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Shalrie Joseph celebrates after his goal Wednesday night. (Photo credit: Joyce Furia) |
But what should have been a celebration for the Revs having clinched a spot in the SuperLiga final against the Houston Dynamo next Tuesday in front of their home fans was overshadowed by a violent finish. The visitors were visibly frustrated throughout the match, and tempers flared late in the second half with Atlante being reduced to nine men.
And the violence didn't stop with the end of the match. After the final whistle, Jay Heaps appeared to have a word with one of the Atlante players and soon just about everyone on the field got involved with Heaps and Atlante 'keeper Frederico Vilar, who had ran nearly 100 yards to get involved in an earlier tussle, both being issued red cards.
"We played really well defensively even though we lost one of our key components in Michael Parkhurst," said 'keeper Matt Reis. "It gets marred by everything that happened and it's probably the referee's fault for not calling it earlier."
The Revs' first chance came in the 6th minute, when Shalrie Joseph played Mauricio Castro down the left flank. Castro sent in a quick cross that was high of Kheli Dube at the far post. The ball fell to Kenny Mansally, who after a couple of cut backs to clear space, took a low shot to the far post. 'Keeper Federico Vilar was well positioned and easily made the save.
Atlante had a chance in the 18th minute, when Luis Gabriel Rey, got around the Revolution defense to the end line. Rey sent it back to Daniel Arreola, who was making a run inside the box. His shot, however, went high and wide of the net.
The Revs came close to putting one on the scoreboard in 25th minute. Sainey Nyassi made a run up the right flank before sending a low cross into the box. Mansally redirected it to Dube, but the Zimbabwean's powerful shot was denied by the crossbar.
Atlante had two chances in quick succession in the 26th minute. The first came when Gerardo Espinoza headed a corner on frame from just 6 yards out. 'Keeper Matt Reis was well positioned to make the save. Less than a minute later, Rey got open at the top of the box and had plenty of space, but hesitated before unleashing a weak shot on frame that was easily saved by Reis.
Shalrie Joseph put the Revs on top in the 30th minute. Steve Ralston took a free kick from around 40 yards out, curling it towards the far post. Joseph managed to beat his marker and direct a header at the opposite corner. Joseph's header glanced off the crossbar on its way in.
The goal was Joseph's second in as many games. His game-tying strike against Chivas USA clinched the Revs' spot in the semifinals.
Atlante looked dangerous on another corner from Giancarlo Maldonado in the 33rd minute, this with Alan Zamora on the end of it. Alan Zamora directed his header on frame, but again Reis was there to make the save.
With their defense struggling against the Revs on counter attacks, Atlante switched things up in just the 39th minute, bringing on Luis Venegas for Gerardo Castillo. Five minutes into the second half the team made another change, this time bringing on more offense with forward Fernando Navarro entering for defender Arturo Munoz.
Reis came up big in the 59th minute, when Rey broke free down the right flank. His low cross rolled in front of goal where Reis was able to punch it out and Nyassi managed to get back and hold off an attacker to clear it.
Mansally should have doubled the score in the 63rd minute, when Amaechi Igwe played Dube down the right flank with a nice long ball. Dube bead his man in the box and then cut it back to Mansally, who just needed to tap it around Vilar for a goal, but blasted it over the bar.
Substitute Khano Smith had a chance in the 68th minute, when a poor clearance from Atlante fell to him about four yards outside the box. Smith unleashed a powerful left footed drive that went just high of the net.
Adam Cristman made his return in the 78th minute, entering the match for Mansally. Cristman hadn't played since receiving an injection for a sprained toe since
Shalrie Joseph almost had a second in the 82nd minute, after Nyassi beat his man, ran towards the endline and then sent a pass back towards the top of the box. Joseph unleashed a powerful one time shot, but it was blocked by Atlante defender. Shouts for a handball were waved
Things turned ugly in the 85th minute, when Rey punched Joseph while the teams were setting up for a Revolution free kick. In the resulting fracas Chris Alright and Vilar also received yellow cards.
Atlante went down to 9 men in stoppage time when Zamora received his second yellow card of the match for a poorly timed tackle from behind on Joseph. Seconds later a yellow was issued to Javier Munoz Mustafa for a vicious tackle on Dube that may have warranted a red card of its own.
The violence escalated after the final whistle after Heaps got in a yelling match with a Atlante player. Heaps was eventually shoved and received a red card. Vilar also received a red and then slapped Heaps and later appeared to hit backup goalkeeper Doug Warren in the face after the whistle. Someone on Atlante's staff also punched Chris Albright. Heaps will be suspended for the final.
"I think we as coaches and staff of the team are there to help the players whether it is on the field or off the field," said Nicol. "The one thing that really disappointed me was that there was a member of their staff on the field throwing punches and that is unacceptable."
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