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New England Revolution wins first leg of Eastern Conference finals, 2-1

Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones celebrates his goal against the Red Bulls in the second half of an MLS Eastern Conference playoff game Sunday.
(Bill Kostroun / Associated Press)
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HARRISON, N.J. — Jermaine Jones finished a counterattack the 85th minute with a tap-in and gave the New England Revolution a 2-1 victory Sunday over the New York Red Bulls in the first leg of the MLS Eastern Conference finals.

The result gives the Revolution a significant advantage heading home for the second leg of the aggregate-goals series on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

Jones knocked in a cross inside the six from Teal Bunbury, who sent the ball across from the right after Lee Nguyen started the break in midfield. Bunbury gave the Revolution the lead early and Bradley Wright-Phillips equalized midway through the first half.

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New York won both previous matches against New England this season, including a 2-0 victory on June 8 that ended a 12-year winless streak in Foxborough, Mass. The victory for New England was its first at Red Bull Arena and first over New York in 10 trips, dating back to 2007.

New England led in the 17th minute when Bunbury took the ball on the right, touched it around Ambroise Oyongo Bitolo and struck a left-footed drive from just outside the area that curled inside the left post.

Wright-Phillips tied the match in the 27th minute but will miss the second leg after his second yellow card of the playoffs in the 60th minute for challenging New England goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth as he attempted to put the ball back into play.

Wright-Phillips’ yellow card was one of 10 in the match.

New York had its best chance to go ahead midway through the second half when Shuttleworth blocked Thierry Henry’s shot from the edge of the area.

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