Converted defensive midfielder Birahim Diop scored two goals and added one assist in his first career appearance as a forward, while Kei Kamara registered one goal and two assists as the Kansas City Wizards claimed a crucial 4 - 1 win over Khano Smith and the New England Revolution at Community America Ballpark.
Diop scored the game’s first two goals within the opening 30 minutes – on the first two shots of his MLS career – before Kenny Mansally’s third goal of the season briefly cut the deficit to 2-1 going into the halftime break. Kamara stretched the lead to 3-1 in the 65th minute, however, before Jack Jewsbury put the result beyond doubt with the Wizards’ fourth goal in the 69th minute.
With the loss, the Revs finished their two-game road trip with zero points after a 2 - 1 setback to the Chicago Fire earlier in the week. Prior to this road swing, the Revolution was on an eight-game unbeaten streak in all competitions. Meanwhile, the Wizards (6-9-5, 23 pts.) are now 3-1-2 in their last six games and have leapfrogged the Revs in the Eastern Conference standings.
New England’s road woes continued, as the club is now 1-8-1 away from Gillette Stadium this season. The loss also extended the Revolution’s winless run against the Wizards to six games (0-5-1), dating back to 2008.
The Revs began the match in a 3-5-2 formation for the first time this season, a notable departure from the customary 4-4-2 setup. In addition to the formation switch, head coach Steve Nicol also made two personnel changes following Wednesday night’s loss in Chicago; Smith and Mansally came into the side, while Chris Tierney and Emmanuel Osei went to the bench. Both Kevin Alston (L hamstring strain) and Cory Gibbs (L ankle sprain) overcame minor injuries to keep their places on the backline, although Alston was replaced by Osei in the 39th minute after re-aggravating his strained hamstring.
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