FOXBORO, Mass. (AP) — Welington Paulista had three goals to lead Brazil's Cruzeiro to a 3-0 victory over the New England Revolution in an international friendly on Sunday night.
Paulista put Cruzeiro in the lead in the 24th minute, getting on the end of a long pass from Jonathan and dribbling around Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis before slotting it into the net from a tight angle.
Paulista doubled the Brazilian club's lead in the 49th minute, taking a deflected corner kick from Roger and kicking it past substitute keeper Bobby Shuttleworth from just a couple of yards out.
Paulista completed his hat trick in the 83rd minute, beating his marker to head in Thiago Ribeiro's cross from close range.
The Revs had a couple of near misses of their own with Kenny Mansally seeing his chipped shot cleared off the line in the 56th minute and Emmanuel Osei having his goal ruled offside in the 79th.
The match was Reis' first appearance for the Revs after offseason should and knee surgery. Steve Ralston, who rejoined the team last week, saw his first appearance cut short from an apparent arm injury just a few minutes after entering the match.
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