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Perhaps winning the US Open Cup trophy will help the Revs in Sunday's MLS Cup (Photo credit: Joyce Furia). |
It wasn’t the MLS Cup, but according to Revolution head coach Steve Nicol, it’s certainly a start.
“Winning the US Open Cup a few months ago helped us,” Nicol said. “I think it’s huge. It really settles us down.”
So now the Revs have more than just big-game experience -- they have big-game winning experience. They also have the advantage of playing in more cup finals than any team over the past three years, giving any player who has played on the team since 2005 a heavy sample of the heart-pumping and nerve-wracking adrenaline that a champion contest elicits.
Basically, these guys are used to it.
“Some people play in this league and don’t even get to experience [a cup final],” said Revs’ midfielder Shalrie Joseph. “We’ve been there and know what it’s about. Now we just got to be ready this weekend.”
Joseph admitted winning the US Open can only help, but he made it clear that his squad still has some unfinished business.
“This is what you work for in the regular and season preseason -- to get back to the final and win one,” he said. “It feels great getting there but we still haven’t won anything. We’re still hungry as the first year, the second year [we made it]. We want the trophy.”
DYNAMITE DEFENSE
The Revolution’s high-octane trio of Taylor Twellman, Pat Noonan and Steve Ralston won’t be getting any freebies this Sunday.
The Dynamo led the league in team defense this year, allowing just 23 goals in the regular season. And while much of the credit deservedly goes to Goalkeeper of the Year finalist Pat Onstad, it was Houston’s back line of Wade Barrett, Craig Waibel, Ryan Cochrane and Eddie Robinson that had the Revolution gushing this week.
“They always keep their shape. When they lose the ball or breakdown they always have guys behind the ball,” Joseph said. “You can see that against Kansas City. They all had each others’ back. If one makes a mistake, there’s someone there.”
The Dynamo’s foursome is veteran-laden crew with 23 years of combined MLS experience among them. They’re also a tough bunch and, according to Nicol, hate to be beaten.
“They’ve got four guys across the back who take it personally when they lose challenges,” Nicol said.
BUS STARTS HERE
The Kraft family has arranged for free round-trip bus transportation for fans wishing to attend Sunday’s game at RFK Stadium.
Buses will depart from Gillette Stadium at 10 a.m. on Saturday and will return from Washington after the game Sunday night. Space is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
CUP FINAL NOTES
The Revolutions can become just the fourth MLS team to win both the US Open Cup and the MLS Cup, a feat previously accomplished by the 1996 D.C. United, the 1998 Chicago Fire and the 2005 Los Angeles Galaxy… Joseph has scored two goals against Houston this season. On May 19, he struck the game-winning goal, and his penalty-kick tally on July 22 was the game-tying goal…The Revs have scored just once in MLS Cup play: Twellman’s overtime strike in last year’s match… Four current members of the Revolution have appeared in all three of the team’s three previous MLS Cup appearances: Joe Franchino, Jay Heaps, Ralston and Twellman. Only Franchino (season-ending ankle surgery) will be unavailable for Sunday’s championship.
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