Twellman's hat trick enough for Revs
Published on September 7, 2002 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
FOXBORO, Mass. - Forward Taylor Twellman netted a hat trick and set a new club record for goals in a season as the New England Revolution registered a critical 3-0 victory over D.C. United at Gillette Stadium on Saturday night. The hat trick was his first of the year and it increased his season total to 20 goals, tying him for the League lead with the Los Angeles Galaxy's Carlos Ruiz, who also entered weekend play with 20 goals. The six points on the night were, however, good enough for Twellman (20g, 5a = 45 points) to surpass Ruiz for the overall scoring lead moving four points ahead of the Guatemalan forward (20g, 1a = 41 points). Twellman's 20 goals also set a new club record for goals in a single season, surpassing Raul Diaz Arce's mark of 18 goals in 1998.
Both teams entered the match on the outside looking of the MLS Cup Playoff picture. The win took the Revolution to 32 points, just two behind the Chicago Fire who entered the weekend on 34 points, occupying the eighth and final playoff slot. New England is also just three points adrift of the Kansas City Wizards and MetroStars, two teams which are idle this weekend and stand at 35 points.
Although not mathematically eliminated, United's playoffs hopes are slim. The maximum points total the team can reach in its final three games is 35 points. D.C. remains winless on the road this season (0-10-3) and will look to avoid the distinction of becoming the only MLS team to go winless on the road in a single season when they take on the MetroStars on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Giants Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2).
The Revolution, who extended their undefeated streak to four games, registered their third consecutive shutout win against United this season after a 2-0 win on July 6 and 1-0 victory on July 27.
The match was off to a fiery start on both ends of the field with Twellman smacking a header off the crossbar in the second minute off a Steve Ralston cross from the right flank. Ralston would be efficiently marked all over the field by D.C. United defender Milton Reyes for the rest of the first half.
United was forced to make an early substitution as defender Ryan Nelsen exited the match in the 16th minute with a sprained right MCL, making way for offensive midfielder Petter Villegas. Ivan McKinley, initially listed as a midfielder, played deeper on the left side, providing defensive cover.
After the explosive opening phase, the game was played at a more controlled pace as some hard fouls interrupted the flow of play. The Revolution were able to send some shots on goal but none that troubled D.C. United goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Twellman (19th minute), Cullen (31st minute) and Heaps (44th minute) saw their efforts easily saved by Rimando.
Twellman put the Revolution ahead early in the second half. In the 63rd minute Joey Franchino slotted a ball toward the left corner of the penalty area where a slick one-touch pass by Brian Kamler sent the ball into the path of an onrushing Ralston. The Revolution midfielder curled a shot which hit the right post but Twellman was in the right place at the right time to collect the rebound and knock a left-footed strike off the right post for the 1-0 lead.
D.C. United attempted to bolster its attack by bringing on Henry Zambrano in the 74th minute but the Colombian's first touch was a pass that was intercepted by Kamler. The Revolution midfielder fed Twellman, who made a run on the edge of the offside trap in between United's two central defenders. He ran in on goal down the middle of the field and sent a low shot past Rimando, who had come off his line to challenge at the top of the box.
Twellman, who had come close to registering a hat trick with a point-blank header that was saved by Rimando in the 83rd minute, finally got his third goal in the 90th minute. The play was started with a ball-winning tackle by Leo Cullen, who launched a service toward Twellman, who had been lurking on the edge of the offside trap looking for a breakaway opportunity. The St. Louis native made his way into the right side of the box, dribbled through a challenge by Rimando and easily deposited the ball into the back of the net.
D.C. United (7-13-5, 26pts), with three matches remaining on the season, will next take on the MetroStars in their last road game of the season on Thursday, Sept. 12 at Giants Stadium (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2). The match will be the first of a home-and-home series between the two Eastern Division rivals with the second match coming 48 hours later on Saturday, Sept. 14 at RFK Stadium.
The Revolution (10-14-2, 32pts) have two matches remaining in their regular season schedule and travel to Dallas on Saturday, Sept. 14 for their last road game of the season (8:30 p.m. ET).
Major League Soccer Stories from September 7, 2002
- 'Quakes Nip Crew in OT - MLS
- Fire Inched 2-1 by Los Angeles - Chicago Fire FC
- Twellman Hat Trick Leaves United at a Loss - D.C. United
- Ruiz Lifts Galaxy over Fire - MLS
- Twellman's hat trick enough for Revs - MLS
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