making just his second start in MLS -- broke into the penalty area on the left before launching a low shot that Revolution 'keeper Matt Reis could only parry. It came back out to Jason Garey, who gleefully pumped home the rebound for his second league goal.
Then in the 29th minute the Crew doubled their lead through nearly identical circumstances. Virtuoso hit a sharply angled cross from the left, which Reis pushed out just ahead of Garey's slide into the goal area. The rebound bounded out to Eddie Gaven, and he drove home the rebound from the heart of the area.
The Crew finished off the victory eight minutes from full time. A good movement in the Revolution penalty area saw the ball laid back to Ezra Hendrickson outside the area, but his initial shot was blocked by New England's Steve Ralston. But the rebound bounced back out to the lanky defender, and he hammered the ball back inside the right-hand post.
Crew head coach Sigi Schmid made one change to the team that lost 1-0 to the Revolution in Foxborough the Sunday previous. Joseph Ngwenya was suspended after being sent off in that match, and Ricardo Virtuoso made his first start since July 4, and only his second with the Crew, in his place.
Here's Schmid's team (4-2-3-1): Bill Gaudette - Chris Leitch, Marcos Gonzalez, Ezra Hendrickson, Rusty Pierce - Duncan Oughton (Chad Marshall 85), Jose Retiz - Eddie Gaven, Ricardo Virtuoso (Kei Kamara 67), Sebastian Rozental (Ned Grabavoy 74) - Jason Garey. [Substitutes Not Used: Ritchie Kotschau, Brandon Moss, Noah Palmer, Eric Vasquez]
"It is the best result of the year. I think there have been times when we have played better soccer at different times," said Schmid. "It is the most satisfying win of the season. In terms of mentality, it was our best offensive mentality of the season."TEAM NEWS
Virtuoso had missed eight matches with a groin injury, making an eight-minute appearance as a substitute in New England for his first game action since July 4, before starting against the Revolution.
"We came out with a lot of energy. We wanted to be a little more direct," said Schmid. "I thought certainly Ricardo added a tremendous amount at the start of the game. He was giving Heaps all kinds of problems. ... We really thought that over the last couple of weeks that he was really adjusting to the pace. He was playing quicker." Said Virtuoso: "This was my chance. I felt comfortable today, but we have to go for the playoffs and I have to do it again."
It was the first three-goal performance of the season for the Crew, the first time they'd hit for three in a game since Sept. 3, 2005. In addition, they hadn't led by two goals in a game since June. "They had chances. They have been times this season when the scoreline flattered our opponents," said Schmid. "I don't think we are three goals better than them. I don't think Kansas City is four goals better than us, either."
"We knew we had it in us," 'keeper Bill Gaudette said. "For so long, we just couldn't find it. But we never really got too down, never thought the season was over. We know when we play our best we're a great team. Not a good team, but a great team."
It was a second shutout in three matches for the Crew, and a third in their last six games. "Tonight, we were able to cover for each other. When one guy made a mistake, the next guy made the play," said Gaudette. "That is how it needs to be for a successful team."
"Bill made some big saves," said captain Duncan Oughton. "The crossbar made a couple of nice saves. Added Garey: "Our defense played excellent as well and Billy was magnificent. That is what a big-time goalie does to keep you in games."CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire ran their league unbeaten streak to five games - seven games in all competitions - after a 2-1 victory against the New York Red Bulls on Sunday evening at Toyota Park. The Fire moved into second place in the Eastern Conference with 35 points from 25 matches, now four points ahead of third-place New England and still 15 points behind pace-setting D.C. United.
LAST MATCH
The Fire were looking to keep their four-game league unbeaten streak rolling while regaining second place in the Eastern Conference, while the New York Red Bulls were playing the second game of a three-game road swing, hoping to build on a 2-2 draw in Kansas City.
But the visitors gifted the Men in Red goals in each half through nearly identical circumstances. In the 13th minute, Chris Rolfe picked off a pass between Red Bulls defenders and raced in at goal, firing a low shot from just outside the area past Tony Meola for his fifth goal on the campaign.
Then on the hour mark, it was nearly a mirror image. This time Diego Gutierrez claimed a pass sent back toward the New York goal and raced in alone, powering a low drive home from outside the box to double the lead.
The Red Bulls pulled a goal back in the 78th minute. A cross from the right was met by Dema Kovalenko, but Zach Thornton turned aside his first-time effort at full stretch. But John Wolyniec nipped in to tap home the rebound for his third goal in as many games; still it wasn't enough.
