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Unbeaten Revolution visit D.C. United

Apr 17, 2009 - 7:43 PM By Nicolino DiBenedetto Stats Writer

New England (2-0-1) at D.C. United (1-1-2), 7:00 p.m. EDT

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Despite a long layoff, the New England Revolution are still dealing with a slew of injuries. However, they've been able to withstand those absences and get off to their best start in four years.

The Revolution look to remain unbeaten for a fourth consecutive game when they visit Eastern Conference rival D.C. United on Friday night.

New England (2-0-1), which hasn't played since a 2-1 win over Dallas on April 4, has eight players listed as injured with its all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman (neck) and defenders Gabriel Badilla (back) and Kevin Alston (hamstring) declared out for Friday.

"We actually have a few nagging injuries, and it seems every year we have this," midfielder Steve Ralston said. "Usually you want the byes to be a little later in the season, but I think right now we're OK and hopefully we can heal up a little bit and be ready to go."

The time off may have helped Ralston, who missed two games with a thigh injury. The league's all-time assist leader was used off the bench to start the second half against Dallas, and he converted an 80th-minute penalty kick for the go-ahead goal.

The team has also upgraded All-Star goalkeeper Matt Reis to questionable after a knee injury kept him out of the last two games. If he's still unable to play, backup Brad Knighton could get his third consecutive start after making nine saves to get his first career victory April 4.

Knighton hadn't played for two seasons before making three stops in a 1-all tie at New York on March 28.

"I thought he was great," Revs coach Steve Nicol said of Knighton after the victory over Dallas. "He did absolutely everything and more that was asked of him. He looked calm and assured and made good decisions."

Despite those injuries, New England is looking to go unbeaten in its first four games for the first time since opening 7-0-4 in 2005. That season resulted in the first of the Revs' three consecutive MLS Cup final appearances.

The Revolution will try to keep their season-opening run going when they travel to Washington, where they're 1-4-1 in their last six visits and 6-16-3 all-time. They lost 2-1 there Oct. 16 in their only match at RFK Stadium last season.

United (1-1-2), who are 1-0-1 at home, appear to be motivated to rebound from Saturday's 2-1 loss at Salt Lake.

"We've got to be (ticked) off going into Friday," midfielder Andrew Jacobson said. "We need those three points, especially since it's a home game. There's no room for a loss in that game."

D.C.'s Luciano Emilio has a goal in each of the last three games, his longest such streak since finding the back of the net eight times during a five-game stretch from May 29-June 29. However, he managed three goals in his other 22 games last season as United missed the playoffs.

The sub-par season came after Emilio was named MLS MVP after scoring a league-high 20 goals in 2007.

He has five goals in six games against New England.