Revs Try to Shake Losing Skid

Back-to-back Losses Has New England Reeling

August 16, 2008

By Sean Donahue

Who: New England Revolution at San Jose Earthquakes
What: MLS Regular Season
Where: Buck Shaw Stadium, Santa Clara, Calif.
When: Saturday, 10:00 p.m. (TV38, HDNet)

The New England Revolution are in the midst of their first losing streak of the season after losing 2-1 to the Chicago Fire in league play Saturday and then being eliminated in the U.S. Open Cup Semifinals against D.C. United 3-1 on Tuesday.

Now the Revs will look to get back on track on Saturday night when they face off against the last place team in MLS, the expansion San Jose Earthquakes.

Kheli Dube

Kheli Dube and the Revs try to shake their losing streak tonight. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

After a grueling schedule and a disappointing loss over the weekend, Revolution coach Steve Nicol opted to rest the majority of his regular starters in the team's midweek U.S. Open Cup Semifinal match against D.C. United. The 2007 Open Cup Champions paid for it with a 3-1 loss, ending their chance to defend their title. Saturday will be the test to see if that move pays off in league play as the Revs look to build their lead at the top of the standings after Chicago pulled within one point this week.

Though most of the Revs starters will have a full weeks rest, a few key players are unavailable. Shalrie Joseph is suspended for a red card he picked up last weekend, and Michael Parkhurst, who just returned from the Olympics, has been given the weekend off to recover. Meanwhile striker Kheli Dube is still injured and Kenny Mansally is likely out as well.

Taylor Twellman could also miss out after re-aggravating a hip injury, so the Revs may be very short on offensive options.

The Revs have faced San Jose once already this season, winning 2-0 in Foxboro. San Jose, however, despite their place at the bottom of the Western Conference standings, has improved in recent weeks. San Jose is unbeaten in their last four games and has added two creative offensive weapons in Englishman Darren Huckerby and former FC Dallas midfielder Arturo Alvarez. Both are capable of creating goals on their own and the two have 3 goals and 1 assist in a combined 4 games since joining San Jose.

With nearly two weeks since their last match, San Jose also has plenty of rest and very few injuries to worry about.

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