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Shalrie Joseph was ejected from the Revs' loss to Chicago. (CHRIS ADUAMA/aduama.com) |
Chicago's first chance of the match came in the 26th minute, when John Thorrington got past the Revolution defense to the endline and sent in a low cross. Marco Pappa unmarked running towards the far post got on the end of it and unleashed a powerful blast from close range. Reis got a hand to it and the shot hit off the post, but fell right back to Pappa. Pappa's second shot hit off Reis and went out for a corner kick.
Just over two minutes into the second half, Adam Cristman had a chance to double the Revs lead. Sainey Nyassi played the ball into Twellman at the top of the box and the Revs striker flicked it on to Cristman. Cristman ran in on goal and attempted to chip a shot over an onrushing Busch, but saw his effort role wide of the far post.
Twellman nearly had a second in the 57th minute when Steve Ralston played a nice through ball from near midfield towards the box. The pass was misplayed by the Fire defense and fell to Twellman who ran towards goal. Twellman opted to take a left footed shot before entering the box and saw it curl wide of the post.
The Fire were lucky not to go down a man after Gonzalo Segares took down Nyassi from behind in what looked like a clear retaliation foul. Nyassi had just stolen the ball from Cuauhtemoc Blanco in what looked like a fair challenge, but Blanco rolled around on the ground holding his ankle. Segares then immediately took down Nyassi with a sliding tackle from behind and received a yellow card on the play. Nyassi and Blanco both re-entered the match after receiving treatment on the field.
"That was a red card [foul]," said Nyassi. "I was surprised when I saw the yellow card coming out. It was deliberate because he thought I fouled Blanco and I got the ball and tried to go at their defenders, so [Segares] came in with two feet. That was a red card."
A few minutes later Nyassi received a yellow card for what again looked like a fair challenge, with Blanco going down from little if any contact.
Joseph nearly had his fourth goal in as many games off a Ralston free kick in the 72nd minute. Joseph beat his marker to get on the end of Ralston's cross, but his header bounced off the turf and then went just high of the net.
Three minutes later Joseph was ejected for carrying a second ball onto the field and knocking the ball out of Blanco's hand. Joseph had received an earlier yellow and was issued his second on the play. Pat Phelan subbed in for Cristman as the Revs looked to hold onto the lead with a 4-4-1 formation.
"I just wanted to take the throw in," said Joseph. "It was definitely, no discussion about it, it was our ball. I just wanted to grab it away from Blanco and play it quick. I don't think it's a second yellow, especially when Segares two foots Sainey like 10-15 minutes before that and gets a yellow for that. It's not the same standard. If you are going to give me a red card or my second yellow for that then give Segares a red card. I just think it's inconsistent on his part, but at the end of the day I've got to be smarter in that position."
"I wish [the referee] was just consistent," said Reis. "If you are going to give guys yellow cards for kicking the ball away or interfering with the ball then do it the whole game. Don't do it one time and don't do it when it's a 50-50 call that could have gone either way. If you look at the tape then it probably could have been our ball. It seems like every time we play Chicago the referee is involved and it's unfortunate because you can't have the referee change a game."
The fouls continued and Pappa received a yellow in the 77th minute for taking down Nyassi from behind.
The Fire tied it up in the 81st minute when Segares took a shot from around 30 yards out. Reis, making his 100th straight start, seemed to have it covered, but the shot bounced through his hands and landed in the back of the net.
"He had a free shot from 25-30 yards out," said Reis. "It started all the way to my left and then it kind of came back to my right. I'd like to have that one back."
Reis came up huge in the 83rd minute charging out to deny Andy Herron after Chris Tierney allowed a pass to get by him. Herron was alone in on goal and Reis caused him to get the ball caught up in his feet, then dove backwards to make the save, before Jeff Larentowicz cleared the ball off the line.
Chicago took the lead in the 86th minute after Tomasz Frankowski shot was stopped by Reis, but then tapped in by Wilman Conde for his first career MLS goal. Reis was issued a card for arguing that he had control of the ball when Conde kicked it away from his hands; Larentowicz received a card a minute later for a foul.
"I had both hands on the ball and he came in straight legged and cleats showing," said Reis. "Anywhere else on the field that is a foul and I don't think [the referee] was in a good position to see it."
The Revs had one more chance to tie in the 88th minute after a Castro cross fell to Nyassi in the right side of the box. The Gambian national put a shot on frame, but saw it saved by Busch.
The win leaves the Fire just one point behind the Revs in the Eastern Conference, though New England does have a game in hand.
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