10/30/09
| Game Preview: Revolution vs. Chicago Fire |
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The Revs take on familiar postseason foe, the arch-rival Chicago Fire, this Sunday in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
| Darrius Barnes has played every minute of the 2009 regular season, and will make his first postseason start on Sunday against the Fire. |
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New England Revolution vs. Chicago Fire
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Gillette Stadium
2 p.m.
TV: Fox Soccer Channel
Radio: WRKO 680 AM
OVERVIEW
Now in its eighth consecutive postseason, the New England Revolution (11-10-9, 42 pts.) hosts the Chicago Fire (11-7-12, 45 pts.) in Game 1 of the MLS Cup Playoffs Eastern Conference Semifinal Series at 2 p.m. this Sunday at Gillette Stadium. With its win against Chivas USA last Thursday, the Fire clinched second place in the Eastern Conference and ended its six-game winless streak (0-2-4). Also finishing their season on a positive note, the Revs earned a full three points last Sunday for the first time since their 2-1 victory over Seattle Sounders FC in Week 28 and secured the final remaining wildcard spot.
The Revs have had varying degrees of success since the beginning of September, going 2-4-3 during that time. Meanwhile, the Fire has gone 1-1-4 since September. Both clubs appear to be experiencing an upswing, however, earning four points in their two most recent games.
Sunday’s semifinal match will be the first in a two-game series between New England and Chicago, with the second to be played at Toyota Park on Saturday, Nov. 7. The teams met twice during the regular season, and both the May 9 and Oct. 17 matches resulted in draws. Historically, the teams have been evenly matched. Chicago owns a slight advantage in the all-time, all-competitions series, 24-19-9. More telling of the teams’ intense rivalry, however, is their shared 6-6-1 postseason record.
With a shot at MLS Cup at stake, New England and Chicago are sure to battle it out Sunday afternoon as only the fiercest of rivals could.
- Chicago owns a slight edge in the all-time, all-competitions series between the two teams, 24-19-9 … the Fire has the advantage in regular-season (15-13-8), U.S. Open Cup (2-0-0) and SuperLiga (1-0-0) meetings, while the clubs have split 13 postseason matches (6-6-1).
- The Revs are 15-9-3 against the Fire at home in all competitions … that record includes a 9-7-2 mark in regular-season games, a 6-0-1 record in the MLS Cup Playoffs, a 0-1-0 mark in the U.S. Open Cup and a 0-1-0 record in SuperLiga … New England is 12-7-2 against Chicago in all competitions at Gillette Stadium since the facility opened in 2002.
- New England and Chicago played to a pair of draws in the 2009 regular-season series: 1-1 at Toyota Park on May 9, and 0-0 at Gillette Stadium on Oct. 17 … it was the first time the Fire didn’t win the regular-season series since 2005.
- In addition to two regular-season meetings, the clubs also played in the semifinal round of SuperLiga 2009 on July 15 … the Fire won that match at Gillette Stadium, 2-1, and advanced to the tournament’s title match.
- The Revs are 0-5-3 in eight meetings with the Fire in all competitions dating back to the start of the 2008 season, including 0-3-2 in the regular season, 0-1-1 in the MLS Cup Playoffs and 0-1-0 in SuperLiga … New England last beat Chicago in the 2007 Eastern Conference Championship, 1-0, on Nov. 8, 2007 at Gillette Stadium.
- New England is winless (0-3-2) in its last five home games against the Fire in all competitions, including 0-2-1 in the regular season, 0-0-1 in the postseason and 0-1-0 in SuperLiga.
- With this year’s meeting, the Revs and Fire will have met in seven of the last eight postseasons (2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and the last five overall … in total, the teams will have met in the playoffs eight times, all since 2000.
- 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 Semifinals.
- Each team is undefeated against the other on its home field in the playoffs … New England is 6-0-1 and Chicago is 6-0-0.
- The winner of the previous New England-Chicago postseason matchups has advanced to MLS Cup seven out of eight times … the only year in which the winner didn’t ultimately reach the title match was 2008, when the Fire was eliminated in the Eastern Conference Championship by the Columbus Crew.
- Jeff Larentowicz has two goals and two assists in 11 career regular-season appearances against the Fire, marking his best offensive output against any team … the only other club against which Larentowicz has multiple career goals is Columbus (2), while he does not have multiple career assists against any other team.
