MLS New England Revolution

Revs win Eastern Conference Championship with 1-0 victory over Fire

Published on November 6, 2005 under Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


Foxborough, Mass. - The New England Revolution continued their best season in club history by winning the Eastern Conference Championship on Sunday afternoon at Gillette Stadium, defeating the Chicago Fire 1-0. Revs midfielder Clint Dempsey's goal in the 4th minute booked New England's trip to Frisco, Texas for MLS Cup 2005 at Pizza Hut Park at 3:30 p.m. ET next Sunday, November 13 versus the LA Galaxy. The Revs claimed the club's second Eastern Conference Championship and second MLS Cup appearance, their first since 2002.

The Revs came out looking to attack and got on the board first when Dempsey scored the first playoff goal of his career in just the fourth minute of the match. After Chicago midfielder Jesse Marsch fouled Revolution forward Taylor Twellman in the right flank, referee Terry Vaughn awarded the Revs a freekick. Revolution midfielder Daniel Hernandez played a quick restart, sending an angled ball in to the penalty area toward the right post. Streaking into the area, Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph side-footed a pass toward the far, left post. Dempsey, who was making a run down the left flank, slid the ball over the line to give the Revs the early 1-0 lead.

In the 14th minute, the Revs went close again when midfielder Steve Ralston, starting on the left side of midfield, crossed a ball in front of the goalmouth. Several Revs tried to get to the cross, but were held back by the Fire defenders, and Fire midfielder Jack Stewart played the ball out over the endline just outside the right post.

In the 16th minute, Chicago looked to even the score when forward Chris Rolfe carried the ball up the left flank. As he neared the area, Rolfe lifted the ball over the head of Gatorade Rookie of the Year and Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst and regained possession. As he neared the left post, Rolfe turned and took a shot, however, Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis made the save to keep the Fire off the board.

One minute later, New England had an opportunity when midfielder James Riley sent an angled cross back into the box from the right corner. Ralston first-timed a shot, however, the attempt ricocheted off Dempsey and back into the midfield to reset play.

In the 18th minute, the Revs went close again when Hernandez took another free kick from the midfield of the right flank. Forward Pat Noonan leapt above the crowd in an attempt to get a head on Hernandez's angled cross. Noonan, however, missed the connection and the ball went out of play.

In the 27th minute, Jaqua was issued a yellow card for a tackle from behind on Riley as the match took on an increasingly physical tone.

In the 32nd minute, Revs defender Jay Heaps sent a cross into the midfield from deep on the left flank near midfield. With his back to goal, Twellman attempted to connect on a header, however, he instead ran into Chicago goalkeeper Zach Thornton and the Chicago keeper caught the ball.

Chicago looked to even the score in the 45th minute when Stewart carried the ball from the left flank through the center channel and blasted a shot that skimmed along the ground and just missed wide left. A minute later, a blast by Chicago midfielder Thiago sailed high and wide, preserving the Revs 1-0 lead going into halftime.

At the start of the second half, Chicago looked to press the attack. Substitute forward Chad Barrett ripped a shot that was denied by Reis who dove and punched it away in he 63rd minute. One minute later, Barrett laid a pass of Triage, whose shot from 19 yards out was again saved by Reis.

In the 73rd minute, Chicago's Triage received a yellow card after colliding with Reis inside the penalty area off of a cross by forward Andy Herron.

Down 1-0, Chicago pressured the Revs with a strong attack that resulted in a flurry of scoring opportunities in the 85th minute. But the Revs defense, led by Reis, held strong and denied the Fire's attack. In the 89th minute, Reis came off his line to intercept a cross by Thiago and thwart the Chicago attack.

In stoppage time, Chicago appeared to have pulled back an equalizer when a strike by Fire defender Gonzalo Segares hit the back of the net. The strike was disallowed, however, after Segares was flagged for being in an offside position at the time the pass was played out of midfield.

Following the match, the Revolution celebrated their Eastern Conference Championship victory in front of their enthusiastic and vociferous crowd of 18,118. For his extraordinary effort on the day, with seven big saves, Reis was awarded the game's Most Valuable Player.

The Revolution will face the LA Galaxy in MLS Cup 2005 at 3:30 p.m. (ET) on Sunday, November 13 at Pizza Hart Park in Frisco, Texas. The championship match will be televised live on ABC.

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