By Rich Thompson, Boston Herald
FOXBORO — Lee Nguyen’s emergence as a goalscorer and playmaker has brought the Revolution to the pinnacle of Major League Soccer.
New England Revolution head coach Jay Heaps holds the MLS Eastern Conference Champion’s Cup as he, Jermaine Jones, far left, Lee Nguyen, far right, and teammates celebrate after the second soccer game against the New York Red Bulls of the MLS Eastern Conference final in Foxborough, Mass., Saturday, Nov. 29, 2014. The match ended 2-2 and New England advanced to the MLS Cup with a two-game aggregate 4-3. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
The Eastern Conference champions will take on the West-winning Los Angeles Galaxy for the MLS Cup on Sunday in Carson, Calif. Nguyen leads MLS midfielders with 18 goals this season. His performance officially was recognized yesterday when he was named to the MLS Best XI by an electorate of current players, club leadership and media.
The 5-foot-8, 150-pound dynamo from Richardson, Texas, is the first player from the Revs to be awarded Best XI status since Shalrie Joseph in 2009. Nguyen, the Revolution’s Outstanding Performer, also is a finalist for the league’s Most Valuable Player Award.
“I’m honored to be a part of that (Best XI),” Nguyen said following the team’s workout at the Gillette Stadium practice field. “It is a tremendous honor for me personally, but credit to the team. We’ve done so well, and it helps individuals get notice when the team is doing so well.”
Nguyen has been on an upward trajectory since he joined the squad in 2012. His breakout season helped lead the Revs back to the title game for the first time since 2007. The Revs were 14-1-2 in regular-season games in which Nguyen had a goal or an assist, and he has scored two goals with three assists in four playoff matches.
“The minute he got here I knew he was special,” coach Jay Heaps said. “It is not only what he is doing on the front side of the ball, it is what he is doing off the ball.”
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