Filling in, Dube filling net
The Revolution have not capitalized on Major League Soccer's "Beckham Rule," which encourages teams to sign high-profile players from high-profile countries. Instead, the Revolution have built a team with many no-names from out-of-the-way places.
The formula's upside is that players come cheap and they do not have major international commitments. But that could be changing.
While the Revolution travel for a game against Real Salt Lake tonight, three of their players are involved in World Cup qualifying. And, after some surprising results, Shalrie Joseph (Grenada), Kenny Mansally (The Gambia), and Khano Smith (Bermuda) might be missing more MLS action as qualifying continues.
Mansally made his first international start yesterday as The Gambia lost, 1-0, to Algeria, but remained in contention in group play with 5 points in four games.
Bermuda and Grenada pulled off first-leg surprises in two-game series that will determine participants in group play, to start in August. Bermuda took a 2-1 win over Trinidad and Tobago and hosts the Soca Warriors tomorrow. Grenada tied Costa Rica, 2-2, and visits the Ticos tonight.
Joseph, Mansally, and Smith are expected to return to the Revolution for next Saturday's game against Toronto FC.
The next Revolution player to be involved in qualifying could be forward Kheli Dube, who is tied with Steve Ralston for the team lead in goals with four. But Dube, who performed for Zimbabwe's junior national teams, said he has not been contacted by the Zimbabwe federation.
The Revolution (8-3-3, 27 points) rallied for a 1-1 tie with the New York Red Bulls Wednesday, using the unlikely forward combination of Dube and Ralston.
Dube is playing on a developmental contract and was expected to be low on the striker depth chart behind Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman, and Mansally. But Dube has emerged as the team's most effective forward, his finishing and ability to hold the ball with his back to goal keying the attack while Twellman recovers from an ankle sprain. Ralston was moved to forward for the first time in his professional career in the 72d minute, converting off a Dube knockdown seven minutes later. Ralston began his collegiate career as a striker at Forest Park Community College in St. Louis, but moved to midfield after a season at Florida International University.
The Dube-Ralston pairing almost produced the tiebreaking goal in the 89th minute, Red Bulls goalkeeper Jon Conway making successive saves on a Ralston header and Dube rebound.
But the Revolution will not have many tactical options against Real Salt Lake. Midfielders Mauricio Castro (rib cage strain) and Gary Flood (ankle sprain) are doubtful and Cristman (turf toe) is probable.
The Revolution will likely go with a conservative alignment, as they did in a 2-0 win at Houston last week. Recently acquired Pat Phelan could make his second start since joining the team from Toronto FC, joining Jeff Larentowicz in central midfield.
The Revolution, in first place in the overall standings, have three games remaining before starting play in the SuperLiga, an eight-team, $1 million tournament scheduled July 12-Aug. 5. The team's MLS schedule has been front-loaded to prepare for the SuperLiga, plus the CONCACAF Champions League, beginning with a trip to play Joe Public FC in Trinidad and Tobago Aug. 26.
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.
