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For the first time since they were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention in early September, the Revolution aren't in a position to play the role of spoiler this weekend.
But that doesn't mean that ninth-place New England will be lacking for motivation against the eighth-place Philadelphia Union on Saturday at PPL Park.

For starters, there's always the matter of improving the on-field product. As the first season of Jay Heaps' head-coaching tenure comes to a close, Saturday's game, despite the absence of playoff implications, carries with it just as much weight as a midsummer game.

And it's easy to see why. Heaps has successfully incorporated the concept of "accountability" since he was given the coaching reins during the offseason. As a result, Heaps hasn't been hesitant to drop proven veterans and untested rookies alike from the lineup at the first sign of apathy.

To think that'll change Saturday -- or in the club's final two games following their clash with the Union -- would be foolish, especially with the number of casualties on Friday's injury report.

If you counted four defenders listed as "out" on the injury report, then you'll know there will be renewed competition for playing time, even if it requires some ad-libbing on the part of a rarely-used rookie or two. While they may be attacking players by trade, fresh-faced midfielders Alec Purdie and Michael Roach have seen time in the back during training and reserve league action to help shore up a banged-up back line.

As if the defensive unit didn't create enough problems, there's also the issue of the midfield. There was a time earlier this season when the roster contained a surplus of players for the middle of the park. That time, however, has come and gone.

With Sainey Nyassi (concussion), Clyde Simms (calf) and Lee Nguyen (shoulder) all listed on the injury report, Heaps may be forced to squeeze every minute out of a partially fit Juan Toja. In the Revolution's last three games, the Colombian midfielder's role has been limited to that of late substitute as concerns about his fitness level linger.

One positive development for Heaps this week is the return of Ryan Guy, who was half a world away with the Guam national team last Saturday. Guy, the classic midfield engine who could, should give Heaps some extra peace of mind when putting together his starting XI on Saturday.

With Saer Sene out for the season, it's been a carousel of strikers lining up with Jerry Bengtson in the last four weeks. Diego Fagundez has gotten the majority of the starts alongside Bengtson, but last week Dimitry Imbongo got the nod up top. The results weren't spectacular -- a 2-0 shutout loss in Houston to a team that hasn't lost at home -- but Heaps isn't looking for the spectacular at this juncture. He's looking for progress.

Speaking of progress, Saturday may yield some more insight on where second-string keeper Bobby Shuttleworth stands in Heaps' plans. After getting the start over 15-year veteran Matt Reis in the team's last two games, Heaps was noncommittal about whom he'll tab on Saturday.

Yes, it may be a game devoid of postseason drama. A clash of underachieving conference rivals, perhaps. But if you want to witness real tension, Saturday's contest will be brimming with it, as players on both sides vigorously battle for jobs before the clock strikes midnight on the regular season.

The Revolution (7-16-8, 29 points) will play their penultimate road game of the season on Saturday when they face the Philadelphia Union (9-15-6, 33 points) at PPL Park in Chester, Pa.

The conference clash will kick off at 7 p.m., and will be televised locally on Comcast Sports Net New England. The Sports Hub 98.5 will air the game on the radio.

New England enters the game in search of its first win over the Union, who entered the league in 2010. The Revolution are 0-3-3 all-time against the Union and earned a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 1 in their last meeting.

NOTES:

* Jerry Bengtson and Diego Fagundez were called up by their respective countries for national team duty on Thursday. Bengtson will return to the Honduran national team for a pair of World Cup qualifiers against Panama on Oct. 12, in Panama City, and Canada on Oct. 16 in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. For Fagundez, it will be his first call-up to his native Uruguay after being a part of the United States youth national team pools. The Uruguyan U-20s will face the Chile U-20s for a pair of friendlies on Oct. 9, and Oct. 11. Fagundez moved to the US at age 5.

* With Stephen McCarthy (concussion-like symptoms) listed as “out” on the Revolution injury list, coach Jay Heaps may be hard pressed to put together a four-man backline for Saturday’s match. Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes and A.J. Soares are the only defenders not listed on the Oct. 2 injury report, and Heaps may be forced to call upon rookie midfielder Alec Purdie to play in the back.

* While the injury report continues to grow with each passing week, one piece of good news for Heaps is the return of midfielder Ryan Guy. The 26-year-old missed last week’s game in Houston after he was called up by the Guam national team for a trio of Peace Cup games in the Philippines.

* The Revolution are one attacking shutout away from breaking the franchise record after last weekend’s 2-0 loss in Houston, which marked the 11th time the club had been blanked this season. The current mark was set in 2010.

* Earlier this week, Revolution president Brian Bilello hinted to the The Boston Globe that the team may be looking at Revere, Mass., as a possible location for the construction of a soccer-specific stadium. “We are in discussions with the City of Revere, which offers the proximity to urban centers and access to transit that we are seeking for a future Revolution stadium,” Bilello said in a statement to the Globe on Monday. “But talks are preliminary at this stage.”

