Ralston appears to be ready

FOXBOROUGH -- Steve Ralston has made the most of his 35 appearances with the United States national team, scoring a goal against Mexico to clinch a 2006 World Cup berth and playing for two successive Gold Cup champions.

Ralston returned to the Revolution this week after celebrating the US's 2-1 win over Mexico in the Gold Cup final last Sunday in Chicago.

"Any time you get a chance to win something, especially when you are playing for your country, it's great. No matter what tournament it is," Ralston said yesterday. "We know with the Revolution about championship games and it will be nice to get over the hump."

Ralston seems eager to return to action for the Revolution's visit to Chivas USA Saturday. Chivas's parent club is an all-Mexican team, but the US group has little south of the border influence.

"It's still a good rivalry," Ralston said of the US-Mexico clash. "We love beating those guys any time we can. Deep down, there is a lot of respect for each other. But they used to dominate us for years and we have had a good run lately, so it's hard for them to accept."

Though Ralston, Michael Parkhurst, and Taylor Twellman were clearly missed, the Revolution tied Real Salt Lake (0-0) and Columbus (3-3) and defeated Toronto FC (3-0) during the Gold Cup. The Revolution have lost just two of 19 regular-season matches (11-2-6) since Sept. 2.

"We have a good team, and if we are not winning, we're always in the game," Ralston said. "I can't remember the last time we lost by more than one goal. We are well organized and guys know their roles, and we are always looking to get scores. We create opportunities and we have a lot of guys who can score. And, when we turn the ball over, we are usually in good spots."

Ralston is second on the MLS all-time assist list with 113, one behind Carlos Valderrama, and second on the National Soccer Hall of Fame's all-time first division list with 351 games, 15 behind Bill McPherson, who won seven US Open Cup titles for teams in Fall River, New Bedford, and St. Louis in the 1920s and '30s.

The Revolution will visit the Rochester Rhinos in a third-round US Open Cup match July 10. The Rhinos, who lost to the Revolution on penalty kicks in the US Open Cup last year, took a 2-1 extra-time win over the Western Massachusetts Pioneers on Aaron Lines's 118th-minute goal Tuesday night. . . . The Revolution (6-2-4, 22 points) are in first place in the Eastern Conference, the team's points-per-game average (1.83) qualifying Steve Nicol to coach the MLS all-star team against Celtic FC July 19. Nicol, who will be allowed to name five players to the team, said assistant coach Paul Mariner likely will remain with the Revolution to prepare for a July 22 match against Houston. "It's unfair to him," Nicol said of Mariner. "But we have to make sure everyone is preparing properly and we can't do that if we all disappear." . . . Midfielder Shalrie Joseph (groin) remained on the sidelines during training yesterday.

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.