Chicago and Revs fit for Draw

First Leg of Eastern Conference Semi Ends in Scoreless Tie

October 31, 2008

By Sean Donahue

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Revolution put on their best performance in over a month, but couldn't find the back of the net and had to settle for a 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire to kick off the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday.

The Revs got off to a quick start and often had the Fire pinned back, but the home side extended their winless streak to seven games in front of just over 5,000 fans at Gillette Stadium.

"I think we deserved to win," said Revolution coach Steve Nicol. "It was a real rough tough game. Plenty of commitment [and there] probably should have been a couple of penalties for us on Sainey [Nyassi] and [Bakary] Soumare is trying to head the ball clear and headed it straight onto his arm. We finished the season over thinking when we were playing, basically. We decided to get rid of that and just go and play. Be committed, when you get the chance to pass the ball, pass the ball, and when you have to be strong, be strong."

Sainey Nyassi

Sainey Nyassi was heavily involved in the Revs' attack on Thursday. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

Missing several key players due to injury, including Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston, and Adam Cristman, as well as Khano Smith and Gabriel Badilla due to suspensions, the Revs had to make several adjustments to their lineup. The Revolution stuck with their 4-4-2 formation from recent weeks, moving Jay Heaps into the center of the defense with Chris Tierney slotting in at left back. Nyassi filled it for Smith and started on the right wing with Mauricio Castro on the left. Kenny Mansally partnered Kheli Dube up top in place of Twellman.

"It wasn't like [Tierney] played the last couple of games," said Heaps. "He stepped in there without having much time to adapt. Chris Tierney's a tough kid and I think everyone in here knew he was going to play well. I knew he was."

The Revs pushed Chicago back into their own half and got into the attack early. Mauricio Castro had the Revs first chance in the 4th minute, when the Revs earned a free kick just outside the box on the left flank. Castro stepped up to take the kick sending a right footed free kick towards the far post. Chicago 'keeper Jon Busch got just enough on it to tip it over the bar.

"We just came out in the first 5-10 minutes and tried to put the ball behind them and turn them around and pick up second balls with me and Jeff [Larentowicz] in the midfield," said Revolution captain Shalrie Jospeh. "[We] just tried to keep pushing and pushing it down their throat and hopefully we'd get one tonight. Unfortunately it didn't come for us, but we're going to have to try to get an early one Thursday next week at their place."

Dube had a chance for the Revs in the 38th minute, when he got the ball with his back to goal off a header from Tierney. Dube turned and volleyed a shot that went just high of the target.

Cuauhtemoc Blanco had a good opportunity for the Fire in the 53rd minute, when he got the ball inside the box. Blanco's initial shot was blocked, but he managed to get a second attempt on frame. Revs’ goalkeeper Matt Reis was well positioned to make an easy save.

"We had a game plan tonight and we followed it very, very well," said Reis. "It was important for us to play solid defensively. You can't really give up free chances in the play-offs and we did a very good job of limiting their scoring chances."

Larentowicz earned a dangerous chance in the 59th minute when he won the ball in a 50-50 challenge and ran towards the box. Just before entering the box, Larentowicz was dragged down from behind by Logan Pause. Castro stepped up to take the free kick, curling it into the near post, but Busch easily made the save.

The Revs had two shouts for a penalty in the 54th minute. The first came on a hand ball by Bakary Soumare in the box that went uncalled. Less than a minute later Mansally was taken down with a two footed tackle from John Thorrington in the box. Both pleas were waved off by referee Alex Prus.

Brian McBride thought he had given the Fire the lead in the 76th minute, when he got behind the defense to head in a Just Mapp cross. McBride, however, was ruled offside on the play.

The Revs had the best chance of the match in the 88th minute, when Nyassi broke free down the right flank. Nyassi ran within yards of the goal, before being taken down from behind by a Chicago defender. The ball trickled past Busch through to Mansally who couldn't redirect it on frame before the Fire cleared the ball.

The Revs now head to Chicago for the second leg of the series on Thursday.

"I think we will [be more confident after tonight's performance]," said Heaps. "I think we didn't know what exactly we were going to do tonight, except that we were going to come out and play with some heart. I think we are going to Chicago with some confidence, but having said that, I think that they are going to have some confidence too because they came here and did what they wanted to do. I think for us, we had to take baby steps tonight and we did well."

Return from Chicago and Revs fit for Draw to New England Revolution

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