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Red Bulls-Revolution Preview

Jun 6, 2009 - 6:49 PM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

New York (2-8-3) at New England (3-3-4), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The New England Revolution hadn't won in six matches heading into their latest game, and they also hadn't seen star striker Taylor Twellman on the field all season.

It's no coincidence that Twellman's return helped snap the Revolution's skid.

Twellman played a key role in that victory in his first action of 2009, and he'll try to lift New England again Sunday night when it looks to extend its unbeaten streak against the visiting New York Red Bulls to 12 games.

Twellman, fifth on the all-time MLS scoring list with 99 goals, hadn't played since October because of a neck injury that caused him vertigo, nausea and whiplash.

The Revolution (3-3-4) certainly missed Twellman, who had eight goals in 16 games last season. They had scored eight times in nine matches heading into a home game against D.C. United on May 30.

After midfielder Jeff Larentowicz took a ball in the face, Twellman entered in the 25th minute to raucous applause from the Gillette Stadium crowd.

He set up the winning goal when he was hauled down and drew a penalty kick in the 90th minute. Steve Ralston converted and New England snapped a six-game winless slide with a 2-1 victory.

"He puts the ball in the net, for starters. There's not too many guys in the world who can do that," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "He also takes pressure off other players, as well. If you're playing against Taylor you have to make sure that you know where he is and you have to be concerned about it, which means you're taking your eye off something else."

The Red Bulls (2-8-3) and New England have played to draws in their last four matches dating to a 2-all tie on Sept. 22, 2007, when Twellman scored twice. On March 28, Kenny Mansally scored the equalizer in the 90th minute to extend the Revolution's unbeaten streak against New York to 11 games.

New York hasn't won at New England since June 29, 2002, going 0-10-4. It's also winless in its last 18 road matches since a 2-1 victory over Los Angeles on May 10, 2008.

Given the Red Bulls' recent results, they'd probably be happy to come away with one point against New England. New York has lost its last three games and hasn't scored a goal in six road matches, going 0-5-1 while yielding eight goals.

The club's latest silent offensive effort away from home came Thursday against United, a 2-0 loss that was the seventh time the Red Bulls have been shut out.

"It's one of those things that is very hard to explain. We played really well. ... we pretty much did everything right and one mistake ended up costing us the game," said striker Juan Pablo Angel, who leads the team with four goals. "We had our good chances but we didn't manage to put them away. It's frustrating."

Angel hasn't scored in his last five matches against New England, including two games in a 2007 conference semifinal loss.