Adam Cristman finished a Khano Smith cross in the 79th minute as the Revolution took a 1-0 victory over Pioneros de Cancun in an exhibition Thursday night.
The Revolution improved to 4-0-0 in the preseason and Cristman scored for the second time in two games since joining the team. Cristman also scored for the U.S. Under 23 national team in wins over Chivas USA and both goals in a 2-2 tie with Rosso Kumamoto in Japan last month.
"We were pleased with how we went about our business,": Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. ''The field was very bumpy which made it difficult to connect passes, but we showed good mental strength to not let the conditions affect our performance. We stuck at it and went about it in the right manner throughout.
"They (Cristman and Taylor Twellman) played well as a pair. Individually, they both did some good things during the game. Obviously Adam got the cherry on the top with the goal near the end."
Nicol substituted all but Shalrie Joseph and James Riley at the start of the second half. The Revolution's best chance of the first half came from the midfield combination of Joe Franchino and Miguel Gonzalez. Franchino intercepted a pass near the edge of the center circle, dribbled up field and flipped the ball over the drawn-in defense to an oncoming Gonzalez, who chipped a shot over Pioneros goalkeeper Nestor Alvarez inches wide of the net to the right.
In the second half, Jeff Larentowicz nearly scored in the 59th minute when he met Steve Ralston’s corner kick service from the left side. In the 71st minute, Andy Dorman put a hard free kick on frame from 23 yards out – and through the five-man Pioneros wall – but substitute goalkeeper Erick Ramirez made the save.
in the 74th,Taylor Twellman’s header on the far post off Dorman’s corner kick was wide right. Then, Twellman’s cross from the left found Jay Heaps on the far post, but Heaps' header was punched over the crossbar by substitute Javier Hermenegildo. On the ensuing corner kick, Larentowicz again headed over the net.
Pioneros had their first chance in the 78th minute when Pedro Noyola collected the ball at the edge of the center circle and broke in on the net with James Riley closely defending. Noyola created space from Riley and broke in one-on-one with Matt Reis, but his shot from just inside the corner of the penalty area was high. On Reis’ resulting restart, Joseph met the ball in the midfield and found Smith on the left wing. Smith ran around two defenders deep into the corner before crossing to Cristman for the goal.
Smith was ejected minutes after Cristman’s goal and Pioneros had a pair of chances on corner kicks, but both shots went high. Smith received an initial caution for delay of game in the 83rd minute, and then was shown an immediate red card for dissent.
Reis and rookie goalkeeper Brad Knighton combined for the shutout, as Knighton started in goal.
New England Revolution at Pioneros de Cancun
March 15, 2007 – Estadio Cancun 86
Pioneros de Cancun: Nestor Alvarez (Erick Ramirez 46, Javier Hermenegildo 73), Roberto Ramirio (Israel Pacheco 46), Omar Santillan (Antonio Moreno 46), Orlando Hidalgo (Mauricio Campos 46, Jorge Gomez 73), Gary Ramirez (Omar Munguia 46, Edgar Alviso 73), Oscar Ramos (Daniel Cruz 46), Adrian Gonzalez (Raul Sallinas 46), Jesus Romero (David Ballesteros 46), Jose Calderon (Sergio Napoles 46), Luis Angel Carrillo (Pedro Noyola 46), Daniel Arreola (Ariel Marin 46)
Revolution: Brad Knighton (Matt Reis 46), Marshall Leonard (Avery John 46), Amaechi Igwe (Andy Dorman 46), James Riley, Tony Lochhead (Jay Heaps 46), Miguel Gonzalez (Khano Smith 46), Shalrie Joseph, Joe Franchino (Jeff Larentowicz 46), Wells Thompson (Steve Ralston 46), Ryan Solle (Adam Cristman 46), Willie Sims (Taylor Twellman 46).
Goal: Cristman (Smith) 83
Misconduct Summary:
NE – Tony Lochhead (caution) 10
NE – Wells Thompson (caution) 20
PDC – Daniel Arreola (caution) 24
PDC – Antonio Moreno (caution) 72
NE – Khano Smith (caution) 83
NE – Smith (ejection) 83
