MLS New England Revolution

Revs advance to playoffs with 2-1 victory over the Chicago Fire

Published on October 16, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - The New England Revolution (8-13-9, 33 pts.) advanced to the MLS playoffs by defeating the Chicago Fire (8-13-9, 33 pts.) 2-1 tonight at Gillette Stadium. The two teams finished tied in the Eastern Conference standings; the Revs advanced by winning the head-to-head series tiebreaker 2-1-1.

All three goals in the game were scored within a four-minute period of the second half. In the 55th minute, Revs midfielder and MLS Rookie of the Year Candidate Clint Dempsey scored his seventh goal of the season off of a corner kick through assists from defender Jay Heaps and midfielder José Cancela. The Fire responded less than a minute later in the 56th minute when midfielder Nate Jaqua scored off of a corner kick from midfielder Andy Williams. Two minutes later, New England scored the game-winning goal when Revs captain Steve Ralston tallied with assists from Cancela and midfielder Shalrie Joseph.

The Fire went close first when former Revolution player Williams took a shot in the 7th minute. On the endline, Fire forward Andy Herron passed a ball toward the penalty spot, where Williams one-touched a shot toward the left post. With New England goalkeeper Matt Reis diving to his right, the ball went just wide of the left post.

New England had their first shot of the game just one minute later when Cancela took a shot in the 8th minute. With the Fire defense clearing the ball out of the area, a deflection went straight to the feet of Cancela. The Uruguayan national blasted a first-touch shot that went wide left of the goal.

The Revs had another opportunity in the 22nd minute in what could have been a replay from New England's last home game two weeks ago, a 2-0 defeat of the Dallas Burn. Revs defender Marshall Leonard carried the ball up the left flank before crossing an angled, high ball into the area. New England forward Taylor Twellman ran onto the ball to headed it in toward goal. Fire goalkeeper Henry Ring was able to leap over Twellman and grab the ball out of the air.

Four minutes later, the Revs came close twice off of chances from Ralston and Leonard. With the ball ten yards outside of the area, Ralston blasted a shot toward the far post. No one was able to control the ball and get an accurate shot off and the ball went out over the endline. On the ensuing corner kick, the ball fell to the feet of Leonard, who was waiting 30-yards off of the left post. Leonard blasted a shot toward the goal. The shot, however, went wide right and the sheet stayed clean.

As the first half came to an end, New England was able to secure three excellent chances, but was unable to get on the board. In the 42nd minute, Leonard and Twellman teamed up for another opportunity when Leonard sent the ball in from the left flank to the feet of Twellman. Twellman, in front of the left post, shot the ball toward the center of the net. A diving Ring was able to catch the ball with his toe and force it out of the goalmouth and over the endline.

In the 43rd minute, Cancela took a free kick from outside the area in the left flank, but the shot was blocked. In the 44th minute, New England midfielder Clint Dempsey dribbled the ball away with his back to the goal out of the traffic and turned as he neared the midfield on the right flank. He then sent a lofted cross into the area where forward Pat Noonan headed the ball. Ring, however, was able to stop the shot to keep the Revs off the board.

In the first half, New England out shot Chicago 6-2, however, neither team was able to put the ball in the back of the net and the score remained 0-0 as the teams entered the locker rooms.

The Revolution came out sharply in the second half and it paid off in the 55th minute, when Dempsey scored his seventh goal of the season off a corner kick. Cancela lofted his serve directly in front of the goalmouth and Heaps was able to rise above the crowd of players and get a piece of the ball with his head and send it to Dempsey at the far post. Dempsey powered the ball over Ring's right shoulder with a lunging right-footed strike to put the Revs on the board 1-0.

Chicago pulled level almost immediately when Jaqua scored his fourth goal of the season off of a corner kick. Williams served the ball to the far post to Jaqua, who was waiting in the goalmouth. Jaqua headed the ball past Revs forward Pat Noonan, who was positioned on the post, and Reis to tie the score 1-1 in the 56th minute.

Two minutes later, Ralston scored what would prove to be the game-winning goal. The Revolution made an attacking move up the middle of the field and Joseph passed to Cancela who played an arcing ball over the top to Ralston. The Revs' captain knifed into the box and volleyed a first-time shot past a diving Ring to put the Revs back in front.

New England created a handful of opportunities in the last half hour of the game, but the score would remain 2-1. In the 68th minute, Ralston dribbled up the center channel before breaking toward the left post. He stopped 15 yards from the endline and blasted a ball at the goalmouth, but the shot was just high of the crossbar. In the 70th minute, Dempsey had a shot on goal. Ring, however, was able to get in front of the ball and prevent the rookie from scoring a second goal.

In the 91st minute, Chicago was granted an excellent opportunity to even the score when referee Ricardo Valenzuela awarded the Fire a direct kick just outside the top of the area. Valenzuela adjudged a Shalrie Joseph tackle on Kelly Gray from behind to be a foul. Fire forward Damani Ralph took the subsequent direct kick. The shot, however, went way off target past the right post. New England held on to gain the victory and the match finished 2-1.

During halftime of the match the following team awards were given to Revolution players for the 2004 season: Budweiser Scoring Champion - Pat Noonan (11 goals, 8 assists, 30 points); Honda Most Valuable Player - Steve Ralston; ADT Defensive Player of the Year - Matt Reis; U.S. Soccer Humanitarian of the Year - Brian Kamler; Midnight Riders' Man of the Year - Clint Dempsey.

The Revs will play the Columbus Crew in a home-and-home aggregate goals series in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. The Crew will travel to Gillette Stadium to play the Revs at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 23. New England will then travel to Crew Stadium to play the Crew at 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 31; Game 2 will be broadcast on ESPN2.

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Major League Soccer Stories from October 16, 2004


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