REVOLUTION SETS FOR SUPERLIGA 2010
The fourth edition of SuperLiga kicks off this week, the annual competition between four teams from the Primera División of Mexico and four teams Major League Soccer of the United States and Canada, the top divisions in each nation … SuperLiga 2010 marks the third straight year the Revs have competed in the tournament having won the event in 2008 – the only MLS club to win the championship to date … all three SuperLiga championships have been decided on penalty kicks.
THE REVOLUTION AND SUPERLIGA: A BRIEF HISTORY
The Revs enter SuperLiga for the third straight summer … overall, the Revolution has played well in the tournament, posting a 6-1-2 overall record, its only loss to the Chicago Fire in the 2009 semifinals … the Revs have posted a 5-0-0 mark against Mexican clubs and a 1-1-2 record against Major League Soccer teams … they have only played one team more than once, defeating Santos Laguna, 1-0, on July 13, 2008 and 4-2 on June 21, 2009 … overall, New England has outscored its SuperLiga opponents at 13-8 clip in nine matches.
REVS HOPE TO CARRY MOMENTUM SWING INTO SUPERLIGA
New England followed up its worst loss in 2010 with arguably its best performance - and certainly its biggest win - of the season on Saturday in a 2-0 victory over MLS leader LA Galaxy … following a season-worst 5-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on July 2, the Revs returned to the field after a week of hard work in training, and was rewarded with a 2-0 shutout win over an LA club that had previously lost only one game all season.
REVS ONLY SECOND TEAM IN 2010 TO “BEAT LA”
New England followed up its worst loss in 2010 with arguably its best performance - and certainly its biggest win - of the season on Saturday in a 2-0 victory over MLS leader LA Galaxy … following a season-worst 5-0 loss at Real Salt Lake on July 2, the Revs returned to the field after a week of hard work in training, and was rewarded with a 2-0 shutout win over an LA club that had previously lost only one game all season.
REVS OPT FOR CHUNK SCORING
With two goals in a seven-minute span against LA on Saturday night, the Revolution scored multiple goals within an 11-minute span for the third time this season … Kenny Mansally scored in the 80th and 82nd minutes of New England’s 2-0 win at D.C. United on April 3; Zak Boggs tallied in the 29th and 40th-minutes of the Revs 3-2 loss at Columbus on May 8; and last weekend, Marko Perovi? scored on a free kick in the 67th minute followed by Sainey Nyassi’s 74th-minute tally to send the Revolution to a 2-0 win … New England also tallied twice in a 16-minute span of a 3-2 win over New York on May 29, but one was an own-goal.
MEETING THE TASK AGAINST MEXICAN CLUBS
The Revs have historically fared very well against clubs from our neighbor to the South … since it first played a Mexican team in 2000, the Revolution has posted a 9-2-1 mark , including 5-0-0 against Mexican teams in SuperLiga play … the only two blemishes came in New England’s first meeting with a Mexican team, a 2-0 loss to CD Guadalajara on March 1, 2000 … the second was a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Atlante FC on March 6, 2008, during preseason training trip to Cancun … the Revs have outscored their Mexican counterparts 30-9 in 12 matches, including 8-2 in SuperLiga play.
PEROVIC STICKS WHAT HE DOES BEST
When Sainey Nyassi was taken down with possession outside the Galaxy box in the 67th minute and New England was awarded a free kick on Saturday night, the Revolution knew exactly whose shoulder to tap for the attempt … though his first attempt was handled by the Galaxy wall, Perovi? was awarded a second kick from closer range and stuck a bouncer around the wall to put the Revs ahead, 1-0 … the tally on a set piece was the Revolution’s second of the season, both converted by the Serbian midfielder … Perovi?’s first conversion came in a 2-1 loss against Colorado at Gillette Stadium on April 24.
WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS
Heading into Saturday night’s game against LA, the Revolution was not only getting ready to face the most daunting defense in the league, but the Revs were also riding a 280-minute scoreless streak, its longest of the season … Marko Perovi?’s 67th-minute goal finally broke the scoreless streak and Sainey Nyassi followed with a goal just seven minutes later … the 347 minutes between goals stands as the third-longest in MLS this season, and played the entire month of June without finding the back of the net.
NYASSI NAILS AN EMPHATIC FINISHER
Sainey Nyassi broke his scoreless streak that ran 11 games this past weekend when he converted in the 74th minute against LA … Shalrie Joseph dribbled to the top of the box and unleashed a shot that was deflected by Galaxy keeper Donovan Ricketts and bounced off the right post … Ricketts made a second attempt on a dive, but Nyassi beat him to the ball, and took a full swing with his right foot to ensure the ball would find the back of the net … the strike put the Revolution ahead by two goals and placed the club on path to its biggest win of the season.
