MLS Major League Soccer

RSL Prevail in First Leg, Others Series Deadlocked

November 3, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release


Eastern Conference Semifinal Series Game 2 Preview Notes

Thursday, Nov. 6

New England Revolution at Chicago Fire, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN2, Deportes)

In each of the six previous postseason meetings between Chicago and New England, home field has certainly been an advantage. The visiting team has never won in 12 all-time playoff meetings; in fact, the first leg draw was the first time the road team did not lose.

The Fire have a 2-0 record in playoff games at Toyota Park, defeating D.C. United and New England there once each. The win against the Revs was in the first leg of their 2006 Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.

Two normally stout defenses recorded their first clean sheets in some time in the first leg. The Fire came into the game allowing goals in each of their last seven games; the Revolution conceding in each of their last six.

The Revolution's current seven-game winless streak (final six League games plus first MLS Cup Playoffs game) is the club's longest since June14-July 15, 2000, when the Revolution lost a U.S. Open Cup match followed by an 0-5-1 mark over their next six League encounters.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CHIvNEecsf.pdf

Saturday, Nov. 8

Kansas City Wizards at Columbus Crew, 7:30 p.m. (HDNet, DK, MLSLIVE.tv)

While the Crew staged a dramatic comeback in the first leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series, they have gone six postseason games without a victory. The Crew's last win in the MLS Cup Playoffs came Sept. 28. 2002, a 2-1 win against the San Jose Earthquakes at Crew Stadium. They have lost two and tied four since.

Steven Lenhart has shown the ability to score big goals late for the Crew this season. His goal in the first leg was his fifth in league and MLS Cup play; three have produced ties from the 87th minute on.

The Crew boast the League's best home record this season (11-2-2) and come into the second leg riding a six-game home winning streak. The last time they were held without a victory on Black & Gold Boulevard? The 3-3 tie with Kansas City on MLS Primetime Thursday on July 17. The Crew have not lost at home since June 7.

Davy Arnaud has scored the last two postseason goals for the Kansas City Wizards. A year ago, the Wizards returned to the MLS Cup Playoffs after a two-year absence, and Arnaud scored the team's only goal in three games. The last Kansas City postseason goal not scored by Arnaud came on a penalty kick from Josh Wolff in MLS Cup 2004.

Complete series guide available here: http://www.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CLBvKCecsf.pdf

Western Conference Semifinal Series Game 2

Saturday, Nov. 8

Real Salt Lake at Chivas USA, 10:30 p.m. (FSC, FSE)

Yura Movsisyan's goal in the 90th minute of the regular season finale secured Real Salt Lake's first playoff berth by virtue of a 1-1 draw with the Colorado Rapids. Another 90th-minute goal by Movsisyan on Saturday gave RSL the win in the team's first postseason game. Movsisyan has scored in each of RSL's last three games; all eight of his goals in League and MLS Cup play have come since Aug. 14.

Movsisyan's goal came in his first playoff game, one of three goal scorers in the first-leg matches to score in their postseason debuts, along with Kei Kamara (HOU) and Steven Lenhart (CLB).

Chivas USA has now gone 382 minutes without a goal in MLS Cup Playoffs action. Since scoring two goals in the club's first playoff match, a 2-1 win against the Houston Dynamo, Chivas have been shutout in four consecutive games. Their last goal was scored by Francisco Palencia in the 68th minute of that Oct. 22, 2006 game.

Chivas USA are in exactly the same position they were in a year ago. After a 1-0 loss on the road in the first leg of their Western Conference Semifinal Series against Kansas City, they were held to a scoreless draw at The Home Depot Center and eliminated from the postseason.

Complete series guide available here: http://web.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/CHVvRSLwcsf.pdf

Sunday, Nov. 9

New York Red Bulls at Houston Dynamo, 3:00 p.m. (TeleFutura)

- The Houston Dynamo have never lost at Robertson Stadium in postseason play. Since the club began in 2006, they've won all four MLS Cup Playoffs games at home, outscoring their rivals 11-2. Overall, home teams have gone 24-7-13 in conference semifinal matches since MLS adopted the two-leg format in 2003.

The New York Red Bulls have gone six postseason games without a victory. Their last playoff win came Oct. 22, 2005, a 1-0 win against New England at Giants Stadium; they've lost three and tied three since, including last Saturday's 1-1 home draw with Houston.

Away from the Meadowlands, it's been even longer since the New York club has won. Their last victory away from home in the MLS Cup Playoffs came Sept. 20, 2000, a 2-1 win against the Dallas Burn - which is the only postseason victory ever for the club on the road. They are 0-6-3 since; 1-9-3 all-time away from Giants Stadium.

Since allowing two goals in the first postseason match, a 2-1 loss to Chivas USA in 2006, the Houston Dynamo have not allowed more than one goal in any of their last eight playoff games.

Complete series guide available here: http://web.mlsnet.com/pdf/mls/2008/playoffs/HOUvNYwcsf.pdf

New York Red Bulls Forward Juan Pablo Angel Wins October Player of the Month

New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel was voted player of the Month for October. Angel scored three goals and tallied one assist during the final month of the regular season as the Red Bulls finished with a 1-2-1 record and qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs.

This marks the first time in 2008 that Angel, 33, has been voted MLS Player of the Month. He captured the honor twice in 2007. Angel led the Red Bulls in scoring for the second consecutive season in 2008. He scored 14 goals and finished fourth in the 2008 Budweiser Golden Boot race. Angel was named New York Red Bulls team MVP and is one of three finalists for the individual MLS Fair Play Award. For more on Angel's Player of the Month honor click here.

Real Salt Lake Forward Yura Movsisyan Voted MLS Cup Playoffs Player of the Week

Yura Movsisyan scored the game-winning goal in the final minute of regulation in Real Salt Lake's Western Conference Semifinal match versus Chivas USA on Saturday to earn the honor.

This is the inaugural MLS Cup Playoffs Player of the Week honor. For Movsisyan, it marks the first time he has won a Player of the Week award. Real Salt Lake will be back in action at Chivas USA on Saturday, Nov. 8 at 10:30 p.m. ET on Fox Soccer Channel and Fox Sports en Espanol. For more on Movsisyan's Player of the Week honor click here.

Top Goalkeeper and Fair Play Winners to be Announced Tuesday

Awards season kicks off on Tuesday, Nov. 4 as the first 2008 MLS year-end award is announced. The 2008 Panasonic Goalkeeper of the Year and the Individual and Team Fair Play Winners will be announced Tuesday. Finalists for the League's top goalkeeper included the Chicago Fire's Jon Busch, Columbus Crew's William Hesmer and the New England Revolution's Matt Reis.

The finalists for the Individual Fair Play award are New York Red Bulls forward Juan Pablo Angel, New England Revolution defender Michael Parkhurst and Chicago Fire forward Chris Rolfe.

Check out the Major League Soccer Statistics



Major League Soccer Stories from November 3, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.


Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central