Lee Nguyen scored the only goal of the game to hand the New England Revolution a vital 1-0 win over Chivas USA in their MLS clash on Sunday.
The visitors threatened early on and Bobby Shuttleworth had to be at his best to beat away a powerful effort from Felix Borja, who turned his man inside the penalty area.
Nguyen almost found the net in the 20th minute when he beat two challenges to drive into the box, and he found space to fire a dipping shot at goal which went just over the crossbar.
Chivas were a threat on the counter and New England almost paid for failing to clear their lines as a loose ball fell to Erick Torres in the box, but his low shot went just past the post.
In the second half, the Revolution came within inches of taking the lead when Darrius Barnes played the ball back to Daigo Kobayashi on the edge of the box, and his powerful shot went inches over the bar.
New England did take the lead minutes later when Nguyen picked up the ball on the edge of the area and fired a forceful effort at goal which beat the outstretched hand of Dan Kennedy and found the top corner.
The visitors could have equalised immediately as Borja was played clean through down the right and raced through on goal, but the forward fired his shot straight at a solid Shuttleworth.
Chivas pressed for a leveller and almost found it through Torres, as his deflected header went towards the bottom corner before Shuttleworth stuck out a hand and pushed it wide to secure his side three points.
Simon Sinclair