KEEPER’S EFFORT NOT TO BE OVERLOOKED
Perhaps lost in the aftermath of the Revolution’s fourth win of the season was the performance of the New England defense and its veteran keeper, Matt Reis … Reis turned away every LA Galaxy offering last weekend to give the Revs their third shutout of 2010, and Reis’ first of the season … he made five saves to secure his 57th career shutout, his 48th in a Revolution uniform … Reis has a firm grasp on seventh-place on the all-time shutouts list and is only five behind Tony Meola, who sits in sixth place with 62 career shutouts … Kevin Hartman leads all keepers with 88 career shutouts.
D. BARNES RETURNS WITH A STATEMENT
Darrius Barnes stepped onto the pitch last weekend after sitting out for more than two months with a foot injury which he suffered May 8 at Columbus … Barnes missed five MLS matches and returned against one of the most high-powered attacks in MLS … strapped with the responsibility of marking MLS’ leading scorer, Edson Buddle (10 goals in 10 games heading into the match), Barnes shut down Buddle for the entire match, only allowing the World Cup participant one shot on goal … Barnes helped hold Buddle scoreless for only the fifth time all season.
NICOL AND ARENA ARE NECK AND NECK
Earlier this season, head coach Steve Nicol and LA Galaxy front man Bruce Arena became the third and fourth MLS coaches to ever post 100 victories, and faced one another in a showdown of triple-digit win coaches for only the third time in league history … Nicol came away with win No. 102, a mark that matches Arena’s, as each sits tied for third place on the all-time list … Seattle’s Sigi Schmid leads all with 129 career wins, while U.S. Men’s National Team head coach Bob Bradley sits in second with 124.
COMMUNITY MVP INFO
Major League Soccer and The Home Depot, the official home improvement retailer of MLS, are teaming up to recognize one Community MVP from each MLS Club … from July 1 – Sept. 17, fans throughout the League can nominate individuals who go above and beyond to make a difference in their community (click here) … one (1) Community MVP will be selected to represent each MLS club, and will receive recognition at a home game of the local team, and a prize pack, as well as a trip for two to MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto, including airfare and hotel accommodations, tickets to MLS Cup 2010, a $500 gift card from The Home Depot, recognition during halftime ceremony and an MLS Cup Gift bag.
- community service for a local, national or international charity or community organization
- positive impact on youth
- environmental sustainability
- health, wellness and education
- military or civic service
local prize package winners will receive VIP tickets and team merchandise, while the national prize package winners will receive:
- a trip to MLS Cup 2010 in Toronto, Ontario (package for winner and one (1) guest);
- two (2) nights double occupancy standard accommodations roundtrip coach airfare from nearest major airport to winner's home to Toronto
- two (2) tickets to MLS Cup 2010 at BMO Field in Toronto
- a $500 gift card provided by The Home Depot recognition during halftime ceremony an MLS Cup Gift bag
TWELLMAN STEPS INTO BOOTH THIS WEEK
Taylor Twellman will share his soccer expertise when he steps into the broadcast booth with Revs play-by-play man Brad Feldman to provide color for the Revs’ home matches in SuperLiga 2010 (Wednesday, July 14, and Tuesday, July 20) … Twellman, who has Comcast SportsNet New England’s World Cup commentator, will make his second appearance in the broadcast booth after handling color duties in for the Revs’ match late-season match against the Chicago Fire on Oct. 17, 2009.
THIS WEEK IN REVOLUTION HISTORY: JULY 12-JULY 18
July 14, 1996: D Alexi Lalas and F Welton named to the East squad for the 1996 MLS All-Star game in New Jersey.
July 16, 1998: D Mike Burns and F Raul Diaz Arce named to the USA and World squads, respectively, for the 1998 MLS All-Star game in Orlando.
July 13, 2004: M/F Pat Noonan and M/F Clint Dempsey named to Eastern Conference All-Star Team.
July 14, 2004: M Steve Ralston’s goal against Chicago voted Sierra Mist Goal of the Week.
July 12, 2006: M Shalrie Joseph and M/F Clint Dempsey voted to “First XI” for the 2006 All-Star game vs. Chelsea FC.
July 14, 2007: M Steve Ralston establishes a new MLS all-time assist record with his 115th career assist on Andy Dorman’s 38th-minute goal in a 1-0 win over the New York Red Bulls at Gillette Stadium.
July 18, 2007: M Steve Ralston and F Taylor Twellman added to MLS All-Star roster as inactive players.
July 14, 2008: D Chase Hilgenbrinck announced retirement … F Kheli Dube promoted to the 18-man senior roster.
July 17, 2008: D Michael Parkhurst named to the 2008 U.S. Olympic Team … M Steve Ralston added to 2008 MLS All-Star Roster.
