9/20/08
| Postgame Quotes: Revolution 1, Rapids 1 |
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Postgame quotes after the New England Revolution and Colorado Rapids played to a 1-1 draw on Saturday, September 20 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park in Commerce City, Colo.
NE REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
General:
“Previously, coming to Colorado we had not gotten anything. We got a point maybe five years ago. We wanted to come in and be tight to start the game and then open things up. We got the draw. Obviously we would like to have won but it was a fair result. We only played with one up top to start the game because we had been here previously and never did anything. We wanted to be solid and then open up and that is what we did. It is all about how we played in the first half and we certainly kept them out. They only had one cross into the box which we did not deal with and it was a good header. I don’t think we are a hundred percent because of the schedule that we have had, so we kept it down to only going at them for 45 minutes. I think it worked. Obviously we would have liked the win, but a point here is good for us. Previously we had done nothing here.”
On moving forward:
“Obviously we would like to be challenging for the (supporters) shield, but the first goal is always to get into the playoffs. So we are a point nearer to that goal.”
NE REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
General:
“It feels good to get a point out of here. I don’t think we have gotten a point out of here for awhile, so it was a bit of a moral victory for us. Obviously things did not work out in the first half tactically. So we made a change and switched to 4-4-2 formation and that helped out a lot. We definitely played a lot better in the second half. They are dangerous from the outside and spreading the field. They are very good wide and they are dangerous wide. That is what they try to do and then get balls into the box. We knew that going into the game, we just tried to play a little more defensively rather than just matching straight up. In the end to get a point on the road in this league is good and if we looked back at the end of the year and got a point on the road all the time we would be happy. It was good to come back in this game. I don’t think that we have had too many comebacks where we got some points out of the game in the end. So that was something good out of the game. Another thing is that we are starting to get players healthy and back. For (Kenny) Mansally to get a goal is great. It was great to have another forward up there with (Taylor) Twellman.”
On 82nd Minute Save:
“The deflection save in the second half was a bit of a reaction save. It deflected off of Gabriel [Badilla] and bounced to my right and I just had to push and get as much on it as I could. I got it over the bar, but that is just stuff that I have to do in the goal. I don’t think anything was out of the ordinary. That is what I am back there to do. In the end I think that the team is starting to gel together better with Badilla back there. We are getting the other forwards back out there and that helps us a lot.”
NE REVOLUTION DEFENDER JAY HEAPS
General:
“I think in the first half they were more on the offensive and took advantage of that and had some good opportunities. I think in the second half we made an adjustment and we were more on the attack. In the second half they played more long balls and in the first half they were inching it towards us and that was harder to defend. But in the second half we played better and if they were going to get by us, we were going to force them out wide. I think that we really wanted to get three points out of the game tonight. We had to switch formations in the second half. We started in the 4-5-1 formation in hopes of getting a little more forward. It was nice to come back in the game but in the long run I think that we got what we deserved in the outcome. We definitely did not deserve to win, but it was a good effort tonight. This Colorado team and this place is so tough to play in, so coming here was a good test for us to see what we might face in the playoffs. Get used to the atmosphere. For us we need to get the system that we are going to play set and get our lineup set. We need to get people back from injuries and deepen our team going forward.”
COLORADO RAPIDS INTERIM HEAD COACH GARY SMITH
General:
“That (goal) was a bit of a kick in the teeth for us, five minutes into the second half, but when you look at the way the team responded from that point on I can’t give anything but praise to the players. There were a number of opportunities and the goal tender made some really good saves. I thought there were some terrific passages of play and great delivery from both sides. Terry and Colin were instrumental. A lot of things were created. We are getting to a point where other teams are going to look at us and change the way that they play. Tonight, unfortunately, we came away with a point against a rejuvenated New England team who we all know has tremendous quality. I think we restricted them to few opportunities. I think we are making a transition from a side that was quite creative at times but conceded too many goals to a side that hopefully, over the course of time, will show that we are very frugal with what we offer other teams. This is what we’ve shown again today. We’ve allowed one goal in three games now.
COLORADO RAPIDS GOALKEEPER PRESTON BURPO
On the goal he conceded:
“He got a good bounce, I think off of Cory. My initial move was to go forward, but the way the ball popped up I was in trouble at that point and I decided to hope that he was going to shoot and I could react to that. I knew that if he decided to chip it, I was in trouble.”
General:
“We played great. Offensively we are great. We created a bunch of chances.”
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER COLIN CLARK
General:
“We created a lot of chances but didn’t take advantage of them. We had a lot of possession. We came out and played hard tonight and over the season we have taken four from them, and they are consistently one of the best teams in the league. So that is a positive way we can look at it.”
On his goal:
I was a little frustrated. I wasn’t seeing too much of the ball. At times that’s the way it’s going to be and you just have to deal with it. I found myself drifting into the box and playing more centrally. That’s what you do when Cooke puts a cross in, just let it hit your head and it will go in.
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