The good news is that the New England Revolution are more than halfway through a brutal stretch of 10 matches in 33 days. The even better news is that the team is still picking up points.
The Revs scored a 1-1 draw with Toronto FC at BMO Field on Saturday to improve their road record to 6-3-2, which is the second-best away record in the league. New England is now 3-0-2 all-time against TFC, after Saturday's result and a 2-1 win against the Reds on June 28.
While the Revolution are satisfied to leave BMO Field with a point (Toronto has just one loss on their home turf this season), there were plenty of chances to pick up the win. Taylor Twellman opened the scoring in the 35th minute with his fourth goal of the season, converting a header on a cross from defender Chris Tierney.
Twellman was covered by three TFC defenders in the penalty area when Tierney flicked a cross towards the front of the net. The pass looked as if it was sailing long, but Twellman leapt in the air and made contact with the ball to sent it into the left side of the net.
"I saw the ball go out, so I just peeled off to the right post, then Chris Tierney played one hell of a ball," Twellman said.
Twellman now has four goals in seven games played this season, including three in his last four matches. It is looking like the U.S. international is regaining his scoring touch after being set back by knee surgery in April and an ankle injury in May, though Twellman said that he isn't close to being 100 percent yet.
"No, when you've been out six months it's been a long time," Twellman said. "I'm just trying to find my legs and it'll take a little while. ... I'll listen to my body and make sure I'm giving it the right amount of rest after being out for so long."
The Revs held their lead until the 66th minute, when Toronto forward Chad Barrett tied the game with a powerful strike from inside the penalty area. Barrett's goal begun a strong attacking period for TFC, who kept the Revolution on their heels for much of the next 10 minutes.
New England coach Steve Nicol said he thought fatigue may have played a factor in his team losing their one-goal advantage, but was pleased overall with his side's performance.
"I think for an hour today we were great. We passed the ball real well and the traveling caught up with us the last half hour of the game," Nicol said. "The effort was phenomenal. Everybody kept going right to the end which is not surprising considering the players we have. ... We only have one fit striker at the present time but we're traveling here, there and everywhere and that takes its toll, so we're kind of happy to get something out of the game."
Nicol said he wasn't overly surprised by a new Toronto alignment that saw winger Rohan Ricketts move up front with Barrett in a 3-5-2 formation.
"We don't concern ourselves too much about what other teams [are doing]. We like to think that what we do will determine what they do and if we're on our game then the other team has to do to try and nullify is all well and good," Nicol said.
A last-minute flurry in added time nearly gave the Revs an extra two points. First, Steve Ralston picked up a turnover in the Toronto end and fired a hard shot at TFC 'keeper Greg Sutton. Then, following a corner kick, forward Khano Smith had a chance with Sutton caught out of the net, but Smith's attempt was block by Toronto's Julius James.
Through the Revs were favored against a Toronto side that has won just once in their last 11 matches, New England defender Michael Parkhurst said his team wasn't taking the Reds for granted.
"You know we were fortunate to get that first goal, and unfortunate to not score that goal in the 90th minute, but we definitely absorbed some pressure there," Parkhurst said. "But we'll take a point up here because it's a tough place to play."
The Toronto match was the sixth of the Revolution's 10-game test of fortitude that has thus far included the SuperLiga final with Houston and a U.S. Open Cup semifinal loss to D.C. United. Still to come for the Revs is their preliminary round tie in the CONCACAF Champions' League against Trinidadian side Joe Public FC. The first match is in Tunapuna, Trinidad on Tuesday, so the Revolution will be playing in their third country in seven days.
Balancing these competitions with a full league schedule hasn't been easy, Twellman said, but he said that both he and his team aren't looking ahead and stressing.
"I'm more worried about what I'm having for dinner," Twellman joked. "This is something all of us are very new to and we could be playing a serious amount of games in a short amount of time. One day at a time [and] we'll take care of it."
Mark Polishuk is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
