It’s a cold night here in Cary, N.C. (41 degrees a half-hour before kickoff), where the Revs are set to match up against the Carolina RailHawks of USL-1 at WakeMed Soccer Park at 7 p.m. Although the rain is currently on hold, showers are expected throughout the game and could make for some interesting playing conditions. With that said, the playing surface and overall facilities here at WakeMed Soccer Park are first-class, so the atmosphere should be an enjoyable one despite the weather. After training in Cary for five days, the Revs will be ready to return to action tonight as they play their final tuneup match before next week’s season opener against the San Jose Earthquakes.

Starting Lineup:

Matt Reis
Chris Albright — Darrius Barnes — Jay Heaps — Amaechi Igwe
Sainey Nyassi — Jeff Larentowicz — Shalrie Joseph — Kenny Mansally
Mike Videira
Kheli Dube

Available substitutes: Brad Knighton (GK), Chris Tierney, Argenis Fernandez, Rob Valentino, Ryan Maxwell, Wells Thompson, Pat Phelan, Kevin Alston

Unavailable for tonight’s match are Taylor Twellman (neck pain), Steve Ralston (quad), Mauricio Castro (hamstring), Gabriel Badilla (back) and Zack Simmons (shoulder). All five players are in North Carolina to watch the match, however, as Twellman joined the team on Thursday morning to give the Revs a full complement of 24 traveling players. Ralston suffered a slight reaggravation of his previous quad injury in training on Monday, but he’s been doing a lot of long distance running and shouldn’t be too far from returning to the field. Castro tweaked his hamstring during training late in the week, while Badilla continues to rest his sore back. Simmons picked up a slight knock when landing awkwardly while making a save on Thursday, but it’s another injury that shouldn’t keep him off the field for long.

North Carolina native and Duke alum Darrius Barnes joined into the pregame activities, helping to recognize Triangle Futbol Club, the team with which he played as a youngster.

The pregame activities continue with the introduction of Swoops, the RailHawks mascot … getting closer and closer to kickoff.

The referees and starting lineups are being led onto the field as Scottish bagpipes play in the background …

Jay Heaps is serving as the captain with Steve Ralston unavailable.

The national anthem has been completed and the starting lineups are on the field ready for kickoff.

And we’re underway in Cary … slight alteration to the previously posted lineup, as Kenny Mansally has lined up as the left midfielder and Mike Videira is playing in a withdrawn role behind Kheli Dube.

4′ - Mike Videira’s through ball into the right side of the box is just out of the reach of Sainey Nyassi, who is barely beaten to the ball by the charging goalkeeper.

8′ - Videira is fouled about 40 yards from goal down the right channel, and Chris Albright lines up over the free kick … he whips the ball into the box but it’s headed to safety.

10′ - Carolina pushes forward for its first strong attempt at goal and almost comes away with the game’s opening strike, but Jay Heaps clears a loose ball off the line after a scramble in the box … a cross into the box was challenged by Matt Reis, and when a RailHawks forward challenged, the ball popped toward the line before being cleared away.

13′ - After the Revolution controlled possession early, the RailHawks are slowly working themselves into the game and maintaining a bit more of the play.

16′ - 1-0 RailHawks: Mark Schulte (unassisted) - A free kick from 40 yards out in the right channel is whipped into the box, and Shalrie Joseph’s attempted clearance pops into the air about eight yards from goal … Reis comes off his line to grab the ball, but Schulte rises highest and loops a header over Reis.

18′ - The RailHawks continue to pressure the Revolution and earn another free kick in the left channel, just outside the goalkeepers box … the service is whipped into the box but it’s headed away to clear the danger.

19′ - A driven cross from the right side is headed wide by a RailHawks forward, but the attempt never looked like troubling Reis.

21′ - Former MLS midfielder Luke Kreamalmeyer works his way down the left wing for the RailHawks and his cross finds Salliev Bundu, but his header bounces about a yard wide.

24′ - Chris Albright makes an overlapping run down the right wing and bursts onto a through ball by Sainey Nyassi … Albright slides to get a cross off near the endline and pulls it back towards the penalty spot … a weak clearance falls to Kheli Dube, but his driven shot slices just wide of the right post.

25′ - Amir Lowery of the RailHawks earns a yellow card for a foul about 35 yards from goal in the right channel … the free kick is lofted into the box and Heaps rises to the header, but his effort goes wide of the right post.

29 ‘ - Kenny Mansally earns a free kick near the endline on the left side, and lines up over the ball … he gives way to Videira, whose in-swinging cross is cleared.

30′ - Nyassi works hard to earn a free kick on the right side, just outside the box … Mansally crosses the field to take the free kick and sends an in-swinging cross into the box, but his effort sails high and wide of the far post.

