Sporting Kansas City, tallied in the 48th minute after collecting a deflected ball along the left channel and chipping keeper Joe Willis for the breakthrough.

Erick “Cubo” Torres put the match back on level terms in the 66th minute after Sambinha was dispossessed in his own end by Will Bruin, who then went at goal before deferring to his teammate at the far post.

But Bunbury rose to occasion again two minutes later when he latched onto a Michael Gamble ball, beat Houston’s offside trap, and found a wide open Steve Neumann for the go-ahead goal in the 68th minute.

Revolution coach Jay Heaps fielded a first team heavy lineup for Wednesday’s match, which saw Chris Tierney make his Desert Diamond Cup debut. Tierney, who was active in the first half, was hampered by an undisclosed injury that kept him out of the first two games of the tournament.

Diego Fagundez showed early flashes that gave the Revolution early hope when he sent a dangerous cross into the box that went begging in the fifth minute while testing Willis with shot on the doorstep that came after a nifty cut inside the box during the 35th minute.

But it was a tale of two halves personnel-wise for the Revolution, which trotted out a number of reserves after the break. Among them was Neumann, who watched a couple of opportunities waste away before he scored the game-winner.

With the win, the Revolution improved their preseason record to 2-2-2. It was the first victory of the Desert Diamond Cup tournament for the club, which last claimed three points in their first preseason game against Vancouver on Feb. 3.

The Revolution will wrap up Desert Diamond Cup action – and by extension, their 2016 preseason fixture list – on Saturday when they face an opponent to be determined.

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