By CARL SETTERLUND
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Diego Fagundez was the forgotten man in New England not too long ago, but with the Revolution reeling after six games without a win, and Friday’s news of Jermaine Jones’ sports hernia surgery, the 20-year-old reminded the Revs that he’s still one of the top talents in MLS.
Fagundez marked his 100th MLS appearance with one of the best goals of his career, striking a laser beam of a side volley past Chicago Fire goalie Jon Busch in the 48th minute for the go-ahead tally in a 2-0 Revolution victory in front of 15,775 at Gillette Stadium.
The Revs (6-4-6) did all their scoring in a two-minute period as Charlie Davies followed with their second goal in the 50th minute. Lee Nguyen sent the ball in from the right sideline on that play, and Fagundez chested it back to Teal Bunbury for a shot that Davies redirected in.
“I think we all made the statement (at halftime) that we don’t want to come back through that door without three points and we were pretty riled up as a group,” Revs coach Jay Heaps said. “Everyone felt that we could be doing more, there could be more urgency.”
New England kept its MLS-best home unbeaten intact during that winless stretch and extended it to 17 games with the win on Saturday.
The Fire (4-8-2) had one of the better chances of the first half off a Harry Shipp free kick from near midfield in the 24th minute.
Guly do Prado forced Bobby Shuttleworth into a save, shooting from a tough angle left of goal, but the Fire couldn’t make anything of the ensuing scrum at the goalmouth.
Shuttleworth (four saves) came off his line to shut down another opportunity, this time a shot by Kennedy Igboananike, later in the same minute.
Chicago Fire midfielder Matt Polster headed a Chris Tierney corner back to the edge of the box in the 48th minute to set up Fagundez’s golazo. The Uruguayan was waiting to bury his second goal in the last three weeks.
The Revs nearly found a third goal on a long-distance try by Tierney in the 89th minute, while the Fire pressured late with a hard-hit header on frame by Jason Johnson out in front in the 90th minute.
Davies’ goal was his team-leading sixth of the season, putting him on pace to beat his career-best total of 11 goals with D.C. United back in 2011.
The Revolution are back in action on Wednesday, hosting the Charlotte Independence in a fourth round U.S. Open Cup match, while the Fire will look for their first win of June against Louisville City FC, also on Wednesday in Open Cup action. New England’s depth will be tested up ahead, with Jones out and four games left to play this month.