- Shalrie Joseph has one goal and four assists in 19 career regular-season appearances against Chicago … Joseph’s lone goal against the Fire was scored in the clubs’ 1-1 draw on May 9 at Toyota Park.
- Matt Reis is 7-10-4 with a 1.43 goals against average and four shutouts in his regular-season Revolution career against the Fire … Reis also has three career postseason shutouts in six appearances against Chicago.
INJURY REPORT (As of Tuesday, October 27)
New England Revolution
PROBABLE: Brad Knighton (lumbar disc irritation), Jeff Larentowicz (R knee bone bruise), Kenny Mansally (L foot contusion), Emmanuel Osei (L ankle contusion)
OUT: Chris Albright (L lateral meniscus tear), Steve Ralston (R ACL tear), Taylor Twellman (concussion)
Chicago Fire
QUESTIONABLE: Wilman Conde (R hip contusion), Tim Ward (L metatarsal fracture)
PLAYERS TO WATCH
New England Revolution
Edgaras Jankauskas – The Lithuanian forward came inches from scoring off a header two weeks ago against Chicago, and then hit the crossbar last Sunday against Columbus … Jankauskas’ size and strength should prove formidable against Chicago’s defense, especially with Wilman Conde still listed as Questionable on the IR … Jankauskas scored two goals and added one assist during the regular season and also scored his first Revolution goal during SuperLiga against the Fire.
Sainey Nyassi – The third-year midfielder performed effectively in the Revolution’s last match against the Fire, using his speed to get into dangerous places in New England’s offensive third … should Nyassi find continued success on the wings this Sunday, his crosses could be just what target forward Jankauskas needs to find the back of the net … Nyassi has scored two goals and added one assist this year.
Chicago Fire
Jon Busch – Although the Chicago goalkeeper was not tested much in the Fire’s most recent game, Busch will take on a crucial role in the playoffs … Busch played every minute of every league match during the 2009 season and posted a 1.13 goals against average … with advancement now based on aggregate goals, Busch’s performance could determine which team moves on to the Eastern Conference Championship.
Cuauhtémoc Blanco – Despite carrying a hamstring strain, Blanco’s 67th-minute corner kick last Thursday against Chivas USA resulted in the goal that ensured Chicago’s place in the postseason … while his minutes may still be limited, the Fire’s Designated Player and assist leader is one to keep an eye on … Blanco has also scored five goals this season.
PREGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the momentum created by earning a season-ending win in Columbus …
“I think going into any game, if you’ve won the previous one, you get confidence from it. Obviously going to Columbus under the pressure we were, needing to get a result, and coming away with a win – I think that’s only the second time they’ve lost in some 20 or 30 games. So that’s obviously going to give confidence going into the next game.”
On the challenges Chicago brings to the table …
“I think obviously the experienced guys they have – like McBride and Blanco – you have to keep your eye on them. They’re smart, they’ve been the distance before. They’re just two guys that we really need to make sure that we lock them up and keep them quiet.”
On what he’ll tell the rookies heading into their first postseason game …
“The usual stuff; be consistent and make good decisions, and I’m sure you’ll do well.”
DEFENDER DARRIUS BARNES
On the excitement of playing in his first professional postseason game …
“I’m thrilled. Just the tradition of New England to be able to go into the playoffs for the past eight seasons is just amazing. I’m just glad I can be a part of that this year and hopefully we can make a run and do some damage in there since we got in.”
On the momentum created by earning a season-ending win in Columbus …
“It was definitely motivational. We had something to play for and it was definitely like a playoff atmosphere going into Columbus. Their fans are great and just the atmosphere around the game was just terrific. We kind of fed off that vibe a little bit and fed off that energy. We took that energy into the game and I feel like we had a good start to the game and carried that throughout. We got the goal that we needed and we sustained and held strong in the back. I definitely felt like there was a lot of motivation going into that game to push ourselves and get into the playoffs.”
On the challenges Chicago brings to the table …
“It’s just going to be a battle. It’s going to be a fight every game. Two of the games (this season) ended in draws and the other one in SuperLiga ended on a free kick. It’s just going to be a battle. We have to know going into the game that we have to scratch and claw for every inch. Hopefully we can come into the first game and get a win and kind of take a little bit of pressure off us going into Chicago. I think that’ll be the main key to this little series we have; get a good start and get on the board early and try to sustain and just keep playing hard defense like we have been playing all season.”
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