Working on a complete game

FOXBOROUGH -- Taylor Twellman is accustomed to playing games from start to finish. Since becoming a Revolution starter in 2002, he had only been replaced because of injuries, until departing in the 86th minute of a 2-0 win over the Chicago Fire last week.

But coach Steve Nicol said his decision to replace Twellman with Khano Smith was not related to health or as a reaction to Twellman's questionable decisions in recent late-game situations.

"We had moved [Pat] Noonan to the wing and we had a two-goal lead," Nicol said yesterday. "We wanted to give Khano five minutes on the field and give Taylor a break."

Nicol, though, had been visibly upset the previous week as Twellman had a late shot blocked, instead of taking the ball toward the corner flag, during the final minutes of a 1-0 win over Chivas USA. Two weeks ago, Twellman put the ball through the legs of a Chicago defender and went on a spectacular 45-yard run to convert the final goal in the 94th minute of a 3-0 win, his 50th regular-season MLS goal and first at Soldier Field, formerly his father's home stadium with the Chicago Sting.

"We were up 2-nothing, but when you are up one goal you always go to the corner flag," Twellman said. "It was a stupid decision. It was a huge mistake which could have cost us the game."

Twellman said he welcomed the substitution last week. Smith, who scored in the Revolution reserve team's 1-0 win over Chicago the following day, is being assimilated into the team in preparation for the likely departure of several players to the US national team.

"It was done to give Khano three or four minutes and to give me a break," Twellman said. "I am not concerned with it. It was kind of nice to get a break."

Twellman will remain in the starting lineup for tomorrow's match against D.C. United and likely for the Revolution's May 21 visit to the MetroStars. US national team players are expected to begin training in Chicago May 22 in preparation for games against England (May 28 in Chicago), Costa Rica (June 4, Salt Lake City), and a visit to Panama (June 8). The US is also entered in the Gold Cup July 6-24.

"Everyone is learning all the time," Nicol said. "We are learning when to go to the corner [flag], when to dump it in, when to sit in and when to open up. We are trying to get better.

"[Twellman] has gotten better every year at holding the ball up. It is one of the things he is expected to do and it's not an easy thing with a 6-foot-3 monster kicking you in the backside. Good players make it look easy. He has only been in the league three years and it takes time to learn things. The fact that he is scoring goals while he is still learning is great."

Twellman has improved most noticeably in his ability to maintain possession and facilitate the Revolution passing game, less glamorous or noticeable qualities than scoring goals.

"That is not why you play the game, to get credit and rewards," Twellman said. "I want to play in the championship game again. And you have to have a complete game. It's not just what you are doing in the [penalty area], a center forward has to also work in the midfield and create."

Twellman, limited by injuries the last two seasons, has scored three goals in six games, third on the team behind Clint Dempsey (five goals) and Noonan (four).

"We have a lot of different options and the other team can't worry only about one or two people," Twellman said. "I hear people say that if they stop [Steve] Ralston they stop the Revolution's supply. But now we have a lot of people they have to stop, plus balls from the back. We are a more complete team.

"Defenders are going to struggle if they have four or five guys to worry about. It's a lot more fun having this situation."