CARSON, Calif. - After holding a 2-1 lead for more than a half hour in the second half, the New England Revolution surrendered it when Los Angeles Galaxy defender Tyrone Marshall scored from a corner kick in the 84th minute.
Most teams would have tried to escape with a draw, Revs captain Steve Ralston said. But not the Revs.
Taylor Twellman scored almost immediately from the ensuing kickoff to give the Revolution a 3-2 victory against the Galaxy at The Home Depot Center on Saturday.
New England thus walked away with the full three points despite the Galaxy's late heroics. Twellman had two goals in the match, giving him a league-leading six on the season, while rookie Adam Cristman found the back of the net for first time in his career.
Twellman scored the game-winning goal exactly 57 seconds after Marshall headed home a corner kick from Landon Donovan. Shalrie Joseph took the ball and found second-half substitute Pat Noonan near the top of the penalty area. Noonan whipped a cross to the front of the goal and Twellman did well to knock it past Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon.
"Two words: Pat Noonan," Twellman said. "He did his job. Obviously he's one of the few forwards in the league that given the right spot he can put a dime in."
The goal was simplicity at its finest, Revs coach Steve Nicol said.
"Our guys showed what we're made of: good passes, good ball into the box and a magic finish by Taylor," he said. "It's a real simple game when it's done well."
The Galaxy took an early lead when Kyle Martino raced onto a pass from Peter Vagenas and sent it into the back of the net in the 14th minute. Sluggish at the start, the Revs nonetheless soon found their way and began to take control of the match.
Led by Andy Dorman, Joseph and Ralston, the Revolution midfield took charge.
"We had one up in the midfield," Ralston said. "We had five to their four so we were just trying to find the open guy in the middle of the field. That was really it."
Still, the Revs could not get a shot past Galaxy goalkeeper Joe Cannon. The Revs finished the first half with six shots and two on goal to the Galaxy's two total shots but nonetheless trailed at halftime.
During the break, Nicol said he told his players to pass the ball better. The simple plan worked.
Cristman scored in the 47th minute and Twellman bagged his fifth goal of the season in the 52nd minute to put the Revs on top.
"It was really important for us to come out strong," Cristman said. "We had great possession and had a great (final) 25 minutes of the first half. When we came out we were flying. With all the pressure we put on them, we caught them by surprise and were able to take advantage of it to score."
As for his own tally, Cristman said the play happened quickly. Dorman sent a free kick from the left flank into the center of the area. Ralston headed the ball along to the far post and Cristman took it from there.
"The ball was just kind of floating in the air," Cristman said. "I just kind of wanted to take it over my shoulder and just try to put it on goal. When I turned and saw that it went in, the goalie was definitely not expecting it. He was out of position for it."
For the fourth-round 2007 SuperDraft selection, the goal was part excitement, part relief, he said.
"I was pretty excited and a lot of relief as well. I missed a few chances in the past couple of games that I felt I should have put away and I was starting to get a little frustrated," Cristman said. "The pressure I'm putting on myself is off so hopefully I can be a little more productive."
With the win, the Revs improved to 4-1-2 and sit temporarily alone atop the Eastern Conference table. New York plays Colorado on Sunday and trails the Revs by three points.
After dropping the first game of the season by 1-0 to Chicago, the Revolution have answered with goals in six consecutive matches and have scored two or more goals in four of the games.
"So far, so good," Nicol said. "We're obviously delighted with the points we've got but we want some more."
Luis Bueno is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
