League Select 1

New England Revolution 2

Two controversial penalties - one in either half - were the highlights of a low-key victory by New England Revolution at the National Sports Centre last night.

The Major League Soccer (MLS) outfit prevailed 2-1 over Dennis Brown's League Select, sealing the outcome with a 75th-minute penalty that evoked disbelief from the Select's bench and home fans.

In addition to doubts regarding whether Felix Brillant's fall in the area - as he was flanked by two opponents - merited a spot kick, Select management and supporters were shocked to see linesman Anthony Francis flagging for the infringement when referee George O'Brien appeared to have a clear view.

The commotion, however, did not distract Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph from dispatching the ball decisively into the net's bottom-left corner, leaving substitute goalkeeper Adrian Burrows for dead.

New England players might have stifled a chuckle or two, deeming the spot kick appropriate retribution for a first-half penalty awarded to the League Select.

While that 31st-minute ruling was not controversial in itself - as Omar Shakir was blatantly sent to the turf as he pressured the Revolution's Carlos Llamosa just inside the area - New England's goalkeeper Matt Reis, pictured above, protested in vain that he was “not ready” after Select skipper Shannon Burgess had seen to matters from the spot to level the score at 1-1.

It was later revealed that in the MLS, referees ask the goalkeepers if they are ready before a penalty can be taken and therein arose the confusion.

Played out before an appallingly small crowd - 100 spectators at best - the friendly failed to sparkle though some of New England's line up did with slick passes, deft touches and impressive off-the-ball running.

Brillant, who proved to be a handful throughout, and team-mates Marshall Leonard, Ryan Latham and Connally Edozien shone in the first half as the visitors seized control on the carpet.

Clearly accustomed to such smooth surfaces, the Revolution ran riot among the Bermudians for much of the opening segment and were unlucky not to be ahead at the break. The Select's escape in many of the onslaughts were due to custodian Cymande Davis' excellence between the uprights.

Still, it took only 16 minutes for New England to trouble the scoresheet as a cross from the left wing was flicked back towards the goalmouth by Latham for Edozien to coolly side-foot the ball into the net with his right boot.

A smart bicycle kick from close range almost doubled his team's tally a minute later but Davis was well placed to collect.

Given their tentative and even negative approach in some instances, it took 26 minutes before the Bermudians got their first crack at the opposition's goal, with Keith Jennings juggling the ball before swivelling to strike straight at Reis.

While this was a rarity for the Select, right back Jamel Simmons provided a number of good balls up the flank with which his colleagues should have done better.

The Select's fortunes suddenly brightened in the 31st minute when Shakir's determination paid off with the penalty and subsequent equaliser. They were under heavy Revolution fire again, though, as soon as the second half began and 80 percent of the action unfolded in the Select's territory.

So rampant were New England - inserting six half-time substitutes - that the Select were limited to a single inadvertent shot on goal in the latter 45 minutes. That occurred when a long-range, curling ball by Vernon Tankard fell over substitute Revolution goalkeeper Kyle Singer's head and through his hands and had to be headed off the line by a team-mate.

By contrast, New England zeroed in for the kill, forcing several saves from Davis and then Burrows who took over keeping duties with 15 minutes remaining.

Perek Belleh hit just wide of the left post from distance and Andy Dorman volleyed onto the right post from close range before the penalty that wrested the honours for the Revolution.

League Select: C.Davis (A.Burrows, 74 mins), J.Simmons (T.Davis, 58 mins), D.Lawler (K.Roberts, 62 mins), S.Burgess, C.Dowling (A.Lambert, 70 mins), M.Parsons (V.Minors, 74 mins), Keith Jennings, G.Johnson (O.Bascome, 62 mins), O.Shakir, V.Tankard, S.Simmons.

New England: M.Reis (K.Singer, 45 mins), A.John (J.Piette, 45 mins), J.Concela (A.Dorman, 45 mins), J.Riley, C.Edozien (M.Romaneiro, 70 mins), C.Llamosa (M.Parkhurst, 45 mins), F.Brillant, S.Joseph, M.Leonard, J.Holmes (P.Belleh, 45 mins), R.Latham (L.Vercollone, 45 mins).

Yellow cards: S.Simmons (League Select); C.Llamos, J.Riley, M.Leonard (New England).

Men of the Match: C.Davis (League Select); F.Brillant (New England).

Referee: G.O'Brien.