MLS New England Revolution

Revs Fall to the Rival Fire in the SuperLiga 2009 Semifinals

Published on July 15, 2009 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Lithuanian forward Edgaras Jankauskas scored his first goal for the New England Revolution in his first start for the club, but it wasn't enough as Cuauhtemoc Blanco led the Chicago Fire to a 2-1 win over the Revs in a SuperLiga 2009 semifinal on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium.

Chicago now advances to the SuperLiga 2009 title match, which it will host on Aug. 5 against the winner of the game between Mexican clubs Tigres UANL and Santos Laguna, which was played at Gillette Stadium directly after the Revolution-Fire match. Meanwhile, the Revolution's title defense was ended in the semifinal round after advancing in this year's tournament as the only undefeated team in the group stage. New England won SuperLiga 2008 with a thrilling victory in penalty kicks over the Houston Dynamo.

Blanco was the catalyst for the Fire, assisting on Brian McBride's opening goal midway through the first half before scoring the game-winner on a free kick in the second half. Jankauskas scored late in the first half to level the score entering the halftime break, while Sainey Nyassi, Kenny Mansally and Kheli Dube all hit the woodwork for the Revolution, which outshot Chicago, 23-11, including 17-3 in the second half.

Chicago was presented with an early opportunity when Pat Phelan fouled Marco Pappa to the left of the box, setting up a free kick in a dangerous area in the fourth minute. Blanco put the set piece on goal with a curling effort, but it was hit straight at Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis.

The Revs responded with a bit of pressure and created their first serious chance in the 18th minute through a great piece of interplay between Steve Ralston and Mike Videira. A quick give-and-go 20 yards from goal played Ralston into the right side of the box, and his lofted cross to the back post found Jankauskas. The big Lithuanian forward rose highest, but he couldn't direct his header down and it flew just over the bar.

Nyassi also threatened for the Revolution in the 30th minute, blasting a tight-angle shot off the left post after Videira's clever through ball played him in on the right.

It was Chicago which finally opened the scoring in the 36th minute when McBride scored his second goal of SuperLiga 2009. Blanco received a throw-in on the left wing and fought through a trio of defenders before whipping a cross into the box. McBride wriggled free and struck a full volley from the penalty spot, expertly placing the ball inside the right post.

The game was level before halftime, however, as Jankauskas knotted the score at 1-1 in the 44th minute. Chris Tierney was the provider, playing a driven ball from the left wing into the chest of Jankauskas at the top of the box. Jankauskas brought the ball down with his first touch and used his second to blast a left-footed volley toward goal. The shot appeared to be headed inside the right post, but took a heavy deflection off Chicago midfielder John Thorrington and flew past goalkeeper Jon Busch, who was diving to save the initial shot.

The late goal gave New England the momentum entering the halftime break and the hosts almost took the lead just three minutes into the second half. Videira's left-footed drive from 25 yards out was pushed around the post by Busch, who dove full-stretch to his right to make the save.

Despite controlling play in the early stages of the second half, the Revs went behind in the 63rd minute. Darrius Barnes was judged to have fouled McBride 20 yards from goal to create a set-piece opportunity, and Blanco made the most of the chance, curling a right-footed shot over the wall and into the upper left corner of the net.

New England responded to the deficit and almost tied the game just six minutes later in the 69th minute. Tierney's delivery from a free kick found the head of Mansally in the box, but the Gambian's header skimmed off the crossbar and went out for a goal kick.

The Revs again hit the woodwork in the 81st minute, this time Dube striking the crossbar on a wicked volley from a tight angle just four minutes after entering the game.

The home side had one final chance in the first minute of stoppage time, but Barnes' free header from the penalty spot on a Mansally corner kick flew wide.

The Revolution will return to its MLS regular-season schedule on Sunday, July 19, when the club hosts Western Conference foe Chivas USA at 6 p.m. at Gillette Stadium.

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Major League Soccer Stories from July 15, 2009


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