INJURY REPORTS (as of Oct. 2)

REVOLUTION -- OUT: DF Flo Lechner (R knee MCL sprain); DF Stephen McCarthy (concussion-like symptoms); MF Lee Nguyen (R shoulder surgery); DF Tyler Polak (R foot sprain); FW Saer Sene (L knee ACL surgery); DF Chris Tierney (L knee sprain / L hamstring strain); DOUBTFUL: MF Clyde Simms (R calf tightness); QUESTIONABLE: MF Sainey Nyassi (concussion)

UNION -- OUT: DF Bakary Soumare (R knee menisectomy recovery); FW Krystian Witkowski (concussion symptoms); DOUBTFUL: MF Freddy Adu (L quad strain); QUESTIONABLE: DF Gabriel Farfan (R ankle contusion/R hamstring strain); MF Danny Cruz (L big toe sesamoid stress fracture); PROBABLE: MF Keon Daniel (R knee contusion); MF Michael Farfan (R foot contusion)

It was a night in which nothing went right for the Revolution.

The passes missed their mark. The shots stayed wide and high. The ideas grew stale. To make matters worse, a torrential downpour enveloped the field before the Dynamo scored a pair of late goals to capture a 2-0 win at BBVA Compass Stadium on Saturday.

All in all, though, New England’s misfortunes can be traced back to one simple concept.

“We just weren’t clean enough on the ball,” Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said after the game. “We started sharp, but as the game went on we got a little more loose and that’s what cost us. We couldn’t keep the ball for an extended period of time.”

In the opening moments, the Revolution broke out of the gate with pace and put together some solid passing sequences. It was a promising start, to be sure.

But it didn’t take long for their form to recede -- dramatically, in fact. By the half, the statistics for the Revolution were bleak: 31.8 percent possession, 57 percent passing accuracy and only five open play crosses to speak of.

“Our forwards did well defending hard, but also getting the ball and creating,” Revolution center back A.J. Soares said after the game. “As the game went on, we just wore down a little bit. They started sending more numbers and by the end they got their two goals.”

When the second half arrived, it was clear the Revolution had their work cut out for them, and not only on the attacking end of the spectrum. With the fifth-place Dynamo pressing for a much-needed win, they unleashed a series of dangerous forays in the Revolution end.

In the 58th minute, Dynamo striker Calen Carr -- who regularly tested the Revolution in the first half -- received a pass from Brad Davis, shed his mark and fired a shot that sailed just over the bar.

“They needed the points bad and it showed,” Revolution center back Stephen McCarthty said after the game. “They pushed hard. You have guys running through and you have to be mentally aware of everyone around.”

However, there was little they could do when the Dynamo pushed forward in the 77th minute. This time, Davis found Ricardo Clark inside the area, where Clark carefully tucked the pass inside the far post.

Even though the Revolution had scored a late-game equalizer against New York the previous week, any hopes of a similar scenario unfolding was erased in the 93rd minute. From a Warren Creavalle cross, Boniek Garcia volleyed it through to put the result out of reach for the Revolution.

While the weather, not to mention the number of players on the club’s injury report, may have played a major part in Saturday’s loss, Heaps looked at the silver lining in the wake of a wet night in Houston.

“We had guys that were given a chance tonight and for some of (them), they did well,” Heaps said. “But they needed to a little more at the end.”

On a rain-soaked BBVA Compass Stadium field, Ricardo Clark and Boniek Garcia each tallied for the first time this season to help deliver the Dynamo to a 2-0 victory over the Revolution on Saturday.

Clark's goal arrived in the 77th minute when he tapped a Brad Davis ball inside the far post. The hosts put it out of reach in the 93rd minute when Garcia volleyed through a Warren Creavalle cross to keep the Houston's season-long home unbeaten streak (10-0-5) intact.

Houston's Tally Hall made four saves to earn his 12th clean sheet of the season, while Bobby Shuttleworth stopped five shots in a losing effort.

With the loss, the Revolution's record falls to 7-16-8 (29 points) while the Dynamo's mark goes to 13-8-10 (49 points).

It's a broken record: With Saturday's loss, the Revolution pushed their winless streak on the road this to 12 (0-10-2), with their last win away from Gillette Stadium coming on March 31 in Los Angeles.

Stoppage-time hijinks: For the second straight game, the Revolution allowed a stoppage-time goal to fall through when Garcia tallied in the 93rd minute. Last week, New York's Joel Lindpere scored in the 91st minute before a Darrius Barnes goal allowed the Revolution to salvage a 1-1 draw.

Imbongo gets the nod up top: Dimitry Imbongo got the start over Diego Fagundez up top on Saturday. His last start came on Sept. 5 against Columbus, a game in which he scored his first MLS goal. Although he fired a team-high five shots on Saturday, only one went on target.

