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Sounders-Revolution Preview

Sep 25, 2009 - 6:33 PM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Seattle (9-6-11) at New England (9-8-7), 7:30 p.m. EDT

There have been plenty of chances for Seattle to end its scoring woes at home, with a missed penalty shot against the New England Revolution among the most glaring.

Perhaps the Sounders will find it easier to take advantage of such opportunities at Gillette Stadium.

A week after being shut out at home yet again, the Sounders begin a stretch of three straight road games Saturday night with their first matchup at New England.

A scoreless tie with Chivas USA last Saturday boosted Seattle (9-6-11) into third place in the Western Conference. The Sounders, though, were shut out at Qwest Field for the fourth straight game, a slump that doesn't bode well for the expansion team's playoff chances.

Seattle has gone 404 minutes without a goal at home since a 2-1 victory against Houston on July 11.

The Sounders, however, have had quality chances offensively. They put six shots on goal against Chivas.

"I can't go in there and scream at them because they're creating chances," coach Sigi Schmid said.

In a matchup at home against the Revolution (9-8-7) on Aug. 20, forward Fredy Montero missed a penalty kick in the 44th minute.

The Sounders now play three straight on the road, where they are 3-4-5. Seattle, though, has scored five goals in its last three away from Qwest Field, going 2-0-1.

"We'd always rather play at home, believe me," Schmid said. "I'd rather play at home but we're going to go get the points on the road. The points are out there, so we've got to take the points wherever they are."

New England is 6-3-3 at home, holding opponents to 14 goals, but is 0-2-1 overall following a three-game winning streak. The Revolution had lost two straight before a 1-all tie with New York on Sept. 18.

The draw put New England into a tie for fourth-place with Toronto in the East, two points behind D.C. for the final playoff spot.

Poor play offensively hasn't helped the Revolution's cause. They have scored three goals in their last three games after finding the back of the net six times in their previous three.

New England's only goal against the Red Bulls was scored by Sainey Nyassi in the 13th minute. It was the second goal of the season for the midfielder.

"He's talented, there's no question about that," New England coach Steve Nicol said. "But he lacks experience - the kid is only 19. ... Now he just has to do it more often."