Revolution in cruise control

FOXBOROUGH -- Clint Dempsey's return to the Revolution has given the team both good reason to celebrate and a good example to follow in doing so.

Dempsey scored the opening goal last night, the first time the Revolution have scored first in a game since June 25, paving the way for a 4-1 victory over Real Salt Lake and solidifying the team's first-place standing in the MLS. Dempsey outmaneuvered defender Rusty Pierce to head Jay Heaps's cross in the 11th minute, then continued past the net, hurdled the signboards, and took a tricornered hat from a costumed drummer and donned it while doing a dance step.

This was the first time the Revolution had converted the opening goal since Jose Cancela's first-minute score in a 4-2 win over the MetroStars and ignited the team, Taylor Twellman scoring in the 16th minute, then, after Salt Lake's Jason Kreis countered with a 31st-minute free kick, finishing the game strong with two goals in the final 14 minutes.

The Revolution (11-4-6, 39 points) have a two-point advantage over San Jose (10-4-7) and have the third-highest point total in team history, surpassed only by the 2000 and 2003 seasons, when they totaled 45.

''It was one of those things, a spur-of-the-moment thing," Dempsey said of his celebration. ''It's what the fans like to see, and I was having a good time. Any time you score the first goal, it puts pressure on the other team and forces them to rush things and make mistakes, and we did a good job of capitalizing on that for the second goal."

Heaps, who was suspended for the Revolution's 2-1 loss to Kansas City last week, generated much of the offense and was directly involved in the team's first three goals, advancing from his right back position in the run of play and also during set pieces.

In the 16th minute, Cancela's free kick was headed by Eddie Pope for a corner, then Cancela's corner was headed on by Heaps to Twellman, who finished at the back post in front of midfielder Kenny Cutler. Two minutes later, Steve Ralston ran onto Heaps's lead pass, but his shot was tipped off the bar by D.J. Countess. Twellman leftfooted the rebound, Countess blocking the low shot.

Kreis scored for Real Salt Lake (5-12-4) after Twellman fouled Seth Trembly on the edge of the penalty arc, his free kick sliding to the right of goalkeeper Matt Reis.

But Real Salt Lake failed to generate offensive threats in the run of play, its lack of speed at striker allowing the Revolution defenders to pressure high. Left back Avery John had been the most effective Revolution defensive player, but became superfluous in the second half, the Revolution accelerating their offense by adding James Riley on the right wing, switching Ralston to the left, and dropping Joe Franchino to left back in the 65th minute.

Khano Smith replaced Cancela in the 76th minute, moving to a striker position, Dempsey retreating into midfield. The Revolution scored seconds later on a Ralston corner, which was headed on by Heaps, then headed toward the goal by defender Brian Dunseth. Andy Williams attempted to clear it, but the ball deflected off the underside of the crossbar. Smith added the final goal with a left-side blast in the 90th minute.

''We would have preferred to have put them away earlier," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. ''At 2-nil we stopped doing the things we do well, the referee made a bad call and they got a goal from it. We were confident we would get another goal, but it took a while longer than we wanted. We wanted to get back to what we had been doing the first 20 minutes, passing the ball. We were playing high balls, and that is exactly what [defenders] Dunseth and [Eddie] Pope want."

Dempsey has started the last three games at striker in place of Pat Noonan (sprained right ankle), who is scheduled to join the team for a trip to FC Dallas Saturday and the Colorado Rapids Wednesday. But Dempsey had not scored since June 22, his six previous goals converted as a midfielder. Dempsey missed six MLS games to perform for the US national team, and has scored twice as a midfielder in internationals.

''I played just as well last week, maybe better, because I was able to last the whole game," Dempsey said. ''And Kansas City did not cross the halfway line more than three times in the first half, but we were not able to capitalize on our chances."