Shuttleworth back between the sticks: In an ongoing effort to give additional minutes to his less-experienced players, head coach Jay Heaps gave second choice goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth the start against the Dynamo on Saturday. The fourth-year keeper entered the game with a 1-1-1 record with a 0.67 goals against average in three starts, including a 2-0 shutout win over New York on July 8.

Feilhaber finds his way back into lineup: Midfielder Benny Feilhaber earned his first start in nearly a month after being dropped from the lineup for the previous three games. With Lee Nguyen and Chris Tierney both out due to injury, Feilhaber also handled the bulk of the set piece responsibilities for the evening. The central midfielder's last start came in a 0-0 draw to the Union on Sept. 1 at Gillette Stadium.

Toja comes on for final 45: Allocation signee Juan Toja came on at the half, taking over for Clyde Simms in the central midfield. He earned a 68th-minute caution, and appeared to pick up a knock in the latter stages of the game, but remained on the field for the duration of the game.

Next up: The Revolution will remain on the road next week when they play the Philadelphia Union at PPL Park in Chester, Pa. The game will kick off at 7 p.m. In their last matchup, the squads settled for a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium on Sept. 1.

For teams whose playoff hopes have already been dashed, the final games of the regular season often serve a dual purpose.

The first, of course, is for the coaching staff to continue to gauge the squad's progress. After all, just because the postseason push has come to a close doesn't mean the effort should.

The other purpose? To give the role players and less-experienced players a shot at making their mark with the first team.

Well, come Saturday, Revolution head coach Jay Heaps could be forced to put a greater focus on the latter with a series of starters unavailable for the club's clash with the Houston Dynamo at BBVA Stadium at 8:30 p.m. ET (TV: Comcast SportsNet New England; Radio: The Sports Hub 98.5).

With Lee Nguyen (right shoulder surgery), Ryan Guy (international duty), Chris Tierney (left knee sprain, left hamstring strain) and Flo Lechner (right MCL sprain) all listed as "out," and Clyde Simms (right calf tightness) listed as "questionable," Heaps will need some creative thinking as he fills out his lineup against the fifth-place Dynamo.

As for the Dynamo, they'll come into the contest seeking nothing less than three points as they teeter on the edge of a playoff spot. Going into Saturday's match, they sit one point above the make-it-or-break-it line, and will need every point they can get between now and the rest of the season.

On paper, it looks like Houston has the injury-ravaged Revolution right where it wants them. Without three starting midfielders, a pair of starting defenders and their leading scorer (Saer Sene), the Revolution may resemble a reserve team rather than a legitimate first-selection squad.

Making matters worse, the Revolution haven't won a road a road game since March. So even with their regulars in tow, three points on the road is a concept the team hasn't quite grasped this year.

So what is a head coach to do?

You can bet that Heaps is going use Saturday's game as a motivating tool for those are healthy enough to play. In short, the rookie head coach is going to look at his bench and ask them to prove their abilities within a 90-minute window.

That means players like Fernando Cardenas and Blair Gavin, not to mention rookies like Alec Purdie and Michael Roach, will all be given the golden opportunity to show what they've got.

Meanwhile, Saturday's game also presents an opportunity for the recently dropped Benny Feilhaber to get one more extended look before the door shuts on the regular season. After a series of substandard performances doomed him to the bench, he'll likely return to the starting lineup with the hope that he can return to his World Cup form.

Another player who'll almost certainly get additional time is Juan Toja, the former MLS All-Star who's seen second-half action in the last two games. Fitness may still be an issue for the Colombian midfielder, but given the circumstances, it's likely Toja will be pressed to play as many minutes as he can muster.

On second glance, these final four games for the Revolution may serve yet another purpose, albeit one that Heaps could probably do without: trying a coach's patience.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- All you need to do is look right at the Revolution bench to see the influence that Pelé exerted here in the country nearly four decades ago.

As a kid, Jay Heaps popped in a VHS featuring the legendary playmaker and was instantly mesmerized. So he did what any soccer-loving kid would do, he set out to mimic one of the drills. To do so, he tethered a soccer ball to a piece of rope, tied it to a tree branch, and practiced his heading over and over until the branch snapped.

On Thursday, Heaps met the man who helped introduce him -- as a well as a whole generation of American children -- to the game of soccer. Not unexpectedly, he couldn’t help but smile as Pelé himself spoke beside him during Thursday’s press conference announcing a partnership between Sovereign | Santander and the Revolution.

“Pelé helped start soccer here (in the United States),” Heaps said. “(He promoted) it and opened up the eyes of young kids like myself and across the country.

The story of Pele’s arrival in the United States is well-known. And it involved classic American business savvy to get him here.

A year after the World Cup hero called it a career with his longtime club -- Santos of Brazil -- Warner Communications lured him back to playing in 1975.

But shortly after the ink dried on his multi-million dollar contracts with the Warner-owned New York Cosmos, it was clear that Pele would have to do a lot more than perform on the pitch.

He had to be an ambassador. In a country in which soccer was little more than a curiosity, Pelé was needed to help showcase soccer in a country that was, at the time, largely indifferent to it.

