Twellman, Revs Net Draw

Earn 1-1 Tie in Toronto

August 24, 2008

By Sean Donahue

The Revolution still left Canada without their first within the borders of our northern neighbor, but did manage to get a point against Toronto FC on Saturday night.

Taylor Twellman scored the 95th MLS regular season goal of his career to give the Revs a first half lead, but Chad Barrett struck back for Toronto in the second half and the Revs left Canada with a 1-1 draw.

Taylor Twellman scored his fourth goal of the season Saturday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

On the road against one of the best home teams in the league, Revs’ coach Steve Nicol opted to revert back to a 4-4-2 formation that may have looked closer to a 4-5-1 instead of using the 3-5-2 that broke the Revs out of their slump last Saturday.

Chris Tierney slotted into the backline at left back and Steve Ralston pushed up to forward. Wells Thompson filled in for the suspended Sainey Nyassi at right midfield and Doug Warren again got the start in goal for the injured Matt Reis.

Chances were at a premium for both sides in the first half and Twellman put the Revs ahead with their first real chance of the match. Tierney set up the Revs all-time leading scorer with an early cross and Twellman eluded the Toronto defense to head in his fourth goal of the season.

The second half was a bit more open and the Revs threatened first with a couple of long range efforts on counter attacks. Barrett, acquired in a midseason trade with Chicago, was the most dangerous for Toronto with a close range header in the 56th minute going high and another shot from inside the box that Warren was forced to save.

Barrett finally broke through in the 66th minute. The 23-year-old striker received the ball on cross from Rohan Ricketts at the top of the box and then beat Warren with a left-footed shot.

Toronto continued to press and had the next couple of opportunities, but shots from UConn product Julius James and Ricketts both missed the target.

It was the Revs who came closest to finding a winner at the end. In stoppage time Steve Ralston got the ball after a Toronto give-away and unleashed a blast from the top of the box that goalkeeper Greg Sutton could only tip wide. On the ensuing corner kick the ball eventually fell to Khano Smith, whose shot was out of reach of Sutton, but was block by a Toronto defender.

Forwards Adam Cristman, Kheli Dube, and Kenny Mansally all missed the match due to injuries.

The Revs now head to Trinidad to face Joe Public F.C. in the preliminary round of the CONCACAF Champions League.

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