Joseph Steps Up in Revs Win

Revs' Midfielder Strikes Big With Two Goals

September 27, 2009

By Sean Donahue

The New England Revolution got two important goals from midfielder Shalrie Joseph to grab an even more important 2-1 comeback win against the Seattle Sounders Saturday at Gillette Stadium.

The Revs fell behind early then lost captain Steve Ralston to injury, but reversed their fortunes with a strong second half performance that netted them the win and a vital three points in the standings.

�This stage of the season is all about results and points,� said Revs� coach Steve Nicol. �We can complain that we didn�t start the game well again. We backed off [Fredy] Montero, who has been scoring goals from that distance all season. Basic errors in the first half particularly were costing us. Probably 20 minutes in, from then on, we kind of took the game to them. We weren�t particularly inventive, but we still managed to be committed and put them under pressure. That�s why we won the game.�

Shalrie Joseph scored both goals for the Revs on Saturday. (Chris Aduama/ADUAMA.com)

Seattle took the lead in the 6th minute through an incredible goal from Montero. Montero got the ball on the right flank and beat two defenders before unleashing a shot from about 35 yards out. His shot initially seemed to be going high and goalkeeper Matt Reis, who was off his line, didn�t react. The shot, however, dipped down just enough to hit the crossbar and enter the net, giving the Sounders a 1-0 lead.

The Revs suffered a major blow in the 19th minute, when Ralston was forced out with a right knee injury after a challenge with Osvaldo Alonso and replaced by Kheli Dube.

�Up until then we were fast asleep to be honest,� said Nicol. �We keep talking before the game about starting well. We have said before and it�s easy for everybody to talk about it, but you have got to do it and we didn�t do it. We�ve fought ourselves out of a big hole, which shows the steel of the team, but we are not going to always get away with playing sloppy." ?

We�ve started poorly at home,� said midfield Jeff Larentowicz. �We give up early goals and I guess around the 15th or 20th minute we finally start to kick in. I don�t know what�s wrong with us, but I don�t think it was Steve�s injury. I think we were devastated when Steve went out, but Kheli came on and did well.�

Referee Steven DePiero awarded the Revs a penalty kick in the 49th minute when Sainey Nyassi�s cross was blocked by the arm of Leo Gonzalez in the box. Joseph stepped up and blasted a shot to Kasey Keller�s left for his career high 7th goal of the season.

�We wanted to get the equalizer real early in the second half,� said Joseph. �Once we realized we got it off a PK then we just kept pushing to try and get the win. They are a great team in their own right. They kept the ball well, they created chances. Our defense was huge for us tonight�

Joseph gave the Revs the lead in the 87th minute. The Grenadian international got on the end of a cross from Larentowicz and sent a powerful header past Keller inside the far post to give the Revs a 2-1 lead.

�Shalrie was open,� said Larentowicz. �That was really it. The ball came back to me. I played it to Wells [Thompson] and he gave it back. I had time to pick my head up and Shalrie had kind of gone in and pulled his run back out. I just floated it to him.�

�There was one defender in front of me and I saw him cleared out,� said Joseph. �I just wanted to stay onside and I know there was one behind me. Jeff just played a great ball. I couldn�t ask for a better ball. I just wanted to put it on target and put it in the corner. Once I see Kasey was in the middle of the goal, I try to pick out my corner. It went in for me tonight and it felt great.�

The win temporarily moved the Revs into third place in the Eastern Conference and into the eighth and final playoff spot. The team now heads back on the road where they will face FC Dallas on Wednesday and the Colorado Rapids on Saturday.

Wednesday�s match is part of a doubleheader with a Mexico and Colombia international friendly at the Cotton Bowl with a record attendance expected.

�It�s going to be huge,� said Joseph. �We have got to look forward to it now that this one is behind us. We know it;s going to be a crazy environment down there, but we have to match whatever they come out with and be ready to get points on the road.�?

ADD TO YOUR SOCIAL BOOKMARKS: Blink Del.icio.us Digg
Furl Google Simpy Spurl Technorati Y! MyWeb