"As a forward, I'm always thinking about scoring goals," Bengtson said through a translator after Sunday's 2-1 win over the Red Bulls. "But the more important thing was the team getting three points and winning the game."

However, before Bengtson could make his mark on the match, there was one important thing Revolution head coach Jay Heaps wanted Bengtson to do: watch. Watch his teammates move the ball and play it forward.

While Heaps wanted Bengtson to observe his teammates' tendencies, he also wanted to handle Bengtson's introduction with care. No need to rush him into action with the ink yet to dry on his contract.

"You can't just expect a player to come in and start," Heaps said. "He's coming in, getting to know the team. But to throw him out there for more than (30 minutes) would've been unfair to him."

So at halftime, Heaps gave his new striker the heads up: Be ready to go in the second half.

With his squad up a goal in the 60th minute, Heaps summoned Bengtson from the bench. It was time to show the crowd what Bengtson could do.

Out on the field as the lone striker with Saer Sene going out wide, the Bengtson battled for 50-50 balls and stretched the defense with his speed and positioning.

"(This) was the kind of game where we wanted him to fight for headers," Heaps said. "He was all by himself on an island just to kind of open up the defense."

While Bengtson may have found himself isolated up top, it was evident he applied what he observed on the bench out on the pitch.

When Sene tucked inside, Bengtson went wide. And when Sene went out on the right, Bengtson cut inside, anxious to put one into the back of the net.

And that's exactly what he did in the 84th minute. With the Revolution pressing for an insurance goal, Sene played a give-and-go with Shalrie Joseph and barreled through Red Bulls defender Wilman Conde before Ryan Meara stopped his close-range shot. But Bengtson arrived late to shove the rebound into the back of the net.

"It was a beautiful play by my teammate," Bengtson said. "It was very unlucky that he took as a shot and the keeper made a save. But I was focused enough to lead it into the goal. I never lost focus on following the play."

It wasn't the prettiest or most technically sound strike. Some may call it the quintessential "garbage goal." But it's the kind of goal that Heaps expects his newest striker to score.

"I think you're going to see more goals like he scored where it's a poacher's goal," Heaps said. "He's offside on the first part of the buildup, but then he comes back onside and he fights off the goalkeeper and scores. Those are his kind of goals and we need someone who puts those away."

Meanwhile, Bengtson credited his teammates and coaches for helping him transition not only to a new squad, but a new country.

"All of my teammates and the coaching staff have always supported me and helping me out," Bengtson said. "But the more important thing is the fans. The fans have been key for me."

And the fans? If the applause and cheers following Bengtson's 84th minute goal were any indication, the fans are just as happy to have him here.