Revolution stun Columbus

FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution continued a streak of their own and ended the Columbus Crew's 18-match unbeaten streak with a 1-0 victory last night.

This is the third successive season in which the Revolution have won their opening playoff match; and after winning at home for the fourth straight time, they will have to prepare to protect the lead in the final game of the total-goals series at Columbus next Sunday.

Defender Avery John provided a 25th-minute goal, a long-range blast that took not only the Crew, but his teammates, by surprise.

"He has put a few in in training," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "But as much as he is not ever going to be a top scorer, he was probably as surprised as we were. It was quite funny, actually. There were a few comments flying about."

But this was as serious as the Revolution have been this year, after salvaging the season by qualifying for the playoffs in the final regular-season game.

"It wasn't a shock, it was a nice feeling," John said. "It was important to get it on target. They left a hole in the middle and my instinct was to shoot from 40 yards because you never know what is going to happen with the wind. Nobody closed me [down], so I kept going forward and at the top of the 18 [penalty area], I took a shot.

"But I get more joy out of making a tackle than going to goal. I am a defender by birth and I enjoy hitting and tackling, going for headers.

"This is a big boost but now it's all about goals for and goals against. We have had problems on the back line all year but we did well [last night]."

The Revolution set the tone early, Taylor Twellman colliding with goalkeeper Jon Busch in the first minute and Shalrie Joseph felling Simon Elliott in the fourth. Joseph was cautioned by referee Michael Kennedy. Elliott was taken off the field on a stretcher, then returned three minutes later.

The Revolution's pressuring tactics kept the Crew in retreat. In the 13th minute, Twellman's dipping left-foot volley went over the bar. Six minutes later, Steve Ralston's low cross into the goal area produced a collision between Joseph and Robin Fraser, the ball rolling to Busch.

Columbus threatened through Edson Buddle, whose half-volley went directly to Matt Reis in the 24th minute. But Buddle was caught too often in possession, slowing the Crew attack.

A minute later, John was allowed to advance from central defense, then blasted an unmarked shot from just outside 25 yards into the upper-left side of the goal. This was John's fifth shot since joining the team in late May and first goal since he played in Ireland.

In the 27th minute, Buddle was cautioned for a foul on Rusty Pierce. Nine minutes later, Twellman slammed into the advertising boards near the Revolution bench after a collision with Fraser, who was cautioned.

The Crew stayed in a conservative, defensive mode, eventually sending Tony Sanneh forward near the end of the half.

Buddle challenged Reis, who was holding the ball late in stoppage time. Reis bounced the ball near the edge of the penalty area and was whistled for handling the ball illegally, leading to an indirect free kick. Buddle then attempted to wrest the ball from Reis, who held the ball in his right hand and fended off Buddle with his left.

Elliott lifted the free kick for Ross Paule to volley, the shot dipping just below the bar for Reis to catch.

Elliott's left-foot drive off a Kyle Martino advance deflected off Jay Heaps, the ball skidding just past the left post for a corner in the 50th minute. The Revolution had a promising counterattack off the corner, but the attack slowed despite Ralston's excellent clearance.

Columbus kept possession and threatened, John heading a clearance, then being cautioned for a foul on Chris Wingert.

The Revolution counterattacked off the free kick, Jose Cancela and Clint Dempsey advancing, Marshall Leonard centering and earning a corner. The Revolution retained possession, but Twellman was called offside setting up a good chance for Leonard.

The Crew went with veteran strikers in the second half, Jeff Cunningham replacing Buddle in the 51st minute and Dante Washington replacing Elliott 12 minutes later. The Crew kept pressure on the Revolution defense, advancing toward the penalty area and probing with balls from Martino and Ross Paule. Washington went down in the penalty area in the 74th minute, Kennedy allowing play to continue. Martino sent a shot toward the left post, Reis tipping it wide in the 77th minute.

The Revolution countered in the 80th minute, Martino retreating to prevent an open shot off an exchange between Pat Noonan and Twellman.

Heaps was cautioned for a foul on Cunningham in the 83d minute. A Revolution breakout led to an Andy Dorman cross, Twellman heading barely wide in the 84th minute. Noonan worked free on a counter but shot barely wide in the 88th minute.

The Revolution failed to protect leads against the Crew in a 2-1 home loss and 1-1 road tie.