MLS New England Revolution

Revs Advance to Eastern Conference Final with 1-1 Draw Over Columbus

Published on October 31, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Columbus, Ohio - New England advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals by tying the Columbus Crew 1-1 in front of 15,224 at Crew Stadium Saturday evening. The Revolution thus advanced 2-1 on aggregate goals to the Eastern Conference Final and will play at D.C. United at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6. In Game Two of the Columbus series on Saturday night, the Revolution got on the board in the 81st minute when forward Taylor Twellman scored with assists from substitute Andy Dorman and midfielder Clint Dempsey. The Crew tied the match in the 92nd minute when Edson Buddle evened the score, 1-1. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis saved Columbus penalty kicks in the 24th and 75th minutes.

While Columbus spent the first eight minutes of the match in their attacking third of the field, New England defenders Avery John, Rusty Pierce and Jay Heaps were able to keep the Crew from having any solid scoring opportunities. The next eight minutes saw attacking play at both ends of the pitch.

In the 20th minute, Twellman created a New England scoring opportunity. Dribbling up the right flank, Twellman used good dribbling skills to beat three Crew defenders as he made a run into the area. Twellman then passed the ball into Revs central midfielder Dempsey, who was waiting in front of the right post. Dempsey took a one-touch blast toward the center of the goalmouth but Crew goalkeeper Jon Busch made a diving save, getting his right hand on the ball and pushing it out toward the right sideline.

In the 24th minute, Columbus was granted a penalty kick when Reis was adjudged to foul Crew forward Kyle Martino in the area. John played a weak pass back to Reis, unaware that Crew forward Kyle Martino was on his blind side. John tried to recover as Martino pounced to steal the ball, but Martino got a beat on the Revs defender at the top of the area. Reis came off his line to make a slide tackle, but tripped Martino at the penalty spot. Referee Alex Prus did not hesitate to point to the spot and Crew midfielder Ross Paule stepped up to take the penalty kick.

Prior to Saturday night's match, Columbus had made 20 consecutive penalty kicks, an MLS record. Paule placed the ball on the spot and waited for Reis to step up to his line. In the 24th minute, Paule took a low shot to the right post. Reis quickly dove to his left and stopped the shot to make his second save of the match.

In the 34th minute, Columbus had another opportunity when former Revs forward Dante Washington got free in the center channel. As Washington entered the area on the dribble with two New England defenders pursuing him, Reis came off his line to the top of the area and snatched the ball off Washington's feet.

The teams entered the locker rooms at halftime with a 0-0 tie. Both teams ended the first half with five shots, however New England had three shots on goal to Columbus' two.

New England created the first opportunity of the second half when Twellman took his second shot of the game in the 48th minute. Cancela served a ball to the top of the area from the right flank to Revs forward Pat Noonan. Noonan took three touches in the penalty arc before passing it left to Twellman in front of the left post. Twellman took a first-time blast at the goalmouth; the shot, however, went high and the game remained scoreless.

Columbus went close in the 55th minute, when midfielder Frankie Hejduk served an excellent ball into the area. From the center channel, Crew midfielder Simon Elliott made a square pass to Hejduk in the top, left corner of the area. Hejduk sent a lofting cross just wide of the right post, however no Crew players were able to get to the cross to put a shot on goal.

In the 59th minute, Columbus had to bring in forward Jeff Cunningham after Washington was injured in the Crew's penalty area. Fighting for the ball with John, Washington's left foot landed on top of John's left foot and Washington rolled his ankle.

In the 65th minute, the Crew had two more opportunities. From outside the area above the right post, Hejduk blasted a shot just inside of the right post with Reis on the left half of the goalmouth. Revs defender Jay Heaps, however, was in front of the shot and deflected the ball out above the area. With both teams' players running back toward midfield Pierce kicked the ball back to Reis, who chested the ball down to his feet.

Reis then dribbled the ball 35 yards out toward the left midfield. When Reis attempted to pass the ball forward, the keeper tripped over the ball and the Crew's Paule got control of the ball and took a shot in toward the goalmouth. John was between the goal and the ball and shot it out toward the left sideline.

In the 72nd minute, Columbus was awarded their second penalty kick of the match when John tripped Cunningham in the area. Cunningham was outside of the right post and dribbling toward the endline with John flanking him inside. John stuck his leg in to attempt to get the ball, but missed the ball and tripped Cunningham causing Prus to grant Columbus their second penalty of the match.

In the 73rd minute, Crew midfielder Tony Sanneh stood outside of the area in front of the left half of the goalmouth to take the penalty kick. As he slowly walked in toward the spot, Sanneh stutter stepped before taking a low shot to the left post. Reis dove to his right and stopped the shot, keeping the game scoreless.

In Reis' seven-year career he has faced no penalty kicks in the postseason. However, in the 11 regular-season penalty kicks he had faced previously, he had made only one penalty kick save.

New England got on the board in the 81st minute, when Revs forward Taylor Twellman took a point-blank shot on an open net. Dempsey dribbled the ball up the right flank to the 18-yard mark before passing the ball inside to Dorman. Dorman took a great first touch to put himself into open space and dribbled the ball in toward the right post, drawing two Crew defenders and Busch, before playing Twellman with a right-footed pass into the center forward channel. Twellman ran onto the ball, hitting a shot into the upper, right corner before Busch could recover. With the goal, New England took a 1-0 lead in the match and a 2-0 aggregate goal lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal.

Columbus tied the game in the 92nd minute when Crew forward Edson Buddle scored. Sanneh served a long, lofted pass from the center circle to the left flank. Buddle dribbled the ball into the area and Reis came off his line. Reis beat Buddle and shot into an empty net to tie the match's score 1-1. However, the aggregate goal tally was 2-1 and New England saw out the match to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.

New England will play D.C. United in the Eastern Conference Finals at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 6 at RFK Stadium.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 31, 2004


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