10/23/09
| Game Preview: Revolution at Columbus Crew |
|
The 2009 regular season comes to a close on Sunday night, when the Revs travel to Columbus to take on the league-leading Crew in a match that has massive implications on the MLS Cup Playoffs for the Revolution.
 |
| 2010 Customized Revolution Jerseys |
|
|
New England Revolution at Columbus Crew
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Crew Stadium (Columbus, Ohio)
6 p.m.
TV: ESPN2 (English), ESPN Deportes (Spanish)
Radio: WRKO 680 AM (English), ESPN Deportes Radio (Spanish)
OVERVIEW
The New England Revolution will bring the 2009 MLS regular season to a close on Sunday night, when the club travels to Columbus to battle the Crew in the final match on the league’s schedule. A victory and the three points that would accompany it are exceptionally important to New England as it looks to continue playing past this weekend and into the postseason. Entering this week’s action, the Revolution is tied with three other clubs on points (39) for the final spot in the MLS Cup Playoffs, but the Revs are on the outside looking in on Toronto FC through the four-way tiebreaker prior to the weekend. Therefore, Sunday’s match is almost certainly a must-win if the Revolution is to find itself among the eight teams still playing next week.
This will be the second meeting in just 15 days between the Revolution (10-10-9, 39 pts.) and Crew (13-6-10, 49 pts.). On Oct. 10, the teams faced off at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Mass., with Columbus earning a 1-0 win on a Gino Padula first-half goal. It was the third match in what is now a four-game winless stretch for New England, a run that has included losses to the Crew and FC Dallas, and draws with the Colorado Rapids and Chicago Fire.
One of the contributing factors to the current four-game winless run has been the Revs’ difficulties with converting scoring opportunities, totaling only one goal – coming from Kheli Dube in the first half of the team’s 1-1 draw at Colorado on Oct. 3 – in that stretch. While the offense has struggled to find consistency, the defense has been stellar. New England has not given up more than one goal in any of its last six matches. Not surprisingly, Matt Reis has remained one of MLS’ most consistent goalkeepers, currently fifth in the league in goals against average with an even 1.00.
The match is not only important to New England, but to Columbus, as well. While the Crew has already locked up the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the team may need a victory on Sunday to assure itself the Supporters’ Shield – awarded to the club with the best regular-season record. The Crew suffered a 1-0 loss to D.C. United last Saturday, as it battled another club fighting for its postseason life. Columbus was four points ahead of Chivas USA for the Shield prior to the Goats’ match in Chicago on Thursday. With the club’s victory on the road in Foxborough two weeks ago, the Crew improved its all-time record against the Revolution to 25-15-9.
With both New England and Columbus playing for something, the final match of the 2009 MLS regular season is loaded with importance. Both clubs will be sure to leave everything on the field – one with the hope of playing in the postseason and the other wishing to be crowned as the regular season’s top team.
- The Revolution and Crew will play for the second time in just 15 days on Sunday night, as the clubs recently met on Oct. 10 at Gillette Stadium … Columbus won that match, 1-0.
- Since the start of the 2007 season, New England has only bested Columbus once, carrying a 1-4-2 record against the Crew during that time.
- Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is 6-7-7 in his career against Columbus, while maintaining a 1.39 goals against average.
- Columbus has shut out the Revolution in each of the last three matches between the two teams.
- Sunday evening’s clash will be the last regular-season match of 2009 for Major League Soccer as the league wraps up its 14th season.
INJURY REPORT (As of Tuesday, October 20)
New England Revolution
PROBABLE: Brad Knighton (lumbar disc irritation), Jeff Larentowicz (R knee bone bruise), Matt Reis (L ankle sprain)
OUT: Chris Albright (L lateral meniscus tear), Steve Ralston (R ACL tear), Taylor Twellman (concussion)
Columbus Crew
OUT: Andy Gruenebaum (R hip impingement), Chad Marshall (L knee MCL sprain)
UNAVAILABLE: Emilio Renteria (suspension)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New England Revolution
Kheli Dube – While the Revolution has struggled to find an offensive groove during the last month, Dube scored the team’s only goal in the last four matches in the 1-1 draw at Colorado on Oct. 3 … the second-year forward has become one of the club’s top offensive threats this season, and is currently tied with Shalrie Joseph for the team-lead in goals with eight … Dube’s ability to use his quickness to get in behind the Columbus defense on Sunday could have a lot to do with the Revolution finding its offense and earning three points.
Shalrie Joseph – Joseph has helped hold the Revolution together through the club’s stretch of injuries during the last month … he has continued to impress with his play on the field and has once again proven himself as one of the league’s elite players throughout 2009 … Joseph is tied with Kheli Dube for the team-lead in goals with eight, while his eight assists stand alone as the club’s best … if Joseph can control play in the midfield and keep the ball in the attacking half of the field on Sunday, offensive chances are likely to follow for the Revs.
Columbus Crew
William Hesmer – Hesmer has been consistently solid in goal for Columbus throughout the season and is a major reason the club has MLS’ top record … he has accumulated a goals against average of 0.95 in 19 matches this season, good for fourth in Major League Soccer … Hesmer will look to make amends for a chip shot that beat him in the team’s 1-0 loss to D.C. United in its last match, which prevented the Crew from clinching the Supporters’ Shield.
Frankie Hejduk – Hejduk is considered one of the top defenders in the league, and his play will be critical to whether Columbus stops a Revolution attack sure to be going full throttle … Hejduk missed the previous game between the two clubs on Oct. 10 while with the U.S. National Team for the World Cup Qualifying matches against Honduras and Costa Rica … although he is a defensive player, Hejduk has been known to push forward into the attack and has totaled one goal and three assists on the season.
PREGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the atmosphere around the team knowing that the season comes down to one game …
“The atmosphere is great, as usual. We’re fortunate that we have a good bunch of pros that want to step on the field and win games, and that’s what we want to do Sunday.”
On the difficulty of relying on other results to secure a postseason berth …
“We have to win the game Sunday. Whatever happens is immaterial to us. We just have to show up Sunday, be ready, be prepared, and get the job done.”
On whether he’ll watch the games played on Saturday …
“You don’t want to torture yourself. We have to win the game Sunday, that’s all there is to it.”
On whether there is a carryover effect when playing a team twice in three weeks …
“I think it depends on how [the previous] game went. It was a strong game physically, no bad challenges and no reason for anybody to have any grudges. So we’re just expecting a solid game and a tough physical battle.”
MIDFIELDER SHALRIE JOSEPH
On the atmosphere around the team knowing that the season comes down to one game …
“The atmosphere has been good and positive. We always have a loose training camp and loose training here, so it’s nothing different. We’re all enjoying practice, we all love being here, and we all enjoy each other’s company. We know how important this game is but we need to stay loose and stay focused for the game on Sunday.”
On the difficulty of relying on other results to secure a postseason berth …
“We’re just going to focus on our own stuff. Of course, we’re going to watch the scores and the highlights of the games – we’re soccer players and love watching each other play. But we’re just going to focus on Sunday and pray for a little bit of things to go our way and take care of things on Sunday.”
On whether preparation changes when facing a team you’ve played recently …
“No, it doesn’t change at all. We know our game preparation. It doesn’t matter who we play, we’re just going to try to create chances and move the ball and do our normal stuff. Columbus is a good team. They stay organized, they know what they’re about, and they’re one of those teams who’ve been clicking all year. We know it’s going to be a hard atmosphere and a tough atmosphere to play at, but we’re up for the challenge.”
|
