MLS

• New England battles back to earn draw vs. RSL

  
  

  Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Real Salt Lake built a 2-0 lead on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium, only to see that lead evaporate in a two-minute span late in the second half, as the New England Revolution battled back to earn a 2-2 draw.

  Goals from veterans Steve Ralston and Taylor Twellman were enough for the Revs (12-8-7) to escape a disappointing home defeat and earn a point, which keeps them in second place in the Eastern Conference table ahead of the Chicago Fire's match at Kansas City on Sunday. The Fire are currently two points back of the Revs.

  RSL built its lead early, capitalizing in the 13th minute. Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis came out to knock the ball away from an attacker at the top of the penalty area - which he did with his head. But the ball went right to RSL attacking midfielder Javier Morales, who lobbed a perfect shot from distance under the crossbar for his sixth goal of the season.

  That was how the score stayed until the 73rd minute when Andy Williams doubled the visitors' advantage.

  RSL's Robbie Findley started the play when he picked off a Shalrie Joseph ball in the midfield and played it to Morales in the offensive third. Morales then chipped a pass to the right side of the box to Williams, who volleyed it past Reis.

  But the goal seemed to wake up the Revs' big guns as Ralston pulled one back less than five minutes later.

  Revs winger Khano Smith streaked down the left side and played a ball into the RSL area before it deflected off defender Nat Borchers right to Ralston at the top of the box.

  Ralston then volleyed home for his eighth goal of the season to make it 2-1.

  Two minutes later Twellman equalized when he battled through a defender from 30-yards out and fired through a crowd past RSL goalkeeper Nick Rimando, who could have done better on the shot.

  Williams earned a red card after an alteration with Jay Heaps in the closing minutes, but the Revs couldn't take advantage as the game ended 2-2.

  With the draw, RSL (9-10-8) moves into third in the West ahead of Colorado's match vs. Houston late on Saturday night.

  New England is at Kansas City next Saturday while RSL hosts the New York Red Bulls in the Rio Tinto Stadium opener on Thursday in its next league fixture.

  10/04 22:35:02 ET