COLUMBUS -- Kheli Dube scored the only goal of the match in the 89th minute to give the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory against Eastern Conference leaders Columbus Crew on Saturday night at Crew Stadium.
Dube poked home the rebound after William Hesmer saved a Shalrie Joseph penalty kick. Steve Ralston drew the foul after Ezra Hendrickson lunged in on the veteran playmaker and caught his foot as he dribbled across the top of the penalty area.
The result didn't reflect the chances Columbus created, but the Revs improved in the second half and looked likely to earn a point before Hendrickson's tackle dropped all three into their laps with a minute left in regular time to bring the Revs into a tie for the Eastern Conference lead with the Crew.
Crew midfielder Adam Moffat trained this week after returning from a right knee injury, but coach Sigi Schmid opted to keep Brad Evans in central midfield. New England head coach Steve Nicol named the same side in back-to-back games for the first time all season.
The two teams struggled to create incisive chances in the opening stages, though Crew winger Robbie Rogers drew multiple fouls in the attacking third with his ability to run into the spaces permitted by the Revolution's three-man backline.
But those free kicks went astray as Guillermo Barros Schelotto failed to find touch in the opening stages. When not over a free kick, Barros Schelotto threatened with his passing and lashed a volley just over the bar.
New England emerged into the game after a quarter of an hour, earning a free kick at the edge of the penalty area that saw Mauricio Castro's effort diverted out for a corner kick by Ezra Hendrickson.
Columbus' pressure yielded the match's first real chance after 26 minutes. Brian Carroll sent Frankie Hejduk deep into the corner and Hejduk's skimming cross to the near post found Alejandro Moreno. The Venezuelan striker did well to turn the ball into the near post, forcing a smart save from Revolution keeper Matt Reis.
Eddie Gaven went close soon afterwards after nicking the ball from a ponderous Shalrie Joseph in midfield. Gaven's run took him to the edge of the penalty area before he dragged his shot inches wide of the near post.
New England had a pair of free kicks before the half ended, the second of which drew the Crew's ire after Gaven looked to be headed clear only for a late whistle drew the play back for a Hejduk tackle.
Gaven created an opening for Moreno soon after the break. Barros Schelotto played Gaven through and watched the right winger slide a ball across for Moreno. The expected effort on goal never came after Moreno couldn't get the ball out of his feet.
While Columbus continued to look the more dangerous of the two sides, New England improved after the break by winning more of the 50-50 battles in the midfield and attempting to spring the ball wide. Halftime substitute Sainey Nyassi drove an effort just wide after wriggling free inside the penalty area as the Revs tried to cement their resurgence with a goal.
The Crew never relented and the impressive Rogers continued to urge his team forward. His cross found Hejduk at the far post and the Crew captain's volley flew over the bar.
Better chances would present themselves for the home side. Gaven met Hejduk's cross at the near post and forced Reis into a diving one-handed save. Minutes later, Moreno slammed his close-range effort off the right post after Hendrickson bounced his header from a Barros Schelotto free kick across the face of goal.
Late luck shined on the Revs after Hendrickson brought down Ralston and Hesmer's save fell right to Dube to tap home at the far post to give the Revs a late victory.
The Crew nearly grabbed a late equalizer when Rogers picked out Evans with a well-weighted cross, but his header flashed just over the bar.
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