Revolution play it safe, hold the fort

The Revolution's Michael Parkhurst, who received his second foul of the season, gave Arturo Alvarez of FC Dallas a battle. (Rick yeatts/Getty images)

FRISCO, Texas - The Revolution changed their look and their tactics last night.

Instead of lining up in a 3-5-2 formation and going on the attack from the opening kickoff, the Revolution went to a four-man back line and played conservatively in taking a 1-0 victory over FC Dallas.

Khano Smith made the deciding play, outmaneuvering two opponents and sliding a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Dario Sala in the 72d minute for the Revolution, who became the first Major League Soccer team to defeat FC Dallas this season.

The Revolution, missing several starters, went to a 4-4-2 alignment from the start of a game for the first time since Oct. 7, 2006 (a 2-1 win at D.C. United).

"I can't say I'm surprised," said Revolution coach Steve Nicol, who gave the team three days off before preparing for a match against Chicago May 3. "I said early on in the season there is no hopeless case with this team. We always talk about getting something from a game. Without six guys who would normally be starters, this is a fantastic result."

FC Dallas went at the Revolution aggressively from the start, but struggled to find space against the back line, failed to shoot with accuracy from distance, and eventually lost its way offensively. After Smith's goal, though, FC Dallas added forwards Dominic Oduro and Ricardinho and placed the Revolution goal under siege in the final minutes.

Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis saved a Drew Moor header (86th minute) and a Ricardinho shot (added time), the best FC Dallas threats occurring off set pieces.

"There wasn't much between the teams," Nicol said. "Matt made some saves but we had three great chances. At the end, they were going to throw everything at us. But the important thing is to make the challenge; you are not always going to win it but if you make the challenge, it can be enough. And we saw it through."

Wells Thompson, making his first start of the season, misfired (14th minute) on a header off a Kenny Mansally cross, the sequence starting as Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst dispossessed Kenny Cooper. Revolution defender Jay Heaps scuffed a shot (71st) over the goal from inside the penalty spot off a Gary Flood feed, the play starting after Shalrie Joseph earned a corner kick, his shot having been deflected on top of the net.

After Heaps's miss, the game opened up. FC Dallas's Andre Rocha shot wide, and the Revolution then scored off the restart. Substitute Kheli Dube, who replaced Adam Cristman in the 59th minute, lofted the ball to Smith on the left wing. Smith overpowered Dax McCarty on the touch line, then carried the ball toward the penalty area, sending a right-footed shot into the far side of the net, ending a 252-minute FC Dallas shutout streak.

"I touched it by [McCarty] and the ball hit his hand," Smith said. "But the referee let it go, it was a good play-on. I was trying to go to the left but [the defender] kept showing me the inside. As I got closer to the box, I cut across and shot.

"There was always going to be one chance to change the game and that was it. After that, they put four or five up top and came at us."

The Revolution tied the New York Red Bulls, rallying despite playing a man short in the second half last week, and players believed that experience carried over. The Revolution lineup includes five changes from opening day, including left back Chase Hilgenbrinck, making his first MLS start.

"We passed the ball well with 10 men against New York," Smith said. "As long as we are passing we will create chances."

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