New England Revolution edge past luckless Colorado Rapids

Goals in both halves helped New England Revolution to a comfortable 2-0 win away to luckless Colorado Rapids this morning.

Lee Nguyen added to Juan Agudelo's first-half opener as Revolution picked up their second victory of the MLS season against a Rapids side that struck the woodwork three times in total.

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The breakthrough came after 18 minutes when Agudelo latched onto Kelyn Rowe's pass before stroking beyond goalkeeper Clint Irwin into the top-left corner.

Both sides swiftly spurned chances in what was proving an end-to-end tussle, with Dillon Powers going close for Rapids, before Rowe fired narrowly over the bar moments later.

Colorado could, and perhaps should, have levelled up shortly before the break, but Gabriel Torres failed to keep his header underneath the crossbar.

It proved a costly miss as Jay Heaps's side doubled their advantage on 58 minutes when Nguyen converted from the penalty spot after Jared Watts was penalised.

Dominique Badji came close to reducing the arrears on 71 minutes by dragging a shot narrowly wide, before Juan Ramirez went closer by hitting the outside of the post moments later.

Pablo Mastroeni's side continued gamely on the comeback trail and Bobby Burling was the third and final player to be denied by the woodwork on 80 minutes as New England rode their luck to hold on.