Revs Look to Shake Up Quakes

Expansion Side Prime Fodder for Winning Streak

May 17, 2008

For the first time since 2005, the New England Revolution will face off against the San Jose Earthquakes.

The Earthquakes, who returned to MLS this season as an expansion side after the team moved to Houston prior to the 2006 season, have been struggling in similar fashion to the other recent expansion sides, with a 1-4-1 record. The Revolution, meanwhile, have a 4-3-1 record, but have been very inconsistent this season and have yet to string together two wins in a row.

Jeff Larentowicz and Revs want to start a winning streak. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

Facing San Jose at home on Saturday after an impressive away victory on the road against Chivas USA may present the Revs their best opportunity to finally do so.

"It's just concentration," said defensive midfielder Jeff Larentowicz. "You have got to make sure you follow up a good performance with another good one. I think we have followed up bad performances with good ones and vice versa. I just think the shifting in the lineups this year and the injuries we have dealt with have sort of made it tough on us, but I think we are finding our footing now."

The lineup on Saturday may feature a few changes again. Star forward Taylor Twellman, who returned as a sub last weekend and scored a goal before spraining his ankle, had not returned to practice as of Thursday. Coach Steve Nicol said that although the injury was not as bad as they initially thought, Twellman only had a "slim chance" of being available this weekend. Next week’s game against Columbus, Nicol said, is a more likely return date.

However, Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi, who are both also on the injury report, are likely to be on the game day roster. Both have only been training lightly this week, so fitness may be an issue, particularly with Nyassi, who has not played in three weeks.

Even without their all-time leading scorer, the Revs will be heavy favorites to beat San Jose. The 'Quakes have only scored 4 goals all season, by far the fewest in MLS, and sit at the bottom of the MLS standings. San Jose did sneak a surprise 2-0 win in Colorado earlier in the season, so the Revs will have to be cautious to avoid a letdown.

"We obviously know Frank Yallop," said Nicol. "We are expecting them to be 4-4-2 and keeping it tight. They are an expansion team and historically it has been tough for expansion teams, so the one thing I guess that they will do is make sure they don't give anything away early on and then go from there.”

"I think they are a team that is still trying to find an identity," Larentowicz said of San Jose. "It's always tough to be an expansion team, but they have got some good players and it is all about whether they can find a flow. Our team plays the way we play at home. We try and dictate the game and I think it will be a good one."

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