Rested Revs Ready for Crew

New England Still Has Shot at First Place

September 27, 2008

By Sean Donahue

Who: Columbus Crew at New England Revolution
What: MLS Regular Season
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. (TV38, Cox 3 [R.I.])

The New England Revolution, now well-rested and on a more MLS-like one game a week schedule, return home to Foxboro on Saturday to face off against the league-leading Columbus Crew.

Michael Parkhurst and the Revs face the Crew on Saturday. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

With only five games remaining in the regular season, the Revs sit in second place, five points behind the Crew. A loss would all but mathematically eliminate the Revs from contention for the Supporter's Shield and the top spot in the east. A win and the Revs are right back in the hunt for the best regular season record in MLS for the first time in club history.

The Revs again enter the match with nearly their full roster available. Only backup goalkeeper Doug Warren and Adam Cristman, who had season ending toe surgery, are definitely unavailable. Khano Smith is questionable with a hamstring strain, but otherwise everyone else should be ready to play. With the Revs at home, coach Steve Nicol will likely return to the 3-5-2 formation with Kenny Mansally, who scored the game tying goal in last week's 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids, partnering with Taylor Twellman up top.

The only real question mark is the backline. While Costa Rican International Garbiel Badilla has proven a capable starter in the center of a four-man line, Nicol has yet to have him available when he has gone with a three man backline. Reigning MLS Defender of the Year Michael Parkhurst is almost certain to start, but Nicol could opt to start Badilla over either one of the team's veteran defenders Jay Heaps and Chris Albright.

On the flip side, the Columbus Crew, while in great form with a 5-0-1 record in their last six matches, have been winning recently despite the absence of star midfielder Guillermo Barros Schelotto. The former Argentine International, who leads the league with an impressive 18 assists in addition to his six goals (23 matches), is questionable for Saturday. His absence would give the Revolution a much less dynamic Columbus offense to defend.

While playing for a chance at the top seed in the playoffs should prove ample motivation for the Revs, the added factor of gaining some revenge for the 4-0 embarrassment the team suffered in Columbus just three weeks ago should have the club fired up for a big matchup in front of their home fans.