Revolution display fine finish

The MLS's scheduling of the Revolution-FC Dallas game was prescient. This was like a halfway-mark MLS Cup, between the top two teams in the overall standings, based on points per game.

But the Revolution's 3-2 win over FC Dallas Saturday night at Gillette Stadium seemed like only the first chapter in a continuing story -- they will meet again Aug. 13 in a new stadium in Frisco, Texas, which will also play host to the MLS Cup final Nov. 13.

Neither team was at full strength, though the Revolution were reinforced by the last-minute release of Clint Dempsey and Pat Noonan from US national team duty. Dempsey, Noonan, and Steve Ralston will miss the Revolution's visit to Chivas USA in Carson, Calif., Friday but will return for the July 27 home match against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

Taylor Twellman capitalized on the return of Dempsey and Noonan, scoring three times -- tying goals off assists from Noonan in the 44th and Dempsey in the 90th minutes, and the decider in the third minute of injury time.

Twellman has resumed where he left off after sustaining a strained left hamstring May 21. Then, Twellman had a league-leading six goals; he now has recaptured the scoring lead, tied with Colorado's Jeff Cunningham, with nine.

Twellman confirmed that his instincts and persistence make him possibly the best goal-scorer in the MLS. Twellman's main rivals are FC Dallas's Eddie Johnson, who missed Saturday's game with turf toe, and Carlos Ruiz, who performed as a lone striker for most of the match. When Johnson and US defender Greg Vanney return, FC Dallas could be transformed.

FC Dallas (10-3-4) has improved significantly after two last-place finishes, but displayed a lack of tactical awareness near the end of the match.

The Revolution (10-2-5) have scored five goals from the 90th minute on this season, as much a result of their ability and the spectacular goalkeeping of Matt Reis as opponents' naivete.

''We have that desire to win," Reis said. ''The game is never over for us. We come up with that last gasp, that last little bit. It is hard to put a finger on it."

The Revolution have scored deciding goals in the 86th, 94th, and 92d minutes in three of the last four games.

''Teams sit back a bit and, in this league, they are not savvy," Reis said. ''When they attack, they still expose themselves. When they drop and sit back, they give up possession. And if you keep giving up possession, the other team can get momentum, and it steamrolls. If you are not smart with possession, you get in trouble. Then, all the action is in front of the goal and it's tough to defend."

That is how the Revolution's tying score was set up. Dallas had been defending well, but began settling for mindless clearances, allowing the Revolution to set up in attacking positions. Shalrie Joseph started the sequence, flicking the ball with a no-look pass to Twellman in the penalty area, Twellman eventually finishing Dempsey's header past goalkeeper Scott Garlick and defender Clarence Goodson. Twellman was unmarked on the next goal, and he easily converted off Joseph's feed.

The Revolution increased their two-season home unbeaten streak to 12 games (10-0-2) but their defensive vulnerabilities are being exposed. The 3-5-2 alignment leaves the Revolution exposed defensively, but the team's offensive firepower has been able to compensate.