“I came to the United States to help the people (enjoy soccer),” Pele said during the press conference. “But we got so much support at that time … then the (sport) grew a lot and it was amazing.”

During his three seasons with the Cosmos, Pelé attracted the crowds wherever he went. And wherever he went -- including Boston University for a friendly in 1975 -- more and more kids learned and eventually fell in love with the game.

Although the sport may have fallen on hard times during the 1980s, USA ’94 invoked the same passions that Pelé initially helped spark nearly 20 years previous. Two years later, Major League Soccer (MLS) kicked off its inaugural campaign, and set the standard for professional soccer in the U.S.

Today, the sport is growing. MLS is expected to welcome its 20th franchise in 2014, and the attendance numbers are projecting record highs before the season closes next month. Across the country, viewer ratings for international competitions are at an all-time high.

History will tell you that there were plenty of people playing soccer before Pele arrived. There were leagues, many of which came and went, and there were a number of local legends who all contributed to building the foundation prior to 1975.

But it was Pelé, with his charisma, skill and jaw-dropping goals, who sent the sport through the roof and helped sow the seeds for soccer’s continued success in the U.S.

“No doubt, it’s grown a lot,” Pele said. “I’m glad to have been a part of this. It’s an honor.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Typically, when a team allows a backbreaking, go-ahead goal in stoppage time, the final whistle screeches before they get the chance to regain their composure.

But Saturday’s game was anything but typical for the Revolution, even with the postseason out of reach.

Instead of dwelling on their misfortune following Joel Lindpere’s 91st-minute goal, they quickly reasserted themselves. And four minutes later, Darrius Barnes equalized to grab a 1-1 draw.

So much for playing out the string.

“There is so much to fight for,” Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said after the game. “We are in the process of building something. We took a lot of steps forward; we’ve obviously taken a few steps back.”

There’s no debating it’s been a season that’s seen more valleys than peaks for the Revs, who currently sit in eighth place. But win, lose or draw, the message hasn’t deviated: Never give up.

That message came to fruition on Saturday. After holding the Red Bulls for 90 minutes, the Revolution were anxious to score one before the gun. But only seconds into stoppage time, Lindpere dealt a severe blow to that idea. And yet, even after his shot crashed the back of the net, the Revolution refused to give in to the temptation of throwing in the towel.

“When they got that goal, we didn't let it deflate us,” Revolution defender Darrius Barnes said after the game. “We kept pushing. We got numbers forward and kept putting numbers into the box. When you put balls into the box, anything can happen.”

What happened next was an unequivocal testament to the team’s spirit. Seconds after he was beat to a long Bobby Shuttleworth ball, Barnes shook it off, then ventured forward into the box, ready for the next available chance.

Two seconds later, Ryan Guy crossed it toward Barnes, who towered over Tim Cahill to redirect it through. And just like that, the Revolution had shown that they wouldn’t go down without a fight, regardless of where they sat in the standings.

“I was just trying to cause havoc in the box,” Barnes said. “It came in a perfect spot and I was able get in front of the goalkeeper and put it in the back of the net.”

Sure, Heaps would’ve been happier to pick up three points at home instead of salvaging only one. But, given the circumstances, he came away impressed by what he saw during the twilight of Saturday’s tilt.

“I thought that when we went down the goal late, we showed a nice fight,” Heaps said. “That, to me, is probably the most positive to take from the game.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Darrius Barnes didn't think he'd be the hero on Saturday.

Four years into his professional career, the versatile defender hadn't scored a single goal. Not for lack of trying, of course.

But four minutes after his club conceded what looked like a back-breaking strike in stoppage time, Barnes put on the cape and scored his first MLS goal, allowing his club to salvage a 1-1 draw against the Red Bulls.

"It's been a long time coming," Barnes said after Saturday's game. "It's just great that it came at that point in time. They had just scored a goal in the (91st) minute and we were able to (show) our resiliency and come back and get one of our own."

Resiliency was certainly the key word in Saturday's draw. Although both clubs collected decent chances, neither one had anything to show for it through first 90 minutes.

The Revolution's first chance appeared to net them the opening goal in the fourth minute when Lee Nguyen went sliced through the defense and played it through to Jerry Bengtson, who lodged it under the crossbar. But the assistant referee flagged the Honduran striker offside.

"We had a couple of chances that weren't awarded," Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said. "I don't want to comment further other than to say that (the Bengtson shot) was a goal."

Whether the decision was justified or not, the hosts shook it off and pushed through it.

Twenty minutes into the match, Barnes nearly wed the ball with the net on a Lee Nguyen free kick. But the header strayed wide of the far post.

"I kind of jumped too early (and) didn't time it as well as I would have," Barnes said. "It was definitely an opportunity, and I felt like we were going to get a goal off a set piece or cross."

Barnes' mindset may have turned out to be prescient, but before his last-gasp goal leveled it seconds before the three chirps, the Red Bulls found their share of chances as well.

