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Chavez strike effort enough to down Revs

Chavez - Getty

By CALEB SONNELAND

FC Dallas continued its impressive run of form as it claimed a 1-0 home victory over the New England Revolution thanks to a great goal from Marvin Chavez in the 69th minute.

The Honduran was on-hand to take a good pass from Fabian Castillo and blast the ball past goalkeeper Matt Reis at his near post after craftily skipping his way past rookie AJ Soares on the end line.  The goal was the first of his 2011 season.

Despite Chavez eventually getting the better of him, Reis denied Chavez several goals on the night and, other than the lone instance, the Revs keeper put in a fine performance in goal.  

Opposite Reis, Kevin Hartman and his back line registered yet another clean sheet as FC Dallas goes nine games unbeaten in MLS play while only allowing four goals in that span.

Missing from action for the Revolution was influential midfielder Benny Feilhaber, who the club acquired earlier in the season.  Feilhaber sprained his right ankle in the Revs' last match against the LA Galaxy. With the Gold Cup just on the horizon for the USMNT, the injury means that the tournament is now a major doubt for him as he is expected to miss a minimum of four MLS matches.

Also called upon for international duty at the Gold Cup was the match's lone goal-scorer.  Chavez declined to join his native country of Honduras in this summer's Gold Cup after recognizing that FC Dallas were in an injury "crisis" and it would be better for him to stay in Texas.  

FC Dallas will now play host to Sporting Kansas City next sunday, while New England will travel a short way south for a match-up with the New York Red Bulls in Red Bull Arena.

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What did you think of the match?  Was FC Dallas the deserved winner?  Was Chavez right to decline his Gold Cup invite?

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