32′ - Kreamalmeyer works down the right and cuts inside to take a shot, but Heaps dives in to block the attempt.

35′ - The Gambians have switched sides for the time being, with Mansally now operating on the right and Nyassi on the left.

36′ - Videira turns and whips a cross straight across the face of goal from inside the box, but no one is there to tap it home.

43′ - The Revs are maintaining the majority of possession in the final stages of the first half, but not generating many chances.

44′ - Larentowicz swings in a cross from the left wing and Dube reaches it first at the near post, but his flashing header flies high and wide of the upper corner.

And we’ve reached halftime with the RailHawks maintaining a 1-0 lead on the strength of a 16th-minute goal by Mark Schulte.

The rain has held off for the most part here in Cary, but it’s very cold and the players warming up at halftime are wearing jackets, pants, winter hats and gloves.

Two changes for the Revolution at halftime … Kevin Alston has taken over for Chris Albright at right back and Wells Thompson has replaced Mike Videira … Thompson has slotted into the left midfield spot, while Mansally has moved up top and Nyassi has switched back to the right wing … as a reminder, Albright will be suspended for the season opener in San Jose after being red-carded in the final playoff game against the Fire last year.

46′ - And we’re underway in the second half …

46′ - Sainey Nyassi bursts down the right wing and his drive towards the near post is pushed around the post for a corner kick.

48′ - Nothing comes of the corner, but Nyassi is again active as he cuts in from the right side and fires a shot high.

49′ - Kheli Dube works his way through a maze of defenders and curls a low shot towards the far post, but the goalkeeper comes up with a relatively easy save.

49′ - Nyassi is incredibly active, but this time for the wrong reason … he’s yellow-carded for a harsh challenge in the offensive third of the field.

53′ - As expected with the substitutions, the Revs are playing more of a 4-4-2 now, with Dube and Mansally as the pair up front.

56′ - The Revs earn a corner kick from the right side, but Mansally’s service is headed clear … Nyassi corrals the clearance and attempts a low drive from 25 yards, but it’s blocked by a sliding defender.

57′ - The RailHawks pressure for the first time in the second half with a shot from distance, but it skids along the ground and Reis makes a comfortable save.

58′ - RailHawks midfielder Kupono Low earns a yellow card for a tackle on Alston, who was breaking out of the back.

60′ - The rain is falling in Cary and players’ breathing is visible in the cold air.

61′ - Substitution for the Revs … Chris Tierney replaces Amaechi Igwe at left back in a straight swap.

67′ - A lot of possession for the Revs but the final ball isn’t there right now, as wave after wave of attack is being turned away around the box.

67′ - On cue, Kenny Mansally creates space and rips a shot from 20 yards, forcing a diving save from the RailHawks keeper.

69′ - Wells Thompson swings in a corner kick from the left side that almost connects with Shalrie Joseph, but the ball squirts through the box.

69′ - Substitution for the Revs, as Ryan Maxwell replaces Sainey Nyassi on the right wing.

75′ - Mansally again tries his luck from long distance and it’s not a bad effort, as it forces another diving save and creates a corner kick chance … Thompson takes the corner but nothing comes of it.

78′ - New England continues to control possession in midfield but can’t seem to find a way through the RailHawks backline, as the Revs have only created a few long-distance chances this half.

80′ - A RailHawks rush down the left wing is quickly cut out by Darrius Barnes, who dives in well with a perfectly time challenge.

82′ - Mansally works his way inside from the left wing and slides a pass to Dube, who lays the ball off for Larentowicz … the midfielder takes one touch before rocketing a shot from the right side of the box, but it flies narrowly high.

84′ - Larentowicz picks up a yellow card for chopping down former MLS midfielder Gavin Glinton in the midfield circle.

85′ - Corner kick for Carolina but Joseph rises above everyone to clear the danger.

86′ - Mansally finds himself in alone on the goalkeeper from almost midfield but his low shot to the keeper’s right is stopped and covered before there is a rebound.

88′ - Ryan Maxwell bursts past one defender on the right side but is quickly cut off and fouls the second defender in his attempt to win the ball.

90′ - Kevin Alston whips in a dangerous cross after moving up on the right wing, but the pass is cut out by the keeper before it reaches Mansally.

90′ + 1 - Free kick for the Revolution about 30 yards from goal in the left channel, but Tierney’s service is cleared away.

90′ + 1 - The RailHawks look to break quickly but Barnes again comes up huge, diving in at the perfect moment to stop a one-0n-one chance.

90′ + 2 - Joseph tries his luck from distance, but the ball hops up on him and his shot sails high and wide.

And the final whistle blows to end the match, giving the RailHawks a 1-0 victory.

Check back later for a full postgame recap …