they just never finished it off. In the second half, we limited them."
TEAM NEWS
In a game where there were a total of four shots on goal from both sides - and only one by New England - it could be said that Saturday was a defensive battle. It was one that the Revs are just happy to have escaped from with a point.
"We worked hard for a long time," Jeff Larentowicz said, who moved to central defense. "We had a little bit of luck because they had their chances, but I think it shows the strength and resiliency of the team, going on a long road trip like this and coming into a tough place to play. I think we fought through a lot of obstacles and came out with a solid result."
While the Revolution have gone winless since May 13, they have lost only twice over the seven-game span. "We've had chances in every game that we haven't taken, which is frustrating, but you can't argue with points," Nicol said.
The Revolution had yet another player go down with an injury in the first half. Jani Galik, who started his first MLS match, was replaced by Danny Wynn in the 30th minute after hurting his hip and hamstring.
"It was tough for us," said Reis. "We have a lot of games in a short amount of time and we're a little beat up. It seems like we can't catch a break - in terms of fitness-wise with some players. And we're not all on the same page, so it makes it tough to make that final pass and connect that final pass and to dangerous."
The Revolution will also be happy to welcome Clint Dempsey back into the fold - especially for what he can bring to the attack.
"The last couple games we've been playing with one forward," Larentowicz said. "We've had [Jose Cancela] dropping back into the midfield, so it's tough for Taylor to get up there and work on his own. [Cancela's] not a striker. He's more of a playmaker. He wants to sit under the forwards."
FC DALLAS
FC Dallas returned to action after a weekend off and won for the fifth time in seven games, a first-half goal all they needed to defeat the Colorado Rapids 1-0 on Saturday evening at Pizza Hut Park. FC Dallas still lead the Western Conference with 27 points from 13 matches, five points ahead of Houston Dynamo in the division, but five points behind D.C. United in the MLS overall table.
LAST MATCH
FC Dallas returned to action after a weekend off for already their ninth home game of the season, while the Rapids had come off a 12-day layoff at midweek in a 1-1 with Chivas USA.
The game's lone goal came on 32 minutes, as Richard Mulrooney let Carlos Ruiz loose on the right flank. He hooked a fine ball back into the box where Cooper beat Rapids defender Hunter Freeman to the pass and sent an angled shot inside the far post past Colorado 'keeper Joe Cannon.
While Ruiz was credited with an assist, he saw his goal-scoring streak end at seven games, tying the MLS record set twice previously.
FC Dallas boss Colin Clarke made one change to the team that defeated Chivas USA 2-1 at home nearly two weeks earlier. Ramon Nunez returned from injury, coming in to a wide midfield role in place of Arturo Alvarez.
Here's Clarke's team (4-4-2): Dario Sala - Bobby Rhine, Drew Moor, Greg Vanney, Chris Gbandi - Ronnie O'Brien, Richard Mulrooney, Simo Valakari, Ramon Nunez (David Wagenfuhr 51) - Kenny Cooper (Roberto Mina 67), Carlos Ruiz (Mark Wilson 85). [Substitutes Not Used: Arturo Alvarez, Ray Burse, Aaron Pitchkolan, Alex Yi]
"It was a good result, clean sheet. It was tough conditions and I was a little disappointed that we didn't get a second goal to kill them off in the first half or at the start of the second," Clarke said.TEAM NEWS
Carlos Ruiz saw his goalscoring streak end at seven games, matching the MLS record set twice previously (Raul Diaz Arce; 1997, D.C. United and Wolde Harris; 2000, New England Revolution).
"Carlos had a good game. I thought the first half as a team we moved the ball well and caused them lots of problems. And that was everybody. The front six were active and the fullbacks joined in; everyone played it and played it simple and the movement off the ball was good," Clarke said. "We put a lot into the first half. I think we got a little tired the second half. Carlos did well and you'd have loved to seen him get another goal and keep the streak going but it wasn't to be. He'll have to start another one now."
The Hoops were especially dangerous on the flanks, with both O'Brien and Nuñez hugging the touchline and also slipping inside to provide dangerous service. When Nuñez got inside, Chris Gbandi was especially effective overlapping.
"Most games we play, if I'm out wide they pull the left midfielder back to sit in with me," O'Brien said. "So tonight they didn't do that, and I got some joy out there."
Said Clarke: "I thought that Ronnie (O'Brien) was very, very good tonight, especially in the first half when he caused them all sorts of problems and played some great balls into the box that we didn't get enough bodies in there to get on the end of. We felt that when they defend they squeeze very tight to one side of the field so we knew that if we could switch the play quickly we could get open, and that's the way it worked out, particularly in the first half."
However, Nuñez was forced off early in the second half, and will not be available for the New England game or the match away to the Los Angeles Galaxy on Saturday. "Ramon won't travel (this week)," Clarke said. "It's a little tweak. He's going to be staying here trying to work himself back to fitness. It was his right thigh again. He tweaked it a little bit when he struck a ball (on Saturday)."
In a bit of a surprise, David Wagenfuhr entered the game in the 51st minute for Nunez and took over his wide midfield role. He has been a left back for the entirety of his professional career -- and the change of pace nearly turned into a goal in the 90th minute.
"I thought he done very well," said Clarke. "He gives us a little bit more of a solid look in there, a little work up and down and do all those good things and was unlucky not get on the end of one or two and score tonight."
After coming off a 10-day layoff with a 2-1 home loss to the Crew on June 3, the Hoops were anxious to get off on the right foot against the Rapids. "It was a different story, obviously, after the last time when we didn't get the best result," Cooper said. "We had a great two weeks of training. Everyone was very professional, put the work in and it showed tonight."
"I think we got at them early because of what happened in the Columbus game -- you know we had that week off and came out really badly so tonight our main goal was to not start off so badly," Clarke said.