In the 37th minute, Joel Lindpere put a ball in front of Tim Cahill, who fired a shot that sent Bobby Shuttleworth diving to his right before it sailed wide of the far post.

New York rummaged for the evasive again in the 72nd minute when Cahill nodded a dangerous header that nearly escaped the grasp of Shuttleworth. But the backup keeper, who filled in for starter Matt Reis on Saturday, grabbed it just in time to keep the board unblemished.

After 90 minutes came and went without a goal, the guests finally managed to grab a goal. Seconds into stoppage time, Wilman Conde floated a cross far post that Shuttleworth and Cahill battled for. Cahill won, and nearly steered it through before Lindpere emerged to shove it through.

With only minutes left to file a response, Heaps implored his players to keep fighting, and "pick themselves back up."

"The game of soccer's cruel," Heaps said. "That said, it doesn't matter. The game forgets quickly. We have to earn our stripes, and tonight was a way of doing that."

How they were able to do that, of course, is wholly attributable to the spirit of the collective. Although the club's been snakebitten and scorned time after time this season, the fact is the team has never quit. Not that Heaps would ever let them.

So when Barnes snaked his way into the box, got behind Cahill and Heath Pearce and elevated to redirect Ryan Guy's cross through, it was proof positive that the fire still burns inside the collective soul of this club.

And even though the playoff train may have left the station, it's a fire that won't soon be extinguished -- even if it means that a first-time goal scorer has to take center stage.

"We're trying to get our guys to respond when they're down a goal after the 93rd minute and they have a minute left," Heaps said. "They pulled their socks up and (got) something out of nothing."

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Darrius Barnes' first MLS goal canceled out a late Joel Lindpere goal to help the Revolution to a 1-1 draw over the Red Bulls on Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

Barnes' goal arrived in the 95th minute -- just moments after Joel Lindpere scored the first goal of the game in the 91st minute.

With the draw, the Revolution's mark goes to 7-15-8 (29 points), while the Red Bulls' record goes to 14-8-8 (50 points).

The crowd comes out: The 24,364 fans in attendance for Saturday's clash marked a season-high for the Revolution, and was the 17th-biggest soccer crowd at Gillette Stadium since its opening in 2002.

Revs extend streak against Red Bulls: With the draw, the Revolution are 11-0-5 in their past 16 matchups against the Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium.

Soares back in action: After missing the team's previous three games, center back AJ Soares returned to the starting lineup on Saturday. He played the full 90 and nearly scored in stoppage time.

Henry suspended: The Revolution dodged a bullet when MLS suspended New York striker Thierry Henry for Saturday's game. The Frenchman disciplined by the league after he slammed into Sporting K.C.'s Kei Kamara in Wednesday's 1-0 K.C. win over New York.

McCarthy on the bench: Center back Stephen McCarthy, who started the team's previous ten games, was among the seven substitutes listed for Saturday's game. However, he came on to the pitch in the 35th minute after Flo Lechner left the game with a left knee injury.

Shuttleworth gets the nod: Backup goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth was given the start in place of Matt Reis for Saturday's game. Incidentally, the last time the Red Bulls visited Gillette Stadium -- on July 8 -- Shuttleworth got the start and earned his second career shutout in a 2-0 Revolution win.

Reserve division rematch: Following the 0-0 draw, New York's and New England's reserve squads met for reserve division action.

Next up: The Revolution hit the road next weekend for a conference clash against the Dynamo on Sept. 29 at BBVA Stadium. Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET.

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Last week’s loss to D.C. may have doomed them to another early offseason, but don’t tell the Revolution it’s time to start packing it in.

Yes, the postseason incentive is gone. Yet, that won’t stop the team from fighting for respect in their last five games -- starting Saturday against the Red Bulls, who will be without star striker Thierry Henry due to suspension.

New York comes into the clash after a 1-0 blanking at home against Sporting K.C., and will likely attempt to take out their frustrations against the Revolution.

“We know they’re a strong team,” Revolution midfielder Ryan Guy said after training on Wednesday. “We know they can score goals and they’re stingy in letting in goals. I think we just have to use our home field advantage.”

The Revolution have certainly used the friendly confines of Gillette Stadium to their advantage against the Red Bulls. Going back to 2002, New England has run an 11-0-4 home mark versus their I-95 rivals.

But head coach Jay Heaps knows that the past is just that: the past. And since the past often has very little bearing on the future, Heaps is prepared for a tough battle on Saturday.

“They’ve been playing extremely well,” Heaps said. “They do a lot of good things offensively and they limit anything going the other way with some good positional play. So we just have to find the right times to defend.”

In addition to defense, the Revolution can’t be afraid to attack. Although New York’s bread and butter is holding the ball, the hosts have to find a way to take it away from them.

“It’s going to be important for us to do a lot of the dictating,” Heaps said. “We want to push teams back and we want to play good, quick soccer.”

