RAPIDS COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS REVOLUTION HOLD ON FOR 2-1 VICTORY AT INVESCO FIELD

Late Carrieri Goal Not Enough to Vault Colorado into First Place

DENVER, CO - With a goal and assist from forward Taylor Twellman, the New England Revolution ended their three-game losing streak by defeating the Colorado Rapids 1-0 at Invesco Field at Mile High on Saturday night. The road win by the Revolution avenges a 5-2 defeat they suffered on the same field on May 22, a result which led to the dismissal of former Head Coach Fernando Clavijo.

With Los Angeles Galaxy forward Carlos Ruiz going scoreless earlier in the day, Twellman overtook him at the top of the MLS scoring charts with a total of 21 points (10 goals, 1 assist), joining Dallas Burn forward Jason Kreis, who with two goals on Saturday has compiled an identical scoring line. Twellman has now scored in eight of his 10 starts for the Revolution this season.

Colorado immediately charged into attack to start the game, pinning the Revolution in their own half while displaying its usual preference of advancing down the flanks. In a half which produced just three shots on goal, the Revolution only got their first one in the 15th minute as the team's St. Louis, Missouri natives connected. Right midfielder Steve Ralston threaded a through-ball to Twellman, who fired a low shot which goalkeeper Scott Garlick easily handled.

That play would only be a rehearsal for the game's opening goal which came in the 22nd minute as Twellman found the back of the net for his 10th goal of the season. Ralston sent in a left-footed cross into the box from the right flank toward Twellman. The first-year MLS player then masterfully controlled the ball with his chest, as defender Robin Fraser ran past him in an attempt to intercept. With time and space, Twellman drilled a low right-footed blast inside the left post, joining Ruiz and Kreis in a tie for the League's goal scoring lead (10). Ralston also extended his League-lead in the assist department with his ninth helper.

The 1-0 lead gave confidence to the Revolution who easily handled the Rapids attacks, which were elaborate enough to allow New England time to maintain its shape in the back. The only real scoring chance of the half for Colorado came in the 40th minute. Defender Ritchie Kotschau sent a low, strong centering pass from the left side of the box but Revs defender Joey Franchino was there to thwart Mark Chung's attempt to knock it toward goal. The ball was deflected to an onrushing Chris Carrieri, whose quick shot was also deflected by defender Daniel Hernandez.

Twellman, the Revolution's most dangerous attacking player during the course of the match, turned provider in the 57th minute. Defender Brian Kamler intercepted a poor clearance by the Colorado back line 35 yards from goal and passed ahead to Twellman, who had his back to goal. The Revolution's top scorer then proceeded to send a no-look heel pass in the direction of Kamler, who had continued his run into the box. The ball went through the legs of Fraser and met Kamler in stride. He held off the charge from defender Rick Titus to slot home his fifth career MLS goal from 10 yards out, his first goal in a Revolution uniform.

Seven minutes later Rapids playmaker Carlos Valderrama responded with a 20-yard right-footed shot which Revolution goalkeeper Adin Brown had to dive near the left post to save.

Brown, a former Colorado Rapids player, also foiled a 75th minute run into the box by substitute Steve Herdsman in the only other serious threat brought by the Rapids to that point.

Colorado were finally able to pull one back in the 82nd minute on a well-taken goal by Carrieri, the lone forward in the Rapids formation. Flank midfielder Chung beat Jay Heaps down the left side and fed Carrieri on the left side of the Revs penalty area. The 22-year-old Project-40 player then took one touch before blasting a left-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Things were seemingly falling apart for New England when Hernandez was sent off moments later for a foul from behind on Carrieri. However, despite playing the final minutes with ten men, New England was able to survive the frenzied finish by the home team.

New England was without the services of two of MLS' most prolific attacking players: Alex Pineda Chacon and Diego Serna. Both players did not make the trip with Pineda Chacon tending to a family illness while Serna recovered from slight injuries stemming from a one-car accident last Wednesday after the midweek match against the Columbus Crew.

The Revolution (4-7-1, 13pts) continue their two-game road swing with a trip to Kansas City next Saturday, June 22 (8:00 p.m. ET). The Rapids (6-5-1, 19pts) kick off a three-game road stretch with a trip to RFK Stadium for a match against D.C. United on Wednesday, June 19 (7:30 p.m. ET).

Scoring Summary:
NE --Twellman (Ralston, Heaps) 22
NE --Kamler (Twellman) 57
COL--Carrieri (Chung, Palacios) 82

N.E. REVOLUTION--Adin Brown, Jay Heaps, Leo Cullen, Daniel Hernandez, Brian
Kamler, Joe Franchino, Carlos Semedo (Nick Downing 76), Jim Rooney, Steve
Ralston, Wolde Harris, Taylor Twellman (Ian Fuller 93+)
TOTAL SHOTS: 10 (Twellman 6); SHOTS ON GOAL: 6 (Twellman 3); FOULS: 15
(Heaps
3); OFFSIDE: 3; CORNER KICKS: 3; SAVES: Brown 4; CAUTIONS: Harris 28;
EJECTIONS: Hernandez 83; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 43%

COLORADO RAPIDS--Scott Garlick, Jeff Stewart, Rick Titus (Steven Herdsman
69),
Robin Fraser, Ritchie Kotschau, Mark Chung, Wes Hart (Marvin Quijano 86),
Kyle
Beckerman (Raul Palacios 69), Chris Henderson, Carlos Valderrama, Chris
Carrieri
TOTAL SHOTS: 18 (Carrieri 5); SHOTS ON GOAL: 7 (Carrieri 4); FOULS: 11
(Titus
3); OFFSIDE: 8; CORNER KICKS: 2; SAVES: Garlick 4; CAUTIONS: Fraser 24;
EJECTIONS: none; POSSESSION PERCENTAGE: 57%

Referee: Elias Bazakos; Assistant Referees: Richard Huber, Fabio Tovar
Attendance: 15,125; Weather: Sunny, 85 degrees, breezy

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