MLS New England Revolution

Revs fall to United on Penalty Kicks

Published on November 6, 2004 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Washington, D.C. - The New England Revolution fell to D.C. United 4-3 on penalty kicks in the Eastern Conference Final at RFK Stadium. The score was tied 3-3 after 120 minutes of play, including two 15-minute overtimes. United's goals came from Alecko Eskandarian, Jaime Moreno and Christian Gomez, while New England's goals were scored by Taylor Twellman, Steve Ralston and Pat Noonan. Brian Carroll made the winning penalty kick for D.C.

Sixteen seconds into the match, Revs midfielder Shalrie Joseph tried to steal a pass in the air intended for MLS MVP Finalist Moreno. Referee Terry Vaughn adjudged Joseph's tackle to have been reckless and immediately issued a yellow card caution in the 1st minute.

The Revolution began the match looking to attack with a fluid passing game and controlled much of the tempo in the first 10 minutes. Against the run of play, however, United got on the board after Eskandarian scored his second goal of the postseason in the 11th minute. Midfielder Ben Olsen served a ball toward the left flank from the center circle. The pass fell directly between Joseph and Revs defender Jay Heaps and bounced to the feet of Eskandarian who streaked the area down the left center channel before striking a bending shot to the far post. New England goalkeeper Matt Reis dove full stretch to his left to stop the shot, but he was unable to reach it and the ball caromed off the post and in to give D.C. the 1-0 lead.

New England evened the score six minutes later when Twellman scored his second goal of the postseason. Dribbling up the left flank, Revs midfielder Marshall Leonard served a ball into the area from forty yards off the endline. Twellman ran into the area and volleyed a shot to the upper, left corner over United goalkeeper Nick Rimando's head to even the score 1-1 in the 17th minute.

D.C. took the lead back in the 21st minute when Moreno scored to give United a 2-1 lead. Following a United corner kick, D.C. midfielder Earnie Stewart sent a pass from above the area in the center channel to Moreno on the left side of the area. As the Revs' defenders pushed out from the endline, Moreno had saw no defenders on the near post and placed a curving shot inside the left post to give D.C. the 2-1 lead.

New England tied the game just before halftime on a penalty kick taken by Ralston. Vaughn granted the Revolution a penalty when he called United defender Brian Carroll for a handball in the penalty area. Ralston placed the ball on the spot and took a measured approach to the ball, and blasted his shot to the right post. The ball clattered off the right post after Rimando had dove to make the save, but the deflection ricocheted off of Rimando's back and into the goal to tie the score 2-2 going into halftime.

D.C. retook the lead for the third time when Gomez scored in the 67th minute. As United hit on a counterattack, Stewart served well hit, angled cross in to the area from the right flank with Gomez running in toward the far, left post. Gomez headed the ball over Heaps and Reis and into the far, upper right corner to give United a 3-2 lead.

New England went close in the 75th shot through the good play of two rookies. Midfielder Andy Dorman served a free kick from the right flank on a diagonal toward the far post. Gatorade Rookie of the Year Finalist Clint Dempsey leaped above the crowd and headed the ball to the top center of the goalmouth; however, Rimando was able to catch the ball to preserve the United lead.

The Revs had another opportunity in the 81st minute off of a set pierce served in by Dorman. On a corner kick from the left side, Revs defender Avery John was able to get above the crowd and head the ball, however, the header went over the crossbar.

In the 85th minute, New England evened the score for yet a third time. Ralston served a corner kick in from the right corner flag. Rimando came off his line and Noonan was positioned just outside the far, left post unmarked. Noonan connected with the lofted ball on a headed and tucked it inside the near post to even the score 3-3.

With the score tied after regulation, the Revolution and United went into two, 15-minute, golden-goal (sudden death) overtime periods. Both teams had several opportunities in extra time; New England had six shots on goal to United's two.

New England created a good chance in the 113th minute when Twellman dribbled parallel to the endline at the top of the area. As he approached the penalty arc, Twellman back-heeled to substitute midfielder Brian Kamler who took a first time shot that sailed high over the crossbar.

After 30 minutes of overtime, the game went to penalty kicks from the spot. Midfielder Ben Olsen took D.C.'s first shot and hit the ball low, toward the left post; however, Reis was able to make a save. Ralston then stepped up for the Revs first chance and blasted his shot toward the top center of the goalmouth; however, the shot pounded off the crossbar and out. Substitute forward Santino Quaranta scored on United's second chance with a shot to the lower, left corner. Revs goalkeeper Reis responded by scoring from the spot in the lower, right corner to level the tally at 1-1.

Rookie substitute Freddy Adu scored on D.C.'s third chance by placing the ball at waist level, inside the right post. Twellman, however, evened it up for New England when he hit a ball high left in the goalmouth. Eskandarian hit a shot down the middle and into the net on United's on their fourth shot. Revs defender Jay Heaps aimed a ball at waist level on the right post; however, Rimando was able to get a hand on it to keep United in the lead.

Moreno was next to shoot for D.C. and took a shot toward the lower, right corner. Reis, however, was able to save the shot going to his left. Joseph took the Revs fifth attempt and blasted his shot into the lower left corner to tie the penalty kick score at 3-3.

On United's sixth opportunity, midfielder Brian Carroll scored on a waist-level shot just inside the left post to make it 4-3. Dempsey then stepped up for the Revs, placing the ball in the lower left corner. Rimando, however, saved the shot and gave United the victory and the Eastern Conference Championship.

D.C. United will play the Kansas City Wizards in the MLS Cup Final at 3:00 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, November 14 at the Home Depot Center in Carson, California.

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Major League Soccer Stories from November 6, 2004


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