Khano Smith's start to the new Major League Soccer (MLS) season lasted just 12 minutes at Toyota Park in Chicago on Thursday night where his New England Revolution team suffered a humiliating 4-0 defeat at the hands of Chicago Fire.

Revs trailed their hosts as early as the fourth minute and were reduced to ten men three minutes later when midfielder Jeff Larentowicz received straight red card for a tackle on Brandon Prideaux.

"I have never seen that (straight red card) in 20-plus years watching this game," Smith told The Royal Gazette yesterday.

Larentowicz's ejection forced Revs' coach Steve Nicol to reshuffle his formation which resulted with the attack-minded Smith being replaced by defensive midfielder Gary Flood.

For Smith, the Revs' humbling was a far cry from last weekend's World Cup win over Cayman Islands with the senior national team.

When asked to sum up New England's heavy loss, Smith replied: "If I tell what I think I will end up getting fined. I will take the high road."