Champions League Begins for Revs

New England Seeks First Win Outside U.S. in Five Years

August 26, 2008

By Sean Donahue

Who: New England Revolution at Joe Public F.C. (Trinidad & Tobago Pro League)
What: CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round
Where: Marvin Lee Stadium, Tunapuna, Trinidad and Tobago
When: Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. (Fox Soccer Channel)

The New England Revolution are set to kick off the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League Tuesday night with a Preliminary Round match against Trinidad's Joe Public F.C. Coming off a 1-1 draw in Toronto in league play, the Revs are still searching for just their second ever victory in meaningful competition outside of the United States and their first in over five years.

Steve Ralston might move up to forward for the Revs on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

Tuesday may prove their best opportunity yet with the Revs clear favorites to take the series against the 2007 Caribbean Football Union Club Championship runner-up. Joe Public has twice before faced MLS completion in the COCACAF Champions Cup, though both times on U.S. soil. In 1998, they fell 8-0 to D.C. United and the following year fell 2-0 to the Chicago Fire.

While the Revs would ideally like to win big in the away leg in Trinidad so they can rest their starters next week in the home leg, that scenario may prove unlikely. Certainly playing in a hostile environment in a foreign country is never easy, but the biggest problem for the Revs may prove their lack of forwards.

While Taylor Twellman is finally getting closer to 100 percent, fellow strikers Kheli Dube, Adam Cristman, and Kenny Mansally are all sidelined with injuries. Khano Smith is also away with Bermuda on international duty, so there is no one who has played significant minutes at forward left to partner with Twellman up top.

Though New England coach Steve Nicol may opt to push captain Steve Ralston to forward, it seems likely the Revs will field a conservative lineup if only because of the lack of options. In the midfield, Sainey Nyassi will likely return to his spot on the right after missing out on Saturday due to suspension and Mauricio Castro should step back into his spot on the left with Smith unavailable. Otherwise, the midfield should remain unchanged.

Nicol will have at least one changed to make in the backline with Chris Albright out due to a concussion and a hip flexor strain. Amaechi Igwe may slot in next to Michael Parkhurst in the middle with Chris Tierney and Jay Heaps on the outside if the Revs play a four man backline. In goal, Matt Reis should be ready to return, though Doug Warren is ready to step in if he isn't.