Smith Gives Revs Victory

Late Strike Earns 1-0 Win

September 30, 2007

By Sean Donahue

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- Khano Smith proved to be the hero, scoring in the 88th minute to give the Revolution a 1-0 win over the Colorado Rapids in a sloppy match in front of 19,166 at Gillette Stadium.

Both sides struggled to string together passes throughout the game and the visitors looked content to leave Foxborough with a point, but late heroics from Smith gave the Revs an important victory in their hunt for home field advantage in the playoffs. The Rapids, meanwhile head back to Colorado with a big dent in their playoff hopes.

Smith gave the Revs the lead with two minutes left in regulation after beating both Facundo Erpen and Ugo Ihemelu to a long through ball from Shalrie Joseph. The Bermudian International ran in on goal and slotted it through the legs of Erpen with his left foot for his second goal of the season.

Khano Smith scored the game-winning goal in the 88th minute. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia)

"[Ihemelu] stalled to curve, so I had a chance to step in front and win it," said Smith of his goal. "I could've used my right foot and went to the side netting or used my outside of the foot to the side netting to, but I saw him coming out with his legs open too. It's going to be pretty hard for him to stop it with his legs open, so I tried to put it through his legs and luckily it went in."

Colorado put the Revs under pressure early in the match. In the second minute, Jovan Kirvoski received the ball at the top of the box and found Terry Cooke wide open to his right. Despite having acres of space, Cooke unleashed a powerful shot that landed well wide of the target.

Rapids 'keeper Bouna Coundoul gifted the Revolution an opportunity in the 9th minute with a throw that landed at the feet of Revs striker Adam Cristman. The rookie, who started in place of the injured Taylor Twellman, ran in on goal, but his shot to the near post was right into the hands of Coundoul.

The Rapids gave the Revs a break again in the 29th minute, after Kirvoski played Jacob Peterson through on goal. Peterson failed to control the ball, but managed to send it back to Kirvoski, who was alone about 15 yards from goal. Even with plenty of time and space, Kirvoski sent his shot nowhere near the target.

"It seemed like we were having a tough time getting the ball under control on the turf," said Revs defender Michael Parkhurst. "They were doing a great job with just bunkering: cutting off our passing lanes and making it difficult to play. It seemed like in the second half they got a little more tired, we could spread the ball out a little and finally we wore them down enough to get the goal."

Steve Ralston nearly put the Revs on top in the 42nd minute when some nice hold-up play from Jay Heaps earned a free kick at the top of the box. Ralston sent in a low curling free kick that beat the wall and Coundoul, but rolled just wide of the far post.

"The first half was pretty poor," said Revolution head coach Steve Nicol. "They came and just really closed us done real early and worked hard. We just couldn't get going. Both teams were poor with the ball, and you put that with them closing us down and it was pretty ugly. You saw how hard they worked in the first half, I've never seen so many people going down in a game, but we showed we were strong and we kept at it. We really put them under pressure in the second half, all they did was break.

I think they would have been more than happy with a point. I think we got the reward for pushing the game and trying to win the game."

The Revs had an opportunity 10 minutes into the second half, with Ralston finding Joseph with a free kick from about 30 yards out. Joseph powered a header to the near post, but Coundoul was well positioned to make the save.

Ralston again linked up with Joseph on a corner kick in the 61st minute. This time Joseph's powerful header beat Coundoul, but the shot was headed off the line by Mike Petke.

Colorado nearly stole the match in the 71st minute after substitute Omar Cummings headed a Cooke corner on frame. Andy Dorman was there to clear the ball off the line.

Twelve minutes from full time, the Revs had a golden opportunity, when Noonan broke free on the right side and chipped in a cross over Coundoul. Cristman ran into the box to finish, but took a hand to the back from a defender and fell, unable to tap the ball into the empty net. Protests for a penalty were waved away.

The Revs next travel to Dallas for the US Open Cup Final on Wednesday night.

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