Taking it to their opponent has been a talking point all season. So has creating chances. But neither idea pointed to overwhelming success, and Heaps is quick to cite the reason why.

“The one thing that we’ve lacked all year, and that we continue to try and find, is that killer instinct, to put a team away, when we have control of the match,” Heaps said. “We’ve played some pretty good stuff, but in the end, it’s just not good enough.”

They’ll look to reverse their fortunes on Saturday. And to do so, they’ll have to be methodical. Every time the Red Bulls lose the ball, the Revolution are going to have to pounce -- and convert.

“Counters are going to be important,” Revolution center back Stephen McCarthy said. “And the chances we do get, we’re going to have to put them away.”

Therein lies the difficulty. While the Revolution have collected a cache of chances in recent weeks, the ball simply isn’t falling into the back of the net often enough. In light of that, the Revolution can’t rest their fortunes on chances alone. They must convert them at every opportunity, especially in a game that may not promise many for them.

Sure, the postseason may no longer be on the agenda. But a win against the playoff-bound Red Bulls would signal that the Revolution aren’t content with simply playing out the string.

“It’s showing the pride that we still have,” McCarthy said. “This game is going to be big just like the rest of them have been for that reason alone.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Their playoff hopes may have been dashed in D.C. on Saturday, but don’t tell the Revolution that there’s nothing on the line during their final five games of the season. Far from it.

Although midfielder Ryan Guy admitted that there’s “less to play for” now that the Revolution won’t be making postseason plans, he’s quick to point out that there’s still plenty at stake between now and the Oct. 27 season finale.

“We’re still fighting for our jobs and we’re still fighting for our positions,” Guy said after training on Wednesday. “Now, we’re looking to next year. Guys are going to be competing for spots and we’ve got new guys coming in all the time.”

With trialists entering the picture, and a number of players under the microscope, these final weeks of the season are going to be anything but easy. And that’s just fine by Guy.

Even though each of their final five games won’t carry as much weight as they did earlier in the summer, the fact is that no one’s ready to throw in the towel.

“At the end of the day, we’re all competitors,” Guy said. “We all love the thrill and hate the feeling of defeat.”

Picking their spots

With the high-charged Red Bulls in town on Saturday, Revolution head coach Jay Heaps knows his squad can’t throw caution to the wind.

While some clubs may look at New York’s gaping goals allowed average (1.69) and become wildly ambitious, expect the Revolution to take a disciplined approach instead.

“We have to find the right times to defend,” Heaps said after Wednesday’s training. “And when we do break, we have to find their pressure points.”

To do that, Heaps may rip a page from last week’s game against D.C. Although his club may have fallen short in the 2-1 loss, they hit a number of pressure points after collecting a club-record 28 shots on Saturday.

“I thought we did a nice job of that on Saturday (in D.C.),” Heaps said. “We dictated (much) of the flow of that game. But we have to finish our chances. Right now, it’s a matter of us getting a lot of quality chances, but just not taking them.”

Guy to Guam

Following Saturday’s game, Guy will be flying out to the Philippines for his first international match for Guam, which is playing in next week’s Paulino Alcantara Peace Cup at Rizal Memorial Stadium in Manila.

Guy, who hails from San Diego, Calif., is eligible to play for the island nation because his father, Jesse, was born there. And while the midfielder admits that he isn’t entirely familiar with his international teammates, he’s certainly looking forward to the experience.

“I’m excited,” Guy said. “I’ve really been a part of their culture since I’ve been going there basically every year of my life in some way to go visit my dad.”

Guy and his Guam teammates are slated to play three games next week: Tuesday, Sept. 25 vs. Philippines; Thursday, Sept. 27 vs. Taiwan; and Saturday, Sept. 29 vs. Macau.

While Guy doesn’t harbor any World Cup hopes for the squad, he is intrigued by the prospect of building the program from the ground up.

“As a new FIFA soccer nation, I think we’ve got a ton of potential,” Guy said. “We have a lot of young players. Hopefully, I can come in and (assume) a leadership role and really help them rise to the international rankings.”

D.C. United's Chris Pontius and Lewis Neal canceled out Kelyn Rowe's opening goal to hand the Revolution a 2-1 defeat at RFK Stadium on Saturday.

Rowe scored his third goal of the season in the 29th minute to give the guests the early advantage. But Pontius responded in the 32nd minute, while Neal, who came on as a second-half substitute, seized the decider in the 63rd minute.

The loss snapped the Revolution's modest three-game unbeaten streak (1-0-2). For D.C., the win put the brakes on a three-game winless streak (0-2-1).

With Saturday's match in the books, New England's record stands at 7-15-7 (28 points) while D.C.'s mark goes to 13-10-5 (44 points).

Playoff hopes officially dashed: With the loss, the Revolution were mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and will miss the playoffs for the third straight season.

Same story, different night: For the 11th straight game, the Revolution failed to grab a win on enemy territory. On the season, the Revolution's road record stands at 1-11-2, with their last road win coming on March 31 against L.A.

