Seattle, WA (My Sportsbook) - The New England Revolution went into one of the most intimidating stadiums in Major League Soccer - Seattle's Qwest Field - and earned a hard fought 1-0 victory in front of 32,705 fans in league action on Thursday night.

The victory propels the Revs (7-6-6) into the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race. They now sit in fifth place, just a point back of D.C. United, with at least two games in hand on every team they are chasing.

With the loss, Seattle (8-6-8) sits in third place in the West, two points back of Los Angeles with the same amount of games played.

The game's only goal was scored in the 21st minute when Steve Ralston and Edgaras Jankauskas worked a give-and-go, which led to a Ralston chip pass into the Sounders' penalty area to Shalrie Joseph. Joseph then flicked an off balanced shot past Seattle goalkeeper Kasey Keller for his sixth goal of the season.

The Sounders best chance occurred just before the break, when forward Fredy Montero was taken down in the penalty area, prompting a penalty kick call from referee Baldomero Toledo, who issued seven yellow cards in the game.

Montero, who has 10 goals this season, took the chance and drilled it off the crossbar as his team went into the interval down a goal.

Both teams are back in action this weekend, with Seattle traveling to take on Western leaders Houston on Sunday night, while New England hosts Real Salt Lake earlier the same day.