Depleted Revs Dispatch Dallas

Formation Shift Aides Victory

April 25, 2008

By Sean Donahue

Missing six regular starters, Revolution coach Steve Nicol shuffled his lineup and changed to a 4-4-2 formation to take on unbeaten FC Dallas and with less than 20 minutes remaining, Khano Smith finally opened the scoring to send the Revs on their way to a surprising 1-0 victory at Pizza Hut Park while handing Dallas their first loss of the season.

The Revs looked the better team for much of the match, with Dallas struggling to create any real chances. In the 72nd minute Smith gave the Revolution the lead, getting the ball on the left flank and cutting inside towards the top of the box before unleashing a right footed shot. Smith's shot lacked power, but was well placed into the lower right corner, out of the reach of goalkeeper Dario Sala for his first goal of the season.

Khano Smith

Khano Smith scored the Revs' winning goal against FC Dallas Thursday. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

The Revs first chance of the match came in the 15th minute when Kenny Mansally ran up the right flank and sent a cross into the box. Wells Thompson was there, but sent his header wide of the mark.

Eight minutes later, Dallas’s Juan Toja hit a powerful blast on frame, but Revs' goalkeeper Matt Reis made an impressive diving save to keep Dallas of the scoreboard.

Two minutes before halftime Adam Cristman probably should've done better when he got on the end of a Shalrie Joseph cross, but his weak header was easily saved by Sala.

Toja had the first chance after halftime for Dallas in the 53rd minute. The Colombian unleashed a shot from jus t outside the box, but Reis was well positioned to make the save.

Jay Heaps should have put the Revs on top in the 70th minute. A Thompson corner kick was cleared out of the box, but was hit back in by Chase Hilgenbrinck. Gary Flood got on the end of the ball near the end line and sent it back towards the penalty spot. Heaps was there unmarked, but somehow managed to send it well high of the mark.

Reis made a huge save to preserve the lead in the 86th minute denying a point blank Drew Moor header off a Max McCarty corner kick.

In the final minute of regulation time substitute Pablo Ricchetti had a chance for Dallas on a free kick cleared out by the Revs. The ball fell to Ricchetti just outside the box and he unleashed a volley that went just high and wide of the goal.

Again Reis was called upon in the 4th minute of stoppage time, this time Ricardinho got the ball from Andre Rocha, got around Heaps' tackle and split two Revolution defenders before sending in a low shot to the far post. Reis dove and managed to hold onto the ball to preserve the win for the Revs.

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