D.C. sweeps season series: United remained perfect (3-0-0) against the Revolution this season. The 2-1 defeat also marked the first time since 2007 that the Revolution failed to beat D.C. at least once during the course of the regular season. Last year, the Revolution swept the season series by beating D.C. in each of their two clashes.

Simms back in D.C.: Revolution midfielder Clyde Simms, who spent eight seasons (2004-2011) as a member of D.C., made his first appearance at RFK Stadium as a member of the Revolution. Simms missed his current club's first trip to D.C. on May 26 due to a calf injury.

Toja makes his debut: Newly acquired Juan Toja suited up with the Revolution for the first time Saturday. The two-time All-Star came on in the 73rd minute for Flo Lechner as the Revolution went from a 4-4-2 formation to a 3-5-2 in search of a late equalizer.

Bengtson back in the lineup: Designated player Jerry Bengtson made his return to the lineup after missing the Revolution's 2-0 victory over Columbus on Sept. 5. The Honduran went 61 minutes against United, but recorded only a single shot before he was replaced by Dimitry Imbongo.

Barnes gets third straight start: Although regular starter AJ Soares, who missed the previous two games, wasn't on the injury report Friday, Darrius Barnes remained in the starting XI for the third straight week. Prior to Saturday's start, Barnes and the Revolution defense had shut out their opponents in their past two.

Next up: The Revolution will look to shake off Saturday's loss when they host the Red Bulls on Sept. 22 at Gillette Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.

It's back to work for the Revolution.

After they were given the weekend off following a trying trio of games in the span of eight days, the club returned to the practice pitch on Monday to prepare for a Saturday night meeting with D.C. United at RFK Stadium.

The game will kick off at 7:30pm and will be televised on Comcast SportsNet New England. Local listeners can catch it on the radio at The Sports Hub 98.5.

Saturday's match marks the third and final time the long-time rivals will meet in 2012. D.C. grabbed maximum points from the previous two matches, with a 2-1 win in Foxboro on Apr. 14 and a 3-2 victory in Washington, D.C. on May 26.

REVS NOTES:

-- Recently-acquired midfielder Juan Toja joined his new teammates for training on Monday. The 27-year-old Colombian, whom the Revolution added via the allocation process on Aug. 27, had to await receipt of his P-1 Visa and International Transfer Certificate before he could practice. But with the paperwork cleared, the former two-time All-Star might be in line for his first minutes in a Revolution uniform come Saturday in D.C.

-- Speaking of Revolution uniforms, striker Saer Sene apparently has a growing number of soccer fans purchasing his #39 jersey this season. According to sales figures from the league’s official store, the French forward has the 24th most popular jersey in MLS. Meanwhile, it should come as no surprise whose jersey is at the top of the list: David Beckham, whose #23 Galaxy jersey has been a best-seller since his arrival in 2007.

-- One player familiar to Revolution fans was recently traded ahead of the Sept. 15 roster freeze. Former first-round pick Wells Thompson, who played for the Revolution from 2007-09, was traded by Colorado to Chicago on Monday for a conditional draft pick. Prior to the 2010 season, Thompson was traded along with Jeff Larentowicz from New England to Colorado for Preston Burpo and Cory Gibbs.

-- Meanwhile, another former Revolution player has a big task ahead of him on Tuesday. Clint Dempsey, who scored the lone United States goal against Jamaica in a stunning 2-1 defeat during Friday’s World Cup Qualifier, will surely be counted upon to find the back of the net in Tuesday’s rematch. For Dempsey and his fellow U.S. teammates, anything short of a win could spell serious trouble for the National Team’s hopes of reaching its seventh-straight World Cup.

-- Finally, if there were any lingering doubts concerning Revolution head coach Jay Heaps’ dedication to his job, this recent quote from the first-year coach on the team’s official site should erase any and all of them: “Monday morning, when your alarm goes off, if you’re excited and you want to get to work as soon as you can and you’re thinking about your day, that’s motivation in itself -- I hate [losing] and that’s part of what drives me up in the morning. I feel like I won’t sleep until we get this team in the playoffs, in the hunt as a contender. That’s where this is going. I’m not going to sleep until that happens.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- It’s been a season of “wait and see” for veteran defender Darrius Barnes.

After watching A.J. Soares and Stephen McCarthy get the bulk of the minutes at center back, Barnes, a regular starter up until this season, could only watch. And wait.

But after a concussion kept Soares on the bench for the last two games, the veteran defender stepped in and helped lead the defense to back-to-back shutouts against the Union (Sept. 1) and Crew (Sept. 5).

Vindication? Perhaps. But even if such a thought had understandably crossed his mind, he certainly wasn’t dwelling on it after the Revolution’s 2-0 win on Wednesday.

“It just feels good to get back in the lineup and to get some minutes in,” Barnes said. “With the help of all the guys around me and Matt (Reis), we’ve been able to come up with a couple of shutouts.”

