Revolution wins on late penalty kick, 1-0

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Khano Smith scored on a penalty kick in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time and the New England Revolution beat Pachuca, 1-0, Wednesday in a second-round SuperLiga match.

New England is 2-0 in its two SuperLiga matches at home, and defending SuperLiga champion Pachuca is 1-1.

Referee Walter Quesada awarded New England the penalty kick after a Pachuca hand-ball violation in the penalty box on a short-side right shot by the Revolution’s Kheli Dube.

“You never really get those calls,” Revolution Coach Steve Nicol said. “It’s always nice to be getting them, and I’m sure Pachuca is feeling a bit hard done by to be on the end of it. Again, it is a tough one for the referee. Does the ball have a go at the arm?”

After a scoreless first half, both teams had good scoring chances in the second, but Dube failed to convert in the 48th minute and New England goalkeeper Matt Reis made a diving hand save on Damian Alvarez in the 69th minute.