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New England, Sporting hope to snap winless runs

Aug 3, 2012 - 5:00 PM Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Two sides heading in opposite directions will meet at Gillette Stadium on Saturday as the New England Revolution host Sporting Kansas City.

New England is winless in its last four games, leaving the club second from bottom in the Eastern Conference with 23 points from 21 games.

Sporting, despite failing to win in its last three matches, sits just one point shy of Red Bull New York for first place in the East.

Kansas City could have moved into first place with three points in its last outing, but the club fell to the Columbus Crew in disappointing fashion, losing 2-1 at home despite dictating play for large stretches of the match.

"I don't know how many times we've talked about us dominating the game and not getting the win," said striker Kei Kamara, who bagged SKC's lone goal in the loss. "Dominating is not good enough. Sometimes it's better to play dirty and get three points. A lot of people will say, 'We worked hard, we put up a good fight,' but that's not good enough."

Sporting has not had any issue creating scoring chances in recent games, and Graham Zusi, who is tied for third with nine assists this season, believes that once the goals start flying in, the points will come.

"The chances have been there, but the finishing has been an issue as of late. If we can keep creating the chances, I think the finishing will come," said Zusi. "We've said that a lot recently, but as a player you've just got to keep thinking the goals and the wins will come."

Producing goals has been a problem for New England of late as well - the Revs have scored just two goals in their last four league games.

That problem has been exacerbated by the absence of Designated Player Jerry Bengston, who is representing Honduras in the Olympics. For head coach Jay Heaps, Bengston's return to the Revs cannot come soon enough.

"[Bengtson is] exactly what we need right now: a couple of goals," Heaps said. "We knew going in that [he could play in the Olympics] and we didn't want to limit the player. It was the club's choice at that point because he's the over-age player. I think the player needs it. You hate to limit anyone and he had dreams of being in the Olympics. It's great for him."

Bengston leads men's soccer with three goals scored across the pond, and Heaps will surely hope that his Olympic form translates to MLS goals upon his return.