October 2, 2006 4:59 PM

Rapids' loss, from The Boston Globe's perspective

By Frank Dell’Apa
The Boston Globe

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — The Revolution did not want to back into the playoffs. They went on the offensive early in a 3-1 win over the Colorado Rapids on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, scoring on a fourth-minute penalty kick then converting the clinching goal by Jose Manuel Abundis in his first MLS game.

Steve Ralston keyed the Revolution’s best goal output since July 1, scoring on the penalty kick, then setting up Abundis off a free kick in the 59th minute. Clint Dempsey added a 79th-minute score and the Rapids cut the deficit on Kyle Beckerman’s penalty kick in the 90th minute.

The Revolution (10-8-12, 42 points) are in third place, 2 points behind Chicago, in the Eastern Conference with two matches remaining — at D.C. United next Saturday and at home against Columbus Oct. 14. Colorado (11-13-6, 39 points) leads Real Salt Lake by 2 points for the final Western Conference playoff spot.

”After we got the early goal, we stopped playing,” Ralston said. ”We have been struggling for goals and it was nice to score. But playing against 10 guys (Clint Mathis was ejected in the 65th minute), they lose their spirit a little on the road, down a man. If we play against 11 guys like that, I’ll be happy.”

The Revolution, who advanced to the playoffs for the fifth consecutive season, took the lead after Jay Heaps earned a penalty kick 64 seconds into the match. Khano Smith, making his first start, set up a corner kick with a strong run and cross from the left wing. Dempsey flicked Ralston’s corner toward Heaps at the back post, where Aitor Karanka kicked Heaps in the forehead and referee Kevin Stott awarded a penalty.

The foul occurred 64 seconds into the match, but the penalty was not taken until the fourth minute, Heaps slowly leaving the field and having his head bandaged. He did not return until the 10th minute.

Ralston converted the first Revolution penalty kick since May 6, sending a low shot into the left side of the net as goalkeeper Joe Cannon dived the other way.

”I have taken (penalties) against Joe before, and I know he likes to move a little bit early,” Ralston said. ”I tried to wait and I knew he was in the other corner and I just slotted it to the side.”

Abundis slipped past Pablo Mastroeni to head in the second goal.

Abundis set up the play with a through ball to Smith, who was taken down by Mike Petke. Ralston slanted the free kick to the edge of the goal area, Dempsey pulling Petke through and Abundis following.

In the 65th minute, Clint Mathis was red-carded after elbowing Avery John, and Petke was cautioned for dissent. Six minutes later, Jose Cancela replaced Abundis, who departed to an ovation from a crowd of 17,093, a Revolution home season high.

”We could have held the ball better most of the game,” Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. ”In the first half, there were fouls, interruptions, people taken off the field, nobody could settle down. The longer the game was going, the better we got.”

The Revolution played without captain Joe Franchino (suspended), Shalrie Joseph (hand), Pat Noonan (hip flexor), and James Riley (hamstring).

Dempsey chipped a shot over Cannon in the 79th minute off a Taylor Twellman feed, as the Revolution equaled their goal total in a 3-2 win over New York July 1. Then, after a Matt Reis foul in the penalty area, Beckerman sent the penalty kick past Reis’s right hand.

”The playoffs are always our first objective,” Nicol said. ”It’s nice to get it done and now we want to finish as high as we can and get the home-field advantage, that’s our second objective, and now we press on. We were solid without being spectacular, we didn’t make too many mistakes. But we can’t wait until so-and-so is back to be better and for us to do this and that. It doesn’t work that way.”

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