It may not have been the shot heard around the world. But Khano Smith?s first goal in a New England Revolution jersey could go a long towards securing a contract with the Major League Soccer (MLS) Eastern Conference side.

The Dandy Town striker hit the target and set up Felix Brillant?s winner to give his team a 2-1 victory during a practice match in Guayaquil, Ecuador on Thursday.

The Bermudian joined up with the MLS team just over a week ago in Boston before heading to South America for football trials with the Revolution.

Smith?s chances of landing a contract have also been galvanised with Revolution strike pair Pat Noonan and Taylor Twellman not involved in New England?s four-match tour of Ecuador. Both players are currently playing with the US national team.

?Smith is a football player. And as a striker you have to be a football player,? stated Revolution coach Steve Nicol in an interview with the Boston Globe.

?Every striker has to be a target man at some stage. But they also have to finish when needed and do their fair share of everything else.?

If there has been one stumbling block for the visiting MLS side on tour then it might have been Wednesday night?s postponed opening match against Nacional in Guayaquil. The match failed to get underway due to an ?unprepared? pitch, according to Revolution spokesman Brad Feldman.

?The opening match being scrapped was a disappointment, but not a huge surprise,? he told yesterday.

?Colorado (Rapids) and the MetroStars were both on Ecuador trips recently when matches were cancelled. No disrespect in any way to the Ecuadorian teams, but some of these friendly match promotions are scheduled for small provincial stadiums normally used by lower league teams and the MLS coaches have to weigh risk with reward in terms of potential injuries in the preseason.

?And the decision to scrap a match is never taken lightly and all parties concerned are taken into consideration.?

That aside, warm weather conditions and adequate training facilities have been met by a positive response from the touring entourage.

?The squad training has by all accounts been excellent,? Feldman added. ?In general the players say the accommodations are better than expected and similar to those on our trips to Brazil in 2002 and 2003 when they stayed at an athletic training facility with dormitory-style rooms. It?s not Pompano Beach Club, but they are making do just fine.?

Providing a brief assessment on Smith so far, Feldman noted: ?Khano is doing very well and the coaches seem pleased. He scored and assisted in the Blue team?s 2-1 victory in an inter-squad scrimmage. And Khano is going ways toward proving his abilities as a target forward.?

Revolution coach, and former Liverpool great Nicol first took note of Smith?s goal-scoring abilities when the MLS side toured the Island earlier this month.

Smith, a teacher at Dellwood Middle School and graduate of Lees-McRae College, netted the national team?s first goal in a 3-2 loss to New England at the National Sports Centre.

The 24-year-old Hornets striker has previously undergone trials on both sides of the Atlantic, only last summer at UK clubs Oxford United and Rochdale.

He also signed a one-year contract at United Soccer League (USL) Division Three side Carolina Dynamo in 2002.

A recent recipient of the Sports Minister?s Award for excellence, Smith represented Bermuda during last year?s World Cup qualifying campaign and the Digicel Cup tournament in St.Vincent.

Prior to jetting off to Ecuador, Nicol told : ?I am impressed with Smith?s size and strength and ability to run from deep. He has a good ability to hold the ball up and is dangerous when in transition or on the counter attack.?

New England, meanwhile, are now scheduled to take on local clubs Emelec and Barcelona next week when Smith could be in the line-up.