Streak gone in thin air

Revolution can't elevate game

Keeper Matt Reis leaps into action, preventing Kenny Deuchar from scoring. (Douglas C. Pizac/Associated Press)

There was much missing from the Revolution's game last night, and it wasn't merely the team's all-time leading scorer and the three players away on international team duty.

New England squandered an early lead, then Real Salt Lake capitalized on a second-half turnover to beat the Revolution, 2-1, in Salt Lake City, extending its unbeaten streak to five games (3-0-2) and snapping New England's at seven (5-0-2).

Playing at altitude three days after tying New York at Gillette Stadium, the Revolution's lack of depth was evident, the tired team lacking its usual enterprise and energy. Shalrie Joseph, who played Wednesday, was with Grenada for a World Cup qualifier. Kenny Mansally (The Gambia) and Khano Smith (Bermuda) were also away on international duty, and Taylor Twellman remained out with an ankle sprain.

The Revolution (8-4-3) took the lead in the eighth minute on Adam Cristman's fourth goal of the season, which ended RSL's franchise-record 283-minute shutout span. After Matt Reis (six saves) drove a long clearance down the middle of the field, Cristman beat hesitant Salt Lake defender Nat Borchers to the ball at the top of the penalty area and headed it past surprised keeper Nick Rimando.

Three minutes later, the Revolution returned the favor, Jay Heaps inadvertently heading Javier Morales's free kick into the New England goal.

Sainey Nyassi's turnover near the halfway line on the right wing led to the winning goal in the 60th minute. Morales took a feed from Kyle Beckerman and fired a long shot. A fortuitous bounce fell to Tino Nunez, who was kept onside by Chris Albright, and the rookie deposited his first MLS goal past Reis.

Wellesley's Chris Tierney made his MLS debut as a 77th-minute replacement for Nyassi.

The Revolution switched to a 3-5-2 after Salt Lake (5-5-4) took the lead and produced a few threats.

Joseph played 90 minutes for host Grenada, which lost, 3-0, to Costa Rica last night and was eliminated from World Cup contention.

Crew 3, Galaxy 3 - Steven Lenhart scored in the 88th minute for visiting Columbus (7-4-2), which rallied from two deficits to earn a point against the Galaxy (6-4-3). LA's Landon Donovan scored his 10th and 11th goals.

Red Bulls 1, FC Dallas 0 - Kevin Goldthwaite scored in the 16th minute for host New York, then was forced to leave the game eight minutes later with hamstring strains in both legs. New York (5-4-4) already was playing without Claudio Reyna and Juan Pablo Angel. Both were sidelined with hamstring strains.

Wizards 0, Toronto FC 0 - Toronto FC's three-game home winning streak was snapped by struggling Kansas City (3-5-4), which is winless in seven games. Toronto (6-4-3) is 5-0-3 at home.

Dynamo 0, Rapids 0 - Visiting Houston (4-4-6) earned a point against Colorado (5-7-1).