MLS New England Revolution

MLS Cup Playoffs: New England Revolution 0, Chicago Fire 0

Published on October 30, 2008 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - The New England Revolution - undermanned and missing a pair of perennial All-Stars - posted its first shutout effort since mid-September and played to a 0-0 draw with the Chicago Fire in Game One of the teams' Eastern Conference Semifinal Series, the first game of the 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs. In temperatures nearly freezing, Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis made five saves to help send the teams into Game Two of the series next Thursday in Chicago (8:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2, WEEI Radio).

Reis made all five saves in the second half, but the Revolution out-shot the Fire - 13-9 - and controlled the run of play for the majority of the game despite missing captain Steve Ralston (broken fibula) and Taylor Twellman (concussion-related symptoms), as well as Khano Smith and Gabriel Badilla, both to suspension. The Revolution backline of Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, Chris Albright and Chris Tierney stymied Chicago and closed down the penalty area, forcing Chicago to take most of its shots from distance.

Chicago, which entered the game defeating the Revs in all three of the teams' meetings in 2008 by a combined score of 9-1, also stopped the Revolution attack, which for this game was directed through a trio of the team's young African players - Kheli Dube, Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi. Jon Busch made four saves in the match, including a leaping tip on a Mauricio Castro free kick in the game's fourth minute.

Chicago's best scoring opportunity of the opening 45 minutes fell to Justin Mapp in the 36th minute. A give-and-go down the left wing with defender Gonzalo Segares left Mapp with an open shot inside the box, but his first-time effort was skied over the bar.

The Revolution continued to threaten late in the half and Dube almost gave the hosts a halftime lead with a 38th-minute blast. Tierney's header found Dube 20 yards from goal and the Zimbabwean settled the ball with his chest before he turned and fired a volley inches over the crossbar.

The visitors came out of the break looking to attack and created a host of chances in the opening stages of the second half. Cuauhtemoc Blanco's 54th-minute drive from the top of the box was the best chance, but the shot was hit straight at Reis.

Chicago appeared to score in the 76th minute when Brian McBride's header from Justin Mapp's left-wing cross beat Reis, but the goal was nullified because McBride was in an offside position.

The Revs almost snatched the game-winner in the 88th minute thanks to a burst of speed by Nyassi down the right wing. The 19-year-old Gambian ran straight past Fire defender Wilman Conde and closed on goalkeeper Busch, but a lunging tackle from John Thorrington knocked the ball away. The loose ball fell to Mansally, whose close-range shot was kicked away by Busch before being cleared to safety.

The series now shifts to Chicago, where the decisive second game of the home-and-away, aggregate-goals Eastern Conference Semifinals will be hosted by the Fire at Toyota Park on Thursday, Nov. 6. The game will be televised nationally on ESPN2, with coverage beginning at 8:30 p.m. ET and kickoff set for approximately 8:45 p.m. ET.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 30, 2008


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