Seven days ago, the New England Revolution trudged off the field at Toyota Park wondering how they had failed to collect a positive result against the Chicago Fire following a performance that saw them deserve at least a point.
On Saturday night, the Revs did everything they had failed to do last week, taking four of the host of chances they created and proving impregnable in defense against a Toronto FC side whose tough start in MLS continued with a second consecutive defeat.
To be fair to Mo Johnston's side, the form the Revolution showed at Gillette Stadium would have tested sides more comfortable with their personnel and playing style. New England simply had too much firepower for their Canadian opponents and set about showing off their arsenal from the game's opening whistle.
Against the Fire, the Revolution trailed from the fourth minute onward. Saturday, thanks to two goals from Taylor Twellman in the opening 18 minutes, the boot was on the other foot.
"Every single person played a part and gave everything," said Steve Nicol. "It was a real team performance. We came out of the blocks and couldn't have asked for a better start. It was huge to get in front because it means the other team has to leave holes."
With Shalrie Joseph returning to the starting lineup, the Revolution's attacking players swept forward in waves, comfortable in the knowledge that the Grenadian and fellow midfielder Jeff Larentowicz would provide their defense with a barrier against Toronto's offense.
Andy Dorman was again a menace playing off the front line of Twellman and Adam Cristman, but it was the play of New England's wide men - Steve Ralston and Khano Smith - that provided the early spark.
"(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."
Smith was the catalyst for Twellman's opener with a dynamic 50-yard run that was finished via Cristman's clever layoff by the Revs all-time leading scorer. Six minutes later, Twellman powered home a header from Ralston's inch-perfect cross from the right wing, and after the game, the two-goal man was keen to pay tribute to the work of those that assisted him.
"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."
Having come close to opening his account for the season last week, Twellman was pleased to get off the mark. However, as he cursed himself for not taking a first-half chance to complete his hat trick, he noted that he and his teammates must be even more clinical in front of goal.
"Even tonight, we had chances that should have gone in," he said. "I have the mentality that, as long as we are continuing to get in the positions to score, we'll be fine."
Twellman might have hoped for another chance to complete his treble just past the hour, but Joseph stepped up to convert from the penalty spot following Andrew Boyens' foul on Cristman. Ten minutes later, Dorman popped up with the Revs' fourth goal, finishing from 12 yards following more good work on the right by Ralston.
"I could see Stevie getting down there and kind of cutting it off to play the square ball and I thought he was probably going to pull it back," said Dorman. "When you get to the byeline, it creates space for everyone else. Luckily for me, he rolled it back straight into my path and I just got my left foot on it."
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.
Thanks to the other results, the Revolution ended the night on top of the Eastern Conference standings. Of course, as Twellman pointed out, there is a long way to go, but confidence is high within the New England camp that the first win of the 2007 season can be the springboard to further success.
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
