Inspired by a fast start that saw Taylor Twellman score twice in the first 18 minutes, the New England Revolution rolled to a comfortable 4-0 win in their home opener against Toronto FC, their newest rivals in the Eastern Conference.
Twellman's double was followed up by second-half strikes from Shalrie Joseph and Andy Dorman, as the Revolution picked up their first points of the season following their opening day loss at Chicago. For Toronto, the tough baptism into MLS continues for Mo Johnston's side, which has lost each of its opening two games, conceding six unanswered goals in the process.
With Shalrie Joseph and Khano Smith restored to the starting lineup following their recoveries from injury, the Revolution began the game in rampant form, and having had a fifth-minute "goal" from Adam Cristman ruled out for offside, it was no surprise when the home side took the lead seven minutes later.
Smith proved there was nothing wrong with his previously strained hamstring with a 50-yard run that began in his own half and ended with a left-footed cross that found Cristman on the edge of the penalty area. The rookie striker cleverly laid the ball into the path of Twellman, whose run off his partner found him space just inside the box for a shot that found the net via a slight deflection off Jim Brennan.
Six minutes later, Twellman doubled his own and his side's tally. Steve Ralston was finding as much space on the right as Smith had on the left and the Revs captain played a cross to the far post that found Twellman, who headed home having cleverly pulled off the back of Andrew Boyens to create space to attack the flighted ball.
Seconds later, Twellman should have been celebrating his hat trick. Not for the first time, Smith victimized Miguel Canizalez on the left and played a square ball that the Revolution's all-time leading scorer dragged just wide with his left foot.
In the 31st minute, the Revolution had two chances in quick succession to extend their lead. First, Andy Dorman showed neat footwork to work space for a shot from 20 yards that was deflected over Greg Sutton's goal by Brennan.
From the resulting corner, a loose ball fell to Joseph, who should have marked his return to the side with a goal from open play, but the Grenadian stabbed wide from six yards.
A Revolution backline well marshaled by James Riley in the continued absence of Michael Parkhurst continued to restrict Toronto to shots from distance - the closest of which in the first half flew just over from Edson Buddle.
After the break, New England continued to push forward and after Cristman stabbed wide and Sutton denied Smith, the hour mark saw the home side extend their lead further.
Cristman's strength saw him shake off Boyens on the edge of the penalty area, only for the first-year defender to haul him down just inside the box. Despite Twellman standing on the verge of a hat trick, Joseph, the club's regular penalty taker, stepped up to stroke home the spot kick, sending Sutton the wrong way with a well placed effort to the right corner.
Pat Noonan replaced the impressive Smith midway through the second half, and within moments, played a part in the Revs' fourth goal.
The forward's quick thinking from a throw-in saw him release Ralston behind the Toronto defense. With Twellman's run tracked by a covering defender, Ralston showed excellent vision to pick out a deeper surge from Dorman, who converted from 10 yards with the outside of his left foot for a goal that also marked the 500th regular season strike in Revolution club history.
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
