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FOXBORO - The opportunity is there for Kheli Dube, for Sainey Nyassi, for Kenny Mansally.

It's not just chasing the ball as members of the New England Revolution, it's scoring goals.

Without Taylor Twellman scoring now and in the foreseeable future, the second lowest goal-scoring team in MLS - 17 in 15 matches - needs someone to put the ball in the back of the net.

There's no Twellman, no Clint Dempsey, no Pat Noonan, no Adam Cristman walking through the door at Gillette Stadium.

And with injuries at an epidemic level for the franchise, the Revolution need for Dube, for Nyassi, for Mansally to step from being just showcase players, from complementary players to prime-time players. Dube, a forward in his second season with New England, has two goals this season in 11 MLS matches. Last year, the native of Zimbabwe, had four goals in 21 matches.

Nyassi, a midfielder in his third season with New England, has one goal in 14 matches. Last year, the native of Gambia totaled two goals in 25 matches.

Mansally, a forward in his third season with New England, has one goal in 13 matches. Last year, the native of Gambia, scored three goals in 17 matches.

New England coach Steve Nicol spotted both Nyassi and Mansally in the FIFA Under-20 World Cup in Canada. At 19 years of age, they were the youngest opening day starters in Revolution history two years ago.

"They have the fitness, they want to do well, it's a matter of consistency," Nicol said of the trio, who can create all sorts of headaches for opposing defenders with their quickness and guile. "Sainey and Mansally are tired."

In fairness, the trio are being asked to produce, perhaps, more than what can be expected with the extensive injury list.

"Because of the system that we play, I am often concentrating on defense," said Nyassi, who has started 12 matches and taken 12 shots over that span. He was substituted for in the 51st minute by Wells Thompson Sunday.

"I get opportunities almost every game," said Dube, who has started nine matches and taken 17 shots, six of those in Sunday's match against Chivas. Dube had two great scoring chances before notching the match-winner, including a solo breakaway bid, but misfiring.

"I am more comfortable now, but it has been difficult with the injuries," said Mansally of partnering up top. He has started 11 MLS matches and taken 14 shots this season. He was substituted for in the 85th minute by Amaechi Igwe.

New England moved to the .500 level on the season at 5-5-5 in snapping a three-match (0-2-1) winless streak in beating Chivas USA. With 15 matches remaining, New England currently is out of the MLS playoff picture, tied for fifth place in the Eastern Conference, six points behind fourth-place Toronto with three matches in hand. At the midway mark of their 30-match schedule in 2008, the Revolution had taken 27 points in 15 matches, an 8-4-3 record.

"I may be hard on them, but at the end of the day, we need to win games," said Nicol.

Corner Kicks

"If we had eight guys with the same injury, certainly we'd have to do some searching," said Nicol of the disabled list. "We've looked at it. The bottom line is that guys will pick up injuries when the squad is short." ... All-MLS midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who missed seven matches over a three-week span with a bruised right knee, has a career-best five assists. He will be the lone Revolution representative at the MLS Best XI match against Everton F.C. as Houston Dynamo coach Greg Kinnear made his final six roster selections. Joseph and Steve Ralston shared the New England goal-scoring lead, each with five. "He's not fit, we need him to look good," admitted coach Steve Nicol ... Veteran defender Jay Heaps started at right back for the US National Team and played 120 minutes in an overtime 2-1 CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinal win over Panama in Philadelphia ... When Dube scored in the 61st minute against Chivas, it ended an official streak of 303 scoreless minutes of New England, the second-longest in club history ... Goalkeeper Matt Reis is 3-1-3 in his regular-season career against the Dynamo with a 1.00 goals against average and three shutouts heading into Saturday's match in Houston. He is the only goalkeeper to ever play for the Revolution against the Dynamo in any competition, including regular-season, MLS Cup Playoff and SuperLiga games ... 19-year-old Cameroon native and forward Stephane Assengue made his MLS debut in the 2-0 loss to Houston on May 3, 2009, becoming the fifth-youngest player to ever appear in a match for the Revolution (18 years, 346 days). "I am glad to be here training and learning," said Assengue, who has made just two appearances for New England .. Rookie defender Darrius Barnes is the lone player to have played every minute (1350) of every match.