especially the goal was great. When he plays the simple game and bursts once in a while he's very effective in that role."
• Against Chivas USA, four players in the Galaxy starting 11 were under the age of 23. Of those players, Sturgis had the most MLS experience -- at age 19. "I think it's both (necessity and players earning minutes) really. The guys that are playing have played well," said Yallop. "There's no change in that. Ty Harden, Robbie Findley and Kevin Harmse, who's basically a rookie, have all done well. I'm real happy with the young guys and they deserve to play."
• While the Galaxy have played fewer games than everyone else in the league, the victory against Chivas did help with the perception that they were falling farther and farther behind in the Western Conference.
• "Everyone it seems had come to their conclusions after just two games for us and like we had stressed all week, we had played well for everything outside of 15 minutes against Dallas, and we paid for it. We should have scored at Houston and could have won that game and should have gotten a point against Dallas, but it seemed that everyone (outside of the team) wanted to panic," Donovan said. "So it's nice just to get some points and know that we have games in hand and that we're in good shape."
• On Tuesday, the Galaxy defeated the New York Red Bulls 3-1 in extra time in their second-round play-in game in the U.S. Open Cup. After each team went a player down in the regulation 90 minutes - a period in which Galaxy goalkeeper Steve Cronin made 10 saves, including stopping a Jozy Altidore penalty kick in the first half - the Galaxy struck first in the extra period.
• Peter Vagenas was pulled down in the penalty area, and Landon Donovan converted from the spot to give the Galaxy the lead on 93 minutes. Then 10 minutes later, Santino Quaranta drove a cross into the area that Kyle Martino headed off the underside of the bar and down just over the goal line to double the Galaxy lead.
• Juan Pablo Angel, who made his Red Bulls debut, coming on in the 62nd minute, finally beat Cronin from a free kick in the 109th minute to pull the visitors back to within one, but Quaranta finished off a counterattack with an easy tap-in of a Donovan pass to round out the scoreline.
• Here's Yallop's team: Steve Cronin, Chris Albright (Ian Russell 11), Ty Harden, Nathan Sturgis, Ante Jazic, Cobi Jones, Kevin Harmse, Peter Vagenas, Mike Randolph (Kyle Martino 60), Robbie Findley (Santino Quaranta 91), Nate Jaqua (Landon Donovan 64). Substitutes Not Used: Joe Cannon, Josh Tudela, Kyle Veris
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution extended their undefeated streak to five games, getting two goals over the final quarter of the game to defeat the Chicago Fire 3-1 at Gillette Stadium last Sunday afternoon. The Revolution moved into a tie for second place in the Eastern Conference with 11 points from six games, level with the New York Red Bulls and a point behind the Kansas City Wizards.
LAST MATCH
• The Fire had yet to lose on the season, with three wins and a draw in their four games, while the Revolution were riding a four-game unbeaten streak - after losing the season opener to Chicago at Toyota Park.
• The home side got off to a dream start, taking the lead after just 16 minutes. Steve Ralston banged in a corner and Jeff Larentowicz acrobatically jumped forward to poke a volley home at the near post.
• But the Revolution failed to clear their lines from a corner just before the half, and the Fire took advantage. After a couple of attempts to quell the danger, the ball came out to Chris Rolfe just outside the area. He sent a low shot skimming toward goal through the goalmouth scrum and it slipped past an unsighted Matt Reis; for Rolfe, it was his third goal in as many games.
• New England regained the lead at the midway point of the second half. Larentowicz found Khano Smith alone on the left, and he drove in a low cross across the top of the goal area where Ralston nipped in ahead of a defender and stabbed it home (68).
• The Revolution then capped off the victory with another goal from close range in the 81st minute. Ralston tried to slip Adam Cristman through, and the rookie was able to slide the ball through the legs of a Fire defender. Another rookie, Wells Thompson, came running on and took control before beating Fire 'keeper Matt Pickens from the corner of the six-yard box for his first professional goal.
• Revolution boss Steve Nicol made two changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with D.C. United three days earlier at RFK Stadium. With Sharlie Joseph suspended after his expulsion, Michael Parkhurst moved into a central midfield, James Riley returned to the center of the back three and Avery John came back into the team at left back. Adam Cristman also came back into the team, partnering Taylor Twellman in attack in place of Pat Noonan.
• Here's Nicol's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Reis - Jay Heaps, James Riley, Avery John (Joe Franchino 66) - Steve Ralston, Michael Parkhurst, Jeff Larentowicz, Khano Smith - Andy Dorman (Wells Thompson 66) - Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman. Substitutes Not Used: Bryan Byrne, Marshall Leonard, Pat Noonan, Arsene Oka, Doug Warren
TEAM NEWS
• While there was some talk Nicol would change to a 4-4-2 tactical scheme for the game, with Shalrie Joseph suspended, instead he moved Michael Parkhurst into a holding midfield role instead of his usual position at the heart of the back three.
• "I think he's normally solid and he played spectacular tonight. He makes things look a lot easier than they are. I think he did a great job in the middle of the park," Nicol said.
• But then in the 66th minute, Nicol made a double switch, bringing on Joe Franchino and Wells Thompson and taking off Avery John and Andy Dorman. Parkhurst moved back into the center of defense with James Riley moving to the left, and Steve Ralston took over the central midfield role with Franchino in a holding role and Thompson wide on the right.
• "We needed something to change the momentum of the game. We felt that they were on top and we didn't look like we were getting a hold of the ball or that we were going to get forward. We looked tired, I thought, from halfway through the first half and I think the traveling and this being the third game in eight days was catching up with us," Nicol said. "So, we thought that we'd get some fresh legs on and get things going and it would do the trick. Sometimes it works and it worked today."
• Ralston was credited with two assists on the day, now giving him 112 for his MLS career. That ties him for second place with current Chivas USA head coach Preki, now just two behind Carlos Valderrama for the all-time total.
• "He's a smart player. He's got a great soccer brain and he uses it. The brain is always quicker than the legs and he proves it," said Nicol. Said Ralston: "If I break the assists record, it's taken six years longer than Carlos (Valderrama). Let's be honest here. I mean, I've been fortunate to play with some great forwards who happen to score a lot of goals."
• The victory extended the Revolution's home unbeaten streak to nine games in MLS league and cup play, their last loss coming last Aug. 20 to the Fire (0-1). It also finished off the eight-day stretch where the Revolution took seven of a possible nine points.
• "Three games, seven points, two [games] away from home. I think today you saw the effects of traveling and playing away from home," Nicol said. "But, again I think you saw the character, the strength and the ability to get over that. All with missing Shalrie (Joseph), as well, and Pat Noonan himself not being 100 percent. So there's still plenty more to come from us."
