Khano Smith chose an opportune time to score his first goal of the season, as his 88th-minute strike gave the New England Revolution a 1-0 victory against the Columbus Crew and confirmed they will finish in second place in the Eastern Conference and enjoy home-field advantage in the first round of the MLS Cup Playoffs.
Just when it looked as though the game would end goalless, a frustrating night for the season-high 19,166 Gillette Stadium crowd was forgotten when substitute Smith deflected home a shot from close range. The result ensured the Revolution will travel to face the Chicago Fire in the first leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series on Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. ET (ABC).
The lead-up to the goal owed much to the work of another replacement, Jose Cancela. The Uruguayan won a free kick to the right of the Crew penalty area, and while several men in yellow questioned the call of referee Michael Kennedy, Cancela threaded a square ball to an unmarked Steve Ralston. The midfielder picked out Clint Dempsey, who appeared to scuff his shot. However, the loose ball rolled perfectly for Smith to touch the ball past Crew 'keeper Andy Gruenebaum.
Smith had begun the game on the bench as the Revolution reverted to their familiar 3-5-2 formation following a brief (and successful) flirtation with 4-4-2 at D.C. United last week. Jose Manuel Abundis replaced the Bermuda international while Avery John also returned in place of Tony Lochhead.
Bright early play from the home side almost created a goal for Dempsey in the 13th minute. Having won a throw-in, Taylor Twellman showed good awareness to pick out the charging midfielder, who had already been denied by an excellent last-ditch challenge by Chad Marshall moments earlier. This time, Dempsey broke free of his cover, and from a tight angle to the right of goal, fired a shot that Gruenebaum saved at his near post with his legs.
An open game was developing, as New England pushed for the win that would lock up second place in the East, while Columbus was enjoying its final game of the season. Ricardo Virtuoso was a constant threat to the hosts, attacking the Revolution backline from both flanks. In the 16th minute, the Brazilian did well to create space for a cross from the left that Jason Garey headed towards goal, forcing Revs goalkeeper Matt Reis to punch the ball to safety.
Crosses were a problem for the Revs throughout the first half at both ends. Offensively, a succession of opportunities to center the ball from wide positions were wasted due to poor quality on the final ball, which meant that the best chances for the home side were created through the middle of the field. In the 17th minute, Franchino lashed a 25-yard half-volley that was blocked by Duncan Oughton, while Abundis was denied by Gruenebaum after he ran onto a through ball by Jay Heaps.
Five minutes later, Garey had an even better chance to put the Crew ahead. On the right side, Rusty Pierce floated another cross from midway inside the New England half that found the rookie striker at the far post in space. Garey got good contact on another headed chance, but the effort was too close to Reis once again and the goalkeeper made a parried save.
Four minutes into the second half, Abundis missed a golden opportunity to put the Revolution ahead. Dempsey did well to create enough space on the edge of the box to get a left-footed shot on target that Gruenebaum fumbled into the path of the Mexican striker. However, with the Crew goalkeeper watching helplessly, Abundis scooped a shot over from six yards.
In the 53rd minute, after Oughton had fired a half-chance over from 12 yards, Abundis was given another chance when he was released through the inside-left channel by a fine ball by Franchino. However, with support slow to arrive from his teammates, the striker looked unsure whether to attempt a shot or cross and ended up pulling the ball wide of Gruenebaum's goal.
The end-to-end action continued when, from the resulting goal kick, Columbus won a free kick just inside the Revolution half. Marc Burch floated a high ball to edge of the penalty area that Oughton was first to once again, this time with his head, and the Crew captain was unfortunate to see his clever looping header clip the top of the crossbar.
As the midway point of the second half came and went, both sides made changes in a bid to liven the game up after a quiet spell. Joseph Ngwenya was replaced by Jacob Thomas for Columbus, while Steve Nicol made a double switch, introducing Smith and Daniel Hernandez for Franchino and Abundis. Cancela then entered the game with nine minutes remaining and immediately gave the Revolution a new dimension.
The switch saw Dempsey push up front alongside Twellman and almost paid dividends in the 74th minute when he won a free kick after drawing a foul from Pierce. However, the ensuing set piece was disappointing, as Dempsey's effort hit the defensive wall and was cleared. It looked as though that frustration would be a microcosm of the Revs' night as a whole, only for Smith to pop up at the vital moment.
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
