11/5/09
| Game Preview: Revolution at Chicago Fire |
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The Revolution – coming off an exciting 2-1 victory in the first leg of its two-game Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against Chicago – travels to the Windy City on Saturday night for the decisive Game 2.
Jay Heaps and the Revs will look to send the Fire packing this Saturday at Toyota Park
Photo: Keith Nordstrom |
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| Revolution 2010 Away Replica Jersey |
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New England Revolution at Chicago Fire
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Toyota Park (Bridgeview, Ill.)
8:30 p.m. ET
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Radio: WRKO 680 AM
OVERVIEW
After winning Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series against the Fire, 2-1, last Sunday afternoon, the Revolution will carry a bit of momentum into the decisive second leg in Chicago on Saturday night. With a one-goal advantage in the series, the situation is simple: if the Revs win or draw, they will claim a spot in the Eastern Conference Championship. At the other end of the spectrum, a loss by two or more goals will end the Revolution’s season and send the Fire to the conference title game. Should the Fire prevail by a single goal, a 30-minute extra time period – played in two 15-minute halves – will follow directly after the final whistle on Saturday night. If extra time ends with the teams still deadlocked, the series will be decided by penalty kicks.
New England enters this critical match on a brief hot streak, having won its last two matches against the top two teams in the Eastern Conference – Columbus and Chicago. With home-field advantage and a fiery crowd behind them, the Revs came out with passion and vigor to open their MLS Cup chase last Sunday. Although Chicago struck first when Chris Rolfe found the back of the net in the 17th minute, the Revolution – which had struggled offensively in recent weeks – responded.
After multiple chances were turned away by the woodwork and Fire goalkeeper Jon Busch, the Revs finally broke through when Kenny Mansally delivered an inch-perfect free kick into the box in first-half stoppage time. Emmanuel Osei redirected the cross with a glancing header, getting the ball past Busch and tying the game at 1-1. Chances for both teams would follow, though there was no further scoring until the 75th minute, when Shalrie Joseph – one of three finalists for the Volkswagen MLS MVP Award – powered through a group of defenders and poked a shot into the upper right corner, igniting celebration in the crowd and on the field.
With momentum on its side and experience in its back pocket, the Revolution finds itself in a familiar position – one game away from the Eastern Conference Championship. For certain, this match will provide the flare and energy expected from two rival clubs, both of whom are looking to extend their seasons.
- New England leads the all-time playoff series, 4-3 … the Revs ended the Fire’s season for three consecutive years from 2005-07 before Chicago snapped that skid with a victory over New England in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
- Chicago owns a slight edge in the all-time, all-competitions series between the two teams, 24-20-9 … the Revs have a slender lead in the postseason series, however, 7-6-1.
- The Revolution is 1-6-2 against Chicago in all competitions at Toyota Park since the facility opened in 2006.
- New England has never earned a win or draw in Chicago in the playoffs, going 0-6-0 in six previous postseason matches in the Windy City … while the Revs have ended the Fire’s season in the playoffs four times since 2002, they have always eliminated Chicago at Gillette Stadium and have never won a series against the Fire in Chicago.
- The Revolution has limited its opponents to no more than one goal for eight consecutive games … overall, the Revs have conceded just six goals in their last eight games for a goals against average of 0.75.
- The Revs have never lost a postseason series in which they won the opening game, as they are 3-0 in such situations.
- Since MLS went to a two-game, aggregate-goals format for the conference semifinal series in 2003, teams that win the opening game have an overall record of just 9-8 in those series.
INJURY REPORT (As of Tuesday, November 3)
New England Revolution
PROBABLE: Jeff Larentowicz (R knee bone bruise)
QUESTIONABLE: Edgaras Jankauskas (illness), Brad Knighton (illness)
OUT: Chris Albright (L lateral meniscus tear), Gabriel Badilla (R quad strain), Steve Ralston (R ACL tear), Taylor Twellman (concussion)
Chicago Fire
QUESTIONABLE: Wilman Conde (R hip sciatica)
OUT: Gonzalo Segares (L MCL sprain)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New England Revolution
Shalrie Joseph – Joseph scored the game-winning goal – his first career playoff tally in his 20th career postseason appearance – in the first leg of the series … just days after he was named a finalist for the 2009 Volkswagen MLS MVP Award, Joseph will be looking to prove that recognition is warranted with another impressive performance on Saturday night … the imposing central midfielder (and sometimes forward) led the Revolution in both goals (8) and assists (8) in the regular season and will hope to extend the club’s one-goal advantage on Saturday night.
Jay Heaps – The veteran defender will once again play a crucial role as the Revs look to keep Chicago off the scoreboard and advance to yet another Eastern Conference Championship … Heaps possesses the most playoff experience on the Revolution’s active roster, having been with the club since 2001 … along with fellow defenders Kevin Alston, Darrius Barnes and Emmanuel Osei, Heaps will look to shut down the Fire’s dynamic offensive trio of Brian McBride, Cuauhtemoc Blanco and Chris Rolfe.
Chicago Fire
Brian McBride – Much of the Fire’s fate will depend on McBride’s ability to finish chances, something he’s done consistently throughout a storied career … although he was held scoreless in the first leg of this series, McBride was constantly in on the action and struck the post with a blistering drive early in the first half … the former U.S. National Team stalwart led the Fire in scoring this season with seven goals.
Chris Rolfe – Rolfe will look to continue his solid play and find the same offensive success as he did last Sunday, when he scored Chicago’s lone goal and was an offensive threat throughout the game … the shifty attacker finished second behind Brian McBride in team scoring, tallying six goals in 28 regular-season appearances.
PREGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On whether the strategy changes with a one-goal lead entering the second leg …
“We have a lead, which is what we wanted. So again, we need to make sure that we’re tight and don’t give anything away. If we do that, we’re good. At the same time, we know we can’t go there and defend for 90 minutes. We have to start the game solid and well, and then start pushing them back and create chances of our own. Hopefully, at the end of that, we’ll put a ball in the net.”
On the importance of set pieces in the postseason …
“They’re huge. They’re kind of freebies. We want to create chances in open play, but set pieces – if you can take advantage of them the way we have been, that’s huge. We have some guys who are capable of attacking the ball and putting it in the net, so let’s hope that continues.”
On the difficulty of playing at Toyota Park …
“Every game is tough on the road – there’s not an easy game on the road. But obviously, the rivalry we have with Chicago – we say we certainly have an advantage at home in Gillette, as they probably will do at their place. But it’s up to us to go in there and try to take that advantage away from them.”
DEFENDER JAY HEAPS
On the team’s mindset after the victory in the first leg …
“We’re having a good week so far. We’re getting back to what we do well, which is playing hard. We did a good job on Sunday, but it’s not nearly over, so we really have to maintain that fact that we have to go in with that playoff mentality that we’ve had for the last couple of weeks.”
On how preparation changes when facing the same opponent in consecutive games …
“It’s important to make sure we take some advantages of what we did well, but also we have to improve on some of the things we didn’t do well. I think that some of the second balls that we let McBride win; we have to get those second balls, at least.”
On whether the strategy changes with a one-goal lead entering the second leg …
“It really doesn’t. You just have to play the same way. It’s the same scenario we went into in Columbus where it’s win or tie to go through. For us, it’s important that we play to win because it’s going to be a tough, tough, tough environment and it’s going to be important for us to move the ball well and defend really well.”
On the key to finding success in Chicago …
“Compete. I think that’s why we’ve succeeded the last couple of weeks, is that we’ve made it a battle early and often, and we never give up.”
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