Revs Lose Game, Ralston

Ralston Breaks Leg, Wizards Win 1-0

October 12, 2008

By Sean Donahue

The New England Revolution lost Steve Ralston and Mauricio Castro to injury en route to falling 1-0 to the Kansas City Wizards.

Ralston broke his leg on a rough Herculez Gomez tackle in the 12th minute and Castro left limping late in the second half. Ralston’s loss is the more significant. He suffered a broken right fibula and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks, putting the remainder of his season in jeopardy.

A 61st minute Jimmy Conrad goal was all the Wizards needed to keep their playoff hopes alive and hand the Revolution their ninth loss of the season. The loss drops the Revs into a tie in second place with Chicago with 43 points each.

Steve Ralston suffered a broken right fibula in the Revs' 1-0 loss. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com)

Kheli Dube had the first chance for the Revs in the 6th minute. Shalrie Joseph found Mauricio Castro on the right flank, where the Honduran international cutback to create some space and sent in a left footed cross. Dube, about 8 yards from goal, got separation from his defender, but his header went wide of the post.

Castro had the next chance for the Revs in the 10th minute, making a 60 yard run down the right flank. Castro could have played the ball to Dube, who was in space running into the box, but instead opted to take a shot, blasting it towards the near post. Goalkeeper Kevin Hartman couldn't hold on, but managed to punch the ball out.

The Revs suffered a blow in the 12th minute, when captain Steve Ralston was fouled by Herculez Gomez. Gomez clipped Ralston after the ball was passed and five minutes after leaving the field, Ralston was replaced by Gabriel Badilla.

Reis came up big in the 15th minute, when Kevin Souter, running across the top of the box, received the ball from Jonathan Leathers. Souter sent a shot towards the upper left corner, but Revs 'keeper Matt Reis managed to get a hand on it to tip the shot over the net.

Gomez had a chance on the 49th minute, getting free in the right side of the box, but his shot was well saved by Reis.

Kansas City should have made it 1-0 in the 59th minute when Davy Arnaud got free down the right flank and sent a cross right in front of goal. The ball made it through to Abe Thompson, wide open about a foot from goal, but the 26-year-old striker somehow sent his shot well over the wide open net.

Two minutes later defender Jimmy Conrad put the Wizards on top, when he rose above the Revs defense to head a Jack Jewsbury corner kick past Reis. The shot took a deflection off a Revolution defender with Jay Heaps and Jeff Larentowicz challenging.

Dube threatened in the 64th minute, when he picked up the ball on the far side of the box off a corner kick. Dube looked like he was sending in a cross, but the ball ended up heading toward the far corner. Hartman managed to get just enough on it to tip it over the net.

Another injury struck for the Revs in the 74th minute, when Castro was taken down on a challenge from behind. Castro left the field limping and was subbed out for Wells Thompson.

The Revs pushed forward throughout the remainder of the match, earning several corner kicks, but failed to really threaten Hartman again.

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