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MLS New England Revolution

Shalrie Joseph's 30th-minute goal sends the Revs to the SuperLiga 2008 Final

July 30, 2008 - Major League Soccer (MLS)
New England Revolution News Release


FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Defensive midfielder Shalrie Joseph scored the only goal of the game in the 30th minute and goalkeeper Matt Reis earned his tournament-best third shutout of SuperLiga 2008, as the New England Revolution defeated Mexican power Atlante, 1-0, in a semifinal match on Wednesday night at Gillette Stadium. With the win, the Revs advanced to the SuperLiga 2008 Final, which they will host at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, against fellow MLS club Houston Dynamo.

Joseph's game-winner was his second goal in as many games, as the Grenada international also scored New England's lone goal in the club's 1-1 draw with Chivas USA in the final game of Group B on July 20. Steve Ralston's curling free kick from the right side was met at the back post by Joseph, who stretched across his defender to direct a diving header off the crossbar and inside the far post.

The clubs had a minor history entering the match, as the two met in a physical preseason contest on Mar. 6 in Mexico, which saw each team have players ejected. Though there was just one caution between both sides in the opening half of Wednesday night's match, tempers flared late on, with Atlante having three players ejected and the Revs seeing Jay Heaps sent off. All told, Atlante earned seven cautions and three ejections, while New England picked up four cautions and one ejection.

The Revs threatened to take an early lead in the ninth minute, as Mauricio Castro worked his way past a defender on the left wing and whipped a dangerous cross into the area near the edge of the six-yard box. Kheli Dube rose above his marker to turn a header towards goal, but his effort sailed over the top of the crossbar.

Dube was at the center of the action again the 25th minute, as the Zimbabwe native's one-timed shot from eight yards out struck the crossbar. Forward Kenny Mansally created the chance, freeing himself down the right wing and playing a low, angled cross back to Dube, who sent a first-time effort off the woodwork with his right foot.

Atlante had its first serious chance of the match from a corner kick just one minute later, but Daniel Arreola's low header was saved by Reis, who was well positioned.

Joseph gave the Revs the lead in the 30th minute and New England took that narrow advantage into the halftime break.

The hosts had a great chance to double their lead in the 62nd minute, but failed to convert. Left back Amaechi Igwe began the move with a precisely angled, cross-field pass to Dube, who took the ball down well before beating his defender along the end line. Dube faked a shot from a tight angle before cutting a pass back to Mansally, who blasted a shot well over the crossbar.

Revs' midfielder Khano Smith, who entered the match in the 64th minute, nearly scored after just four minutes on the field, but his left-footed drive from 25 yards out missed the upper corner by inches.

Neither team seriously threatened to score in the final stages, but a number of late cautions and ejections, including three cards after the final whistle, made for an eventful finish to the game.

Reis made four saves to earn his third shutout of the tournament and lower his goals against average to a tournament-best 0.25, while Atlante goalkeeper Federico Vilar also stopped four shots before being shown a red card at the end of the game.

The Revs will now host MLS rival Houston Dynamo in the SuperLiga 2008 Final at 8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Gillette Stadium. It will mark the third straight year in which New England and Houston have met in a cup final, as the two clubs have squared off in the past two MLS Cups.

Following SuperLiga, the Revs will resume their MLS regular-season schedule on Saturday, Aug. 9, when they will host the Chicago Fire at Gillette Stadium.

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