Fire head coach Dave Sarachan made six changes to the team that came back to claim a 2-2 draw with Houston Dynamo the Wednesday before in Bridgeview. Gonzalo Segares returned to the back three, in place of C.J. Brown. Brian Plotkin was given a start wide on the right of midfield and Logan Pause in the center, as Justin Mapp and Diego Gutierrez returned to the substitutes' bench. Thiago also came back into the team as did Chris Rolfe, with Calen Carr also back on the bench and Andy Herron on international duty. Finally, goalkeeper Matt Pickens made his first start of the season, in place of Zach Thornton.
Here's Sarachan's team (3-4-1-2): Matt Pickens - Dasan Robinson, Tony Sanneh, Gonzalo Segares - Brian Plotkin, Chris Armas, Logan Pause, Ivan Guerrero (Ryan Johnson 70) - Thiago (Calen Carr 89) - Nate Jaqua, Chris Rolfe (Diego Gutierrez 46). [Substitutes Not Used: C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, David Mahoney, Justin Mapp]
"These were some valuable three points at this stage in the game. It wasn't the most artistic soccer but it was very important that we got the three points," Sarachan said. "A 2-0 lead, as they always say, could be dangerous and that was proved tonight. The Red Bull group does not quit. It was disappointing to give up that goal, frankly, and it was a dogfight the last 10 minutes. Overall the quality of our play was pretty good, but it could have been better."TEAM NEWS
Second-year goalkeeper Matt Pickens was given the start between the posts in place of Zach Thornton, who was suffering from a strained right quadriceps. Pickens made seven saves on the night. It was his first league start of the season, although he had started both of the Fire's initial two U.S. Open Cup matches.
"I've said all year long that we have three very good goalkeepers in this organization, and I don't think we missed a beat (with Pickens),'' Sarachan said. "He did well with his hands and feet. He's doing very well at the moment. His future ... it's like any other field player we judge week to week. It's the same with goalkeepers. We're going to have good competition going down this stretch."
"It's good competition between me and Zach, but we have a good relationship," Pickens said to The Daily Southtown. "I would want these guys to expect this out of me like I do it all the time. It's not going to be different when I step on the field. As long as they have confidence in me, I have confidence in myself."
In an ever-tighter Eastern Conference table, the Fire actually pulled four points ahead of third-place New England after the weekend - meaning that regardless of the results in Week 24, they will still be in second place come Sunday night after extending their unbeaten streak to seven games in all competitions.
"It's an achievement. We're conscious of the fact that it's a good stretch, but we're far from the finish line. There's a lot of work to be done. This league, as we all know, is with one or two games everything can change," Gutierrez said. "We are of the mentality that we have to come out every single week and perform for 90 minutes. Tonight showed that even though we had some breakdowns, other guys were able to bail other guys out. Matt [Pickens] stepped in and had a great game. Overall it was a good effort tonight."
On Wednesday, the Chicago Fire advanced to a record fifth U.S. Open Cup Final, once again defeating D.C. United, this time 3-0 at Toyota Park. The Fire have never lost to United in a knockout competition, now with five victories and a draw in six matches in the MLS Cup Playoffs and U.S. Open Cup.
After a tame first half, Justin Mapp put the Fire into the lead in the 58th minute, chipping United 'keeper Troy Perkins on the run after latching onto a long pass from Chris Armas.
The game then exploded into life. The Fire first doubled their lead in the 76th minute. A long ball was headed on by Nate Jaqua, and rookie Calen Carr reached around United defender Facundo Erpen and surprised Perkins with a looping shot inside the far post.
Not a minute later, Erpen brought down Thiago with a hard tackle, which earned him an immediate red card from Richard Heron. In a fracas that ensued, Armas shoved Erpen, which saw him receive his marching orders.
But the Fire had the last laugh. Carr took a pass from Ivan Guerrero and cut inside the penalty area before slotting home his third goal of the tournament to send the Fire into the final, where they will play the Los Angeles Galaxy on Sept. 27 at Toyota Park.
Here's Sarachan's team: Matt Pickens, C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Gonzalo Segares, Justin Mapp (Logan Pause 73), Chris Armas, Thiago, Diego Gutierrez, Ivan Guerrero, Calen Carr, Nate Jaqua. [Substitutes Not Used: Leonard Griffin, David Mahoney, Brian Plotkin, Chris Rolfe, Tony Sanneh, John Thorrington]
"Tonight was a display of one team wanting to play, and one team didn't really want to play. We had, from start to finish I felt, full control of the match. We needed to get that first goal, and we did, and then the floodgates opened," Sarachan said. " ... I'm very disappointed that our captain and the heart and soul of this team has the final taken away from him for just standing up for his team after what I thought was ... well, you saw it, a pretty cowardly display. So that's disappointing, but I'm not going to let that taint the evening."