The consecutive clean sheets couldn’t have come at a better time. At the time Barnes was cast back into the lineup, the club was mired in the thick of a lengthy winless streak. Making matters worse, the defense had generously allowed nine goals in its previous three games. The Revolution needed something – anything -- to get back on track.

Few expected a makeshift backline to get it done. With Soares and Chris Tierney unavailable due to injury for the contest against Phildadelphia, head coach Jay Heaps cobbled together a lineup that reintroduced Barnes in the center alongside midfielder-turned-defender Stephen McCarthy.

Normally, a change in central partnerships can throw the doors wide open for disastrous results. But for McCarthy and Barnes, the transition was seamless.

“What I lack, he covers for me,” Barnes said. “And what he lacks, I cover for him. So I think that’s the key, to just support each other and having each other’s back.”

From his view along the touchline, Heaps was certainly pleased to see his new central combination go off without a hitch.

“I think they read the game well together,” Heaps said after Wednesday’s game. “I think McCarthy is playing with a lot of confidence right now. And I think Darrius has been waiting for his chance. He’s stepped up and done really well.”

Of course, with Soares returning to health, Heaps will have a difficult decision to make when the Revolution return to action against D.C. next week: Keep Barnes, the proverbial hot hand, on the field? Or allow Soares, the starter, to reclaim his role?

Whatever decision is made, Barnes remains committed, first and foremost, to the collective goal: winning.

“It’s all about team right now,” Barnes said. “We’ve been right there on the edge. It feels good to get back in (the win column) and hopefully we can keep it up.”

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- For the first time in nearly two months, victory was finally theirs.

After enduring the numerous valleys and caverns of a franchise-record 10-game winless streak, the New England Revolution came out on top in a 2-0 win over the Columbus Crew on Wednesday.

"It's been a tough road," Revolution head coach Jay Heaps said after the game. "It's nice to end this winless streak, to be honest with you. I think the guys came out tonight and played really well."

It was a tough road indeed -- one that many expected to continue through the Wednesday's clash. Without the services of not one, but both of their first-choice forwards -- Saer Sene (torn ACL) and Jerry Bengtson (international duty) -- the odds certainly weren't in the Revolution's favor with the playoff-bound Crew in town.

But with little else to lose, the Revolution -- who featured Diego Fagundez and little-used striker Dimitry Imbongo at the head of the attack -- came out of the gates hungry to grab their first win since July 8.

"I think me and Dimitry came onto the field thinking that we needed to do something," Fagundez said after the game. "(We) got together and we were like, 'We need to do something right now. This is our game to show that we can help out the team.'"

With Fagundez and Imbongo ready to point the attack in the right direction, the Revolution found a number of opportunities in the first half.

One of the most impressive came from a Flo Lechner throw-in deep inside Columbus territory in the 12th minute. With the long, arcing ball approaching the box, Columbus keeper Andy Gruenebaum came off his line to push it away. But the rebound fell right to Fagundez, who quickly volleyed it on frame before Gruenebaum denied it point-blank.

Although Fagundez didn't find the back of the net on his acrobatic shot, his strike partner wouldn't be denied in the opening minutes of the second stanza.

From another long throw-in from Lechner, Imbongo flicked it forward to Fagundez, who raced to it and pushed his shot off the near post. But Fagundez quickly recovered the rebound before putting it front for Imbongo, who casually slipped it into a wide-open net in the 53rd minute.

"It was just such a quick play," Fagundez said. "It was a good throw in by Flo and Dimitry was holding his man very well and Dimitry (came) in and (I) barely touched it with my toe and he followed through."

As for Imbongo, who had seen little action since he was signed on July 16, his first MLS goal was a gratifying experience.

"I work hard every day," Imbongo said after the game. "Today, (I scored) my first goal and I am very happy. It was very good."

Even though the attack was clearly clicking for the Revolution, they were afforded a rare lucky break in the 74th minute to add to their lead.

After Matt Reis launched a long ball from the box, Chris Tierney flicked it forward, where Crew defender Chad Marshall raced over to send it to his keeper. But Marshall's header cleared Gruenebaum and crashed into his own net to make it a two-goal game.

"We could sense that the game was going our way, (in) that we were pushing them," Heaps said. "And that was why I think we came out a bit sharper. It was all the little things tonight."

For the first time in 11 tries, the Revolution finally got all the little things right. Not only was the attack in top form (eight shots on frame with 20 shots total), but the defense -- which notched its second straight shutout Wednesday -- also stood tall against the Crew.

And even though Matt Reis needed to make only three stops on the evening, he made a pair of critical saves in the 86th minute to keep the Crew from entertaining a comeback.

In short, it was a complete effort from top to bottom -- an effort that Heaps could finally be proud of after weeks of dreadful mistakes and missed opportunities.

"We just kept fighting and fighting and fighting," Heaps said. "There wasn't much more than a lot of guys playing with a lot of heart. I was really happy (with) the way the guys showed up tonight."