It didn’t take long for the New England Revolution to begin counting the cost of its first-ever victory over Chivas USA in Southern California.
Striker Taylor Twellman, whose 59th minute winner was his first of the season, was visibly distressed after the game with the severity of an apparent second half ankle injury that almost resulted in him being pulled just 14 minutes after coming on as a half time sub.
“My fingers are crossed for myself,” he said. “It doesn’t look good, but what are you going to do?
“I can’t even walk on it right now, that’s what scares the shit out of me” he said, adding he initially believed Chivas USA defender Shavar Thomas had kicked him (he hadn’t).
Twellman said he could have had a second at game’s end, but for the injury.
“I would have had a second if my ankle was attached to my leg,” he said. “That was the most painful shot I’ve ever taken.”
Twellman was initially slated as a starter for the season opener against Houston, but was removed from the lineup after experiencing discomfort in his right knee during warm-ups.
He underwent surgery to repair a torn medial meniscus in his right knee on April 2, and returned just ahead of the expected six to eight rehab period.
Twellman, fifth on the MLS career goalscoring list, scored his 92nd career goal, his fourth in four games.
Chivas USA Coach Preki was in a fatalistic move after the game.
“We scrambled to put a back line together,” he said. “We did a decent job. But we had a couple of break-downs and we got punished.”
Preki described it as a “strange game,” observing that the early domination of Chivas USA did not result in goals, which “took the wind out of our sails.”
“In a lot of ways, I thought it was a little bit of a lop-sided score,” he said.
But, he noted, Chivas USA remains just four points out of first place in the Western Conference.
Quote of the day goes to Preki: “It is what it is,” he said. “What we have is what we have.”
Um, yeah.
Also noted:
*Steve Ralston made MLS history at the 16th minute, becoming the first player in MLS to reach the 30,000-minutes-played mark.
*Today marked Ralston’s first start since the season opener when he dislocated his left shoulder, forcing him to miss the next five games.
*Ralston’s assist today was his 34th career game-winning assist, giving him sole possession of first place on MLS’ all-time list. He had been tied with former Tampa Bay Mutiny teammate Carlos Valderrama.
* Former Galaxy defender Chris Albright also got his first assist for the club today.
“Those are the best kind, the ones you don’t have to work for,” he said.
Incidentally, Albright is enjoying his new career in New England.
“The veterans on this team have such a good work ethic,” he said. “That’s what makes this team go. The best players on this team show up and put in 110 percent every game.”
Next up for 1-4-2 Chivas USA: D.C. United at home on Saturday.
Where were all the moms? The attendance today was just 10,927.
Updated: Game details are here.
