Morelia Win SuperLiga Championship over Revolution

September 1, 2010

By Sean Donahue

The New England Revolution managed to hold off near constant pressure from Monarcas Morelia�s powerful attack for 65 minutes before giving up a penalty kick goal and then allowing a second on a spectacular volley eleven minutes later. Kevin Alston put the Revolution back in the game with his first career goal in the 79th minute, but the Revs were unable to find an equalizer and Morelia held on to capture the 2010 SuperLiga Championship.

Morelia took the lead in the 65th minute after Darrius Barnes failed to control a cross and had the ball taken by Luis Gabriel Rey. Barnes took down Rey and Morelia was quickly awarded a penalty kick. Miguel Sabah calmly converted the penalty, with Matt Reis diving in the wrong direction.

�It�s a penalty that if it happens to us you are calling for a penalty and if it happens against you are not,� said Reis. �Darrius fell down and the guy just kind of fell into him and fell over. It�s unfortunate, but that�s the way it goes.�

Barnes was again partially at fault for Morelia�s second goal in the 76th minute. This time his poorly headed clearance fell right to Sabah, who scored with an impressive volley that dipped over Reis from about 25 yards.

Marko Perovic and the Revs attack struggled to create chances for much of the match. (Photo by CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Kevin Alston got one back for the Revolution in the 79th minute, playing a nice give-and-go with Zack Schilawski at the top of the box and then slotting a shot past Federico Villar and inside the far corner of the net.

�I think Shalrie kind of bypassed me and found Ilija,� said Schilawski. �I just kind of peeled off and got the ball facing goal and I saw Kevin. The whole thing happens because he makes a great run. He�s aggressive in getting out of the back and finished it well.�

�[It feels] bittersweet I guess,� said Alston about his first goal. �It feels good, but we lost. It doesn�t really mean much.�

The Revs had to make a change to the line-up with Sainey Nyassi and Kenny Mansally away with the Gambian National Team. Kheli Dube got the start at right midfield and Kevin Alston returned from injury to the starting line-up at right back.

�The game hinges on two things,� said Nicol. �Kheli Dube has a great chance that could put us ahead, then obviously the mistake for the penalty and the goal. That�s the difference.

�They were better on the ball than we were, but saying that, the only thing that caused us problems were our errors from bad play, which there were too many. We kept at it. But those two things are huge in the outcome of the game. If we can get a nose ahead, it�s a different ballgame. Instead we make a mistake and get a penalty and it changes the whole game. �

Morelia had a great early chance in the 20th minute, as Luis Gabriel Rey was played behind the defense by Hugo Droguett. Rey attempted to tap the ball around Matt Reis, but the Revs� keeper managed to block the attempt and then clear the ball after it deflected off Darrius Barnes.

Droguett was again the catalyst in the 25th minute, setting up Ismael Pineda for an open shot at the top of the box. Pineda�s effort dipped up and over Reis, but was denied by the crossbar.

Captain Mauricio Romero continued the offensive onslaught in the 32nd minute, getting forward for a corner kick and rising above Shalrie Joseph before directing a header towards goal. Romero�s effort was only denied by the crossbar.

Morelia took the initiative again in the second half and had a great chance in the 54th minute, after Luis Gabriel Rey got the ball in space and took a shot from distance. Reis could only parry the shot over the bar.

Kheli Dube looked active in the 57th minute, first making a long run forward and doing well to keep possession. Shortly after he was released behind the defense, but saw his effort denied by an onrushing Federico Vilar. The rebound fell to Ilija Stolica, but he couldn�t control the ball.

�I let my team down,� said Dube. �I should�ve got a goal there and I take responsibility for that. No two ways about it, I should�ve got a goal.�

Sabah had Morelia�s best chance so far in the 60th minute, dribbling around Reis, only to send his shot wide of the target.

The Revolution made three substitutions to switch up their attack in the 70th minute. Khano Smith and Roberto Linck entered in straight swaps for Chris Tierney and Kheli Dube, while Zack Schilawski came in for Emmanuel Osei and moved up top as the Revs switched to a 3-5-2 formation.

Reis came up huge in the 90th minute to keep the Revs just down a goal when substitute Rafael Marquez Lugo was played behind the defense by Elias Hernandez. Lugo ran in on goal, but was denied by Reis, who was quick off his line.

Less than a minute later, Morelia went down a man, when Sabah received his second yellow card of the match, this time for diving and attempting to draw a penalty kick in the box.

The Revs piled on the pressure at the end and with almost the final kick of the match Cory Gibbs nearly found an equalizer. Linck did well to hold the ball on the right flank and finally got a cross off, finding a wide open Gibbs. Gibbs� volley, however, was right at Villar, who made the save and held onto the ball.

�Even when we were down two, we never gave up,� said Alston. �We always believed that we could come back. We had chances � Cory had that chance in the end, Kheli had a chance. There were just chances all around, so it�s tough that we couldn�t do more.�

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