When you are struggling to score goals, as the New England Revolution are doing this season, then you need help from unlikely sources. And that is what happened on Saturday night as defender Kevin Alston and Jerry Bengtson scored to help New England beat the Houston Dynamo 2-0.
The win moved New England up to fifth place in the east with a 2-3-1 record, while Houston fell to seventh with a 2-3 record.
Up until Alston scored in the 68th minute I was wondering where a New England goal was going to come from. Despite dominating possession, Dynamo goalkeeper Tally Hall had comfortably dealt with anything that the Revs had created. But then a pass (?) touch (?) from Teal Bunbury fell to Alston in the box an d he buried it past Tally Hall from 13 yards out to give New England the lead.
Then late in stoppage time, Bengston chased down a long ball from A.J. Soares that Hall made a hash out. Bengtson took advantage of the goalkeepers mistake to take the ball of him, and then keep his composure before scoring via the inside of the post.
While Bengtson has not scored more often for New England is a mystery. He scores almost once every two games for his country, but his strike rate in MLS is closer to one every ten games. What has to frustrate Revs coach Jay Heaps is that Bengston continues to get himself into good scoring positions, think Houston and Philadelphia this season, but doesn’t finish.
Hopefully this goal will help his confidence as without a goalscorer it will be a long season for New England as it is clear that Bunbury and Saer Sene are not the answers.