Reinforcements welcome

Return men will boost Revolution

So much for the streak. The Revolution had compiled a seven-game unbeaten streak (5-0-2), best of the MLS season, before falling, 2-1, at Real Salt Lake Saturday night.

But the Revolution have been more resourceful than overwhelming since starting the run in early May. The streak started with Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman returning from injury, and continued as Twellman (ankle sprain) was reinjured and several other key players went out with injuries or on international duty. Several regulars will be available for the Revolution-Toronto FC game Saturday.

Shalrie Joseph (Grenada), Kenny Mansally (The Gambia), and Khano Smith (Bermuda) are expected to return this week. Grenada (3-0 defeat to Costa Rica Saturday) and Bermuda (2-0 loss to Trinidad and Tobago last night) have been eliminated from World Cup qualifying while The Gambia is done until Sept. 6. Twellman remains out until at least the Revolution's visit to the Los Angeles Galaxy July 4.

Adam Cristman gave the Revolution an eighth-minute lead against RSL, heading in a long clearance from Matt Reis following a mix-up between defender Nat Borchers and goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Cristman's fourth goal tied his total from a year ago and matched Kheli Dube and Ralston for the team scoring lead.

"Being unbeaten for a stretch doesn't mean anything to the team, to the players," Cristman said after the game. "It's good from a results standpoint, but it's not like we care about the stretch. We don't want to be losing games, that's for sure."

This was the Revolution's longest unbeaten streak since they started the 2005 season 7-0-4. The Revolution were a dominating team then, displaying the talent that would take them to three successive MLS Cups.

Now, the Revolution are dependent on the tactical maneuverings of coach Steve Nicol, the leadership of veterans, and some inspiring contributions from young players such as Cristman, Dube, and Sainey Nyassi.

The Revolution have been compelled to revert to a 4-4-2 formation in two of the last three games because of lack of midfield manpower, but now will likely return to a 3-5-2.

Though Cristman has been productive recently, he is recovering from a turf toe injury, and was replaced at forward by Ralston, who scored in the 79th minute of a 1-1 tie with New York last Wednesday. Mansally, who started 10 successive games before departing for World Cup qualifiers, could return to the lineup as Cristman recovers.

The Revolution struggled at Rice-Eccles Stadium, the game staged on artificial turf in 90-degree temperatures at 4,500-feet elevation. RSL scored off a free kick that was headed by defender Jay Heaps for an own goal in the 11th minute and off a blocked shot that was recovered by Tino Nunez in the 60th. Defender Chris Albright sent two headers wide off set pieces and Nyassi had a low shot saved by Rimando as the Revolution rallied.

Of the Revolution's next five games, only two are against MLS opponents. The Revolution will meet the winner of tomorrow's Western Mass Pioneers-Richmond Kickers game in a US Open Cup match July 1 and play host to Santos Laguna July 13 and Pachuca July 16 in the SuperLiga tournament.