New England Revolution II earned its first win in club history Wednesday night, defeating first-place Greenville Triumph SC 1-0 at Gillette Stadium. 

New England nearly opened the scoring in the 17th minute as Isaac Angking found Nicolas Firmino free at the back post with a lofted in-swinging cross, but Firmino fluffed his lines and missed the target from three yards out. 

Both sides continued to search for the game’s opening goal with Ryo Shimazaki curling a shot from distance just wide of Dallas Jaye’s left post in the 32nd minute and Greenville’s Carlos Gomez lobbing a half volley from a tight angle that drifted wide moments later.

Second-half substitute Omar Mohamed looked to inject new life into the Greenville attack, firing two shots that narrowly missed the target after coming on at half time. 

Shimazaki broke the deadlock in the 57th minute, capping off a well-executed counter attack. Firmino dribbled down the right flank with pace and held the ball up waiting for runners to arrive before laying a pass back to Shimazaki who finished first time past Jaye. The goal broke the Triumph’s 432-minute shutout streak. 

Greenville pressed for an equalizer but failed to test goalkeeper Joe Rice in the final third of the match. Rice made six saves on the night, earning his second clean sheet of the season. 

New England’s first win of the season moves the first-year club off the bottom of the table and into 10th place, while the Triumph sit six points clear at the top of the table despite suffering their first loss of the season Wednesday night. 

SCORING SUMMARY 

NE (57'): Shimazaki (first), assisted by Firmino 

NEXT MATCHES

New England Revolution II: August 29 v. Chattanooga Red Wolves SC (A) 
Greenville Triumph SC: August 29 v. Richmond Kickers (A)