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Revolution-Wizards Preview

Jun 12, 2009 - 8:49 PM By ALAN FERGUSON STATS Writer

New England (4-3-4) at Kansas City (4-5-4), 8:30 p.m. EDT

Taylor Twellman's return sparked the New England Revolution to a pair of victories, but if the Revolution are to make it a three-game win streak, they'll have to find a way to do it without their star forward.

With nausea and dizziness from last season's neck injury still plaguing him, Twellman will not make the trip for Saturday night's match against the Kansas City Wizards.

Twellman scored twice in Sunday's 4-0 win over visiting New York, becoming the league's youngest (29 years, 100 days) and quickest (174 games) player to reach 100 career goals.

In a 2-1 home victory May 30 over D.C. United - his first appearance since Oct. 25 against Kansas City - Twellman helped snap New England's six-game winless skid by drawing a penalty that led to the winning goal.

Before Twellman's return, the Revolution (4-3-4) had scored only eight times in their first nine matches and recorded more than one goal only once.

Without its catalyst, New England goalkeeper Matt Reis said his team needs to remain steady if its want to win three straight for the first time since last May.

"The key is consistency," Reis, who posted his 50th career shutout Sunday, told the Revolution's official Web site. "We've added a lot of young players, and we've had players coming and going. We've had to adapt every week. It's about being consistent."

The Revolution have struggled on the road, going 0-2-3 away from home since a 1-0, season-opening win at San Jose on March 2, but have won four of their last eight trips to Kansas City, including a 3-1 victory April 9, 2008.

The Wizards, though, took their most recent home meeting with the Revolution, 1-0 on Oct. 11. They also won 3-1 at New England on Oct. 25 to clinched their second straight playoff berth.

To make it three postseason appearances in a row, Kansas City could use more inspired efforts. The Wizards (4-5-4) have one win in their last seven matches, and have earned just two points in their last three at home, where they are 2-2-2 in 2009.

They've also been shut out twice in the last seven contests, including a 2-0 home loss to Columbus last Saturday despite a season-high 17 shot attempts.

"We had a ton of shots on goal and a whole bunch of deflections from their team," Kansas City coach Curt Onalfo told the team's official Web site. "If one of those goes in, it's a different game - even if you score in the 88th minute - because then you have an opportunity to get another one. Unfortunately, none of them went in."

New England midfielder Steve Ralston, who has scored in consecutive games and is tied with Shalrie Joseph with a team-high four goals, is expected to become the first MLS player to reach 400 games played including postseason. Should Ralston reach that mark Saturday, it would come in his first game at CommunityAmerica Ballpark since breaking his right fibula there last October.

Revolution defender Jay Heaps needs to play 60 minutes to move into third place on the league's all-time list.