in his first appearance on the season -- sent Sutton the wrong way in converting from the spot.
• New England finished off the rout 12 minutes later. A throw-in found Ralston ranging free behind the defense on the right, and after turning the corner he laid the ball back to the spot for Andy Dorman, who gleefully thumped the ball home for his first goal on the year -- and the 500th league goal in Revolution club history.
• Revolution boss Steve Nicol made two changes to the team that lost 1-0 to the Chicago Fire in the season opener, getting two regulars back. Khano Smith returned to the lineup on the left of midfield and Sharlie Joseph came back into his usual role in the center of the park, replacing rookies Wells Thompson and Gary Flood respectively.
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis - Jay Heaps, James Riley, Avery John - Steve Ralston, Jeff Larentowicz, Shalrie Joseph (Gary Flood 87), Khano Smith (Wells Thompson 69) - Andy Dorman - Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman (Pat Noonan 69). Substitutes Not Used: Amaechi Igwe, Arsene Oka, Ryan Solle, Doug Warren
• "It was a real team tonight. Every single person played their part and gave everything they had for the team. It was a real team performance," Nicol said. "... We couldn't have asked for a better start. Not only did we control the game, but we made chances and put them away. It's always huge to get your nose in front and the other team has to come and leave holes. So the first 20-25 minutes were about as much as anybody could ask for."
TEAM NEWS
• The Revolution have now not allowed a goal since the opening goal by the Fire after just four minutes two weeks ago. It's still a makeshift back three, with Michael Parkhurst having missed the first two matches, though he is listed as doubtful for this week.
• "We were very solid with James (Riley) back there; it's a learning experience for all of us and I think we did a great job with our shifting and covering," Matt Reis said. "As a whole - as a defensive unit - top to bottom, we did [well]. The shots that they had were long-range stuff. There was nothing too troubling for us. I think, all in all, it was a great performance for us."
• Having Smith and Joseph back in the lineup also paid dividends in the Revolution attack. Joseph reprised his usual ball-winning role in midfield and Smith's running on the left created the opening goal.
• "Shalrie would influence any team he played in. (Smith's) running gave them a problem and it meant that whenever we switched it (to the right), it created space," said Nicol. "They just really used their brains out there."
• Twellman had his double with the match not a quarter old - but was rueing missing out on a fourth career hat trick. He also scored a pair of goals in a Revolution home opener in his rookie season, a double in a 2-0 win against Dallas on May 11, 2002.
• "Khano played a good ball that Adam laid off to me and I just tried to hit it on net," Twellman said. "For the second one, that was just Steve and I doing what we do best, what we have always done. ... I should've had a third (in the 19th minute). Obviously, when you get two quick goals and you're pushing, you're going to hit a wall."
• Other than Parkhurst, another nominal starter missing from Nicol's group is striker Pat Noonan, who came on as a substitute for the second week in a row. "(Pat's) just lacking a wee bit of fitness, that's all. He's not hurt; he's not in jeopardy. He just needs to get some more fitness done and get that sharpness back. I think (Adam) Cristman has done a great job filling in for him," Nicol said.
• Said Noonan: "I'll take it week-by-week. Thirty minutes here and I'll play in reserve again [Sunday] to get some more minutes (he played 72 minutes). Hopefully I'll be ready for next Thursday in the starting 11, and work my minutes in there."
• Dorman's goal was the 500th in Revolution club history and completed an excellent night of work for New England in front of 18,184 fans, the side's largest attendance for a home opener since 2002. Playing at home, Dorman said, was made even easier by the side's fast start.
• "We took our chances today. Last week we created a lot and this week we created a lot and we took them. Especially at home, it settles us down and gets you into a rhythm quickly," he said.
