FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - When discussing Revolution midfielder Sainey Nyassi's first three starts, the number two pops up frequently. Two goals scored. Two penalties conceded. Two wins for his team. Nyassi has grabbed headlines with those two goals.
The first concluded the season-opening win against Houston. Showing the pace that has unsettled defenders during his stint on the field, Nyassi collected the ball at midfield, scampered down the right wing, and smashed home into the roof of the net.
The second came in Wednesday's 3-1 victory in Kansas City. Nyassi scored New England's second tally with a clinical conversion of Khano Smith's cutback.
The Gambian U-20 international, like compatriot Kenny Mansally, joined the team last September and saw scant playing time last season. Steve Ralston's move to central midfield and Wells Thompson's heel injury opened the door for Nyassi to earn a place in the starting 11.
"It's been a great start for me," Nyassi said before heading to Kansas City. "When I was here last season, my hopes were to be in the starting 11."
Nyassi has earned his place in the first team with pulsating attacking play, but he knows that he'll need to work on his defensive game in order to remain in the side.
Usually a winger in a 4-4-2 that allows for more cover when he makes runs down the wing, Nyassi knows there are stingier defensive demands in the 3-5-2 system. He has met those demands by tracking back, often into his own penalty area. When he strays, veterans gently remind him where he needs to be on the field.
"[Chris] Albright's a good player," Nyassi said. "He's an experienced player. He talks to me and tells me where I need to play. Steve [Ralston] does too."
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol has said that his young players have the talent but lack the necessary experience they can only acquire by playing. That inexperience has led to questionable decision-making once Nyassi tracks back into the penalty area.
"They did a great job [against Kansas City], but the thing to remember is they always have things to learn, but with that always comes a tremendous ability on the field," said Nicol.
Nyassi has given away penalties in the team's last two games.
The penalty in Chicago didn't look like much, according to Nyassi, as he tracked back to follow Justin Mapp and brushed the Fire left winger. Nyassi didn't want to make contact; he just wanted to run with him.
"That's what I was doing," Nyassi said. "That's what they need from me. Offensively, they know what I can do. Defensively, that's what they need from me. With this system, you have to track back. I think I have the energy to do it."
Nyassi said the setbacks, especially in the loss in Chicago, will help him as he aims to develop his game.
"I want to learn from that game," Nyassi said. "You have good days and bad days. The good days are a blessing. You have to learn from the bad days."
Wednesday's contest wasn't one of those bad days. Nyassi did give away his second penalty of the season with a reckless tackle on Kurt Morsink to allow Kansas City to equalize after his team took the early lead, but he responded by scoring his first-game winning goal and his team rebounded with a 3-1 victory.
Like the first two games, it was a learning experience.
