Clavijo makes points
He played in pain against Chicago
FOXBOROUGH - The Colorado Rapids entered last night's game against the Revolution with a five-year-plus winless streak at Gillette Stadium. The Rapids' 1-0 victory was Fernando Clavijo's first in Foxborough since he was replaced as Revolution coach by Steve Nicol in May 2002.
"Before the game, I said we have 1 point, so let's protect it and work to get 2 more points," Clavijo said after Nick LaBrocca's 68th-minute header made the difference. "We outplayed Kansas City [a 3-2 loss], we outshot them, 18-6, and we got nothing out of that game. But in this game we had the better chances in the first half."
After losing Christian Gomez (knee), the Rapids were able to stay in contention.
"After we lost Gomez, we lost possession, we lost linkage, and that changed the game," Clavijo said. "They started sending more people forward and we did what we had to do."
The Revolution had a seven-game (5-0-2, 17-5 goal differential) home unbeaten streak against the Rapids, who last won (3-2) in Foxborough July 24, 2002. Two of those seven games were 0-0 ties and another was decided by an 88th-minute Khano Smith goal.
It got past him
On the deciding score, Revolution forward Adam Cristman was marking LaBrocca at the back post as Jose Burciaga Jr. took a free kick.
"I just missed it," Cristman said. "We dominated them, they were just sitting back and we had a lot of chances but couldn't put them away. They take four shots and one goes in."
Sainey Nyassi, the Revolution's most dynamic attacking threat in the opening three games, was substituted after halftime. He was replaced by Argenis Fernandez.
"Maybe I lost a little, but I was ready for the second half," Nyassi said. "I lost a little pace. I was getting the ball and they were having two, three, four guys on me."
Aching to play
Chris Albright (ankle bruise) was replaced in the starting lineup by Amaechi Igwe minutes before kickoff. Albright was injured in a 4-0 loss at Chicago April 3.
"I was in a lot of pain and there were 20-25 minutes to go," Albright said of the loss at Chicago. "But the weather was cold enough to keep it numb. It got progressively worse toward the end of the game. But it was one of those games. If we were up, 3-nothing, maybe I come out. But, at that point, we were playing for pride. I always saw this team from a distance and I always thought that about them - that they play with pride. They work hard and they play for each other, they don't give up on each other."
Making strides
Revolution all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman jogged around the Gillette Stadium field with trainer Wayne Penniman before the game. Twellman underwent surgery for a meniscus tear April 2. "It's going to be a while," Twellman said. . . . Former Revolution midfielder Andy Dorman, now in a starting role for St. Mirren in Scotland, attended last night's game. "It's been good, so far," Dorman said. "It's good to be back."
Quick to impress
The bureaucratic process slowed Fernandez's arrival. But Fernandez has been moving things along quickly since joining the team, true to the nickname Costa Rican television announcers use for him: correcaminos (roadrunner). Fernandez hit the ground at full speed, checking into the team hotel in Kansas City at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday and completing a physical examination in the locker room minutes before the 7 p.m. kickoff. Fernandez was on the bench for the Revolution's win, scored twice in a 2-2 tie with the Wizards' reserves Thursday morning, and made his MLS debut against the Rapids.
Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com. 