Fire Knock Revs Out of SuperLiga

No Repeat Title After Blanco's Deciding Free Kick

By Sean Donahue

July 16, 2009

FOXBORO, Mass. -- The New England Revolution were once again forced to play a makeshift line-up due to injuries, suspensions and national team call-ups, but the team still managed to put in one of their better performances of the season.

It wasn’t enough, however, as the Fire won 2-1 at Gillette Stadium Wednesday night to advance to the SuperLiga final, leaving the Revs to rue their missed chances.

Steve Ralston

There will be no SuperLiga repeat for Steve Ralston and the Revolution after Wednesday night's loss to Chicago. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

“I guess you could say we didn’t get what we deserved,” said Revs head coach Steve Nicol. “We had chances and we never took them. Their goalie has made a couple of great saves, but overall we haven’t got what we deserved. We made chances; we put them under pressure. [Revolution goalkeeper] Matt Reis has not had much to do. [Fire goalkeeper] Jon Busch is probably man of the match. That kind of says it all.”

A Cuauhtemoc Blanco free kick in the second half won the game for Chicago.

Brian McBride gave the Fire the lead in the 34th minute. The former U.S. international striker got on the end of a Blanco cross from the left flank and one-timed a shot from near the penalty spot past Reis to give the Fire a 1-0 lead.

“I think [the throw in] was taken quickly and the ball got served quickly,” said McBride. “I was able to drift off and it was one of those I had to make sure I tapped.”

“When you have inexperience on the field, that’s what leads up to the goal,” said Nicol. “We go to sleep on the throw-in. The ball is put in and when you are making changes all the time that’s what happens, as well. We really got done for those two things: a lack of experience on the initial play and just with the changes, you don’t have that comfort level.”

The Revs equalized in the 44th minute. Edgaras Jankauskas got the ball at the top of the box from Chris Tierney and took it down with his chest before turning and sending a low shot towards goal. His shot took a deflection off a Chicago defender, catching Busch off guard and finding the back of the net to make it 1-1. The goal was Jankauskas’s first since joining the team earlier this month.

“I just took the ball on the chest and hit it,” said Jankauskas. “I think the ball hit some defender’s back or leg and went into the net. In that moment I had the luck we lacked in the next half.”

“It was my first [full] game after eight months of break. I’m happy to play those minutes. It was very important. Of course I’m very disappointed because we lost the game. I think we played a good game; we were the better side. It’s always a great feeling to score a score a goal. It’s just unfortunate the goal is not going to take us to the final.”

The Fire took back the lead in the 63rd minute on a Blanco free kick. The former Mexican international curled his free kick over the wall and inside the near post, leaving Reis with no chance. Chicago earned the free kick on a controversial foul call when Darius Barnes tackled the ball away from McBride.

“It’s 50-50,” said defender Kevin Alston. “I personally though Darius got the ball. It’s one of those ones where you get the ball, but maybe a little bit of [the man] and he went down. I didn’t think it was a foul, but the ref had a different angle than I did.”

Chicago’s first opportunity came in the fourth minute when the team earned a free kick just outside the left side of the box. Blanco stepped up to take the set piece, curling a shot over the wall. His effort, however, was right at Reis and easily saved.

The Revs had a chance in the 18th minute, when Steve Ralston played a nice give-and-go in the box with Michael Videira. Ralston dribbled towards the end line before sending a cross through the six-yard box. Jankauskas rose up to meet the ball, but his header was just high of the net.

Chicago had another opportunity in the 26th minute when Baggio Husidic rose above his defender to get on the end of a cross about six yards from goal. His header, however, was inches high of the bar.

Sainey Nyassi had a great chance in the 30th minute as Videira played a through ball to him in the box. Nyassi used his speed to beat his defender and the hit a powerful shot to the far post that beat Busch but hit the post and bounced back into play.

After McBride gave the Fire the lead, the Revs seemed to take the momentum, especially after equalizing through Jankauskas just before halftime. The Revs continued to press forward in the second half and created several chances, taking 17 shots in the final 45 minutes.

Three minutes into the second half the Revs had a chance to take the lead when Jankauskas found Videira outside the box. Videira took a touch to create some space and then unleashed a left-footed blast to the near post that Busch just managed to punch wide with a diving save.

Ralston had a chance in the 55th minute when a corner kick from Kenny Mansally fell to him in the box. Ralston sent a powerful shot on frame from point-blank range, but his effort was blocked by a defender.

Mansally nearly equalized six minutes after Blanco got the lead back for Chicago. The Gambian international got on the end of a long Chris Tierney free kick and his header beat Busch, but hit the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.

Kheli Dube had a chance in the 81st minute when he got the ball on the right flank and dribbled into the box. His powerful shot beat Busch but hit the crossbar and came back into play.

The Revs continued to press forward and kept the Fire on the back foot for the rest of the game, but were unable to equalize.

“I can’t say we’re happy,” said midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. “It’s an improvement, but we still lost. These things keep piling up. It’s a game we should have won.”

The Revs return to league action on Sunday when they take on Chivas USA at 6 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.