Though he admitted that he felt his side had lost two points in Saturday's 1-1 draw with the Kansas City Wizards, New England Revolution coach Steve Nicol seemed content with the overall performance of his side, which took a 17th-minute lead through Clint Dempsey only to be brought back on level terms by Scott Sealy's 58th-minute equalizer.
The exception to Nicol's satisfaction was a familiar gripe from his side's season, as the coach bemoaned the chances that were squandered, particularly during the time following Dempsey's sixth goal of the season and before Sealy leveled.
"I have said it enough times this year," said Nicol. "We had a chance to finish them off and we didn't. If you don't get that insurance one then all it takes is one slip or one bit of genius and the game is gone."
One minute after going ahead, the Revolution were denied by a last-ditch block from Shavar Thomas on an Andy Dorman shot and, four minutes before Sealy struck, Jay Heaps somehow fired over from three yards after Dorman's corner fell right to his feet.
"If we had got the second goal then I think we would have been comfortable but you always feel, when you are one ahead, that there is a chance they would get a goal and that is what happened," said Nicol.
The one goal New England did register was well-worked, beginning when Dempsey found Steve Ralston on the right wing. The subsequent cross was flicked goalwards by Dorman, only to be pushed away by Bo Oshoniyi toward Dempsey, who admitted he was just trying to make something happen.
"The ball bounced up in the air from (Oshoniyi) making the save and I could see that (Jose Burciaga) was going to wait a bit to make the clearance and I just tried to take advantage of that," said Dempsey. "I tried to make something out of nothing and was able to put it in the back of the net."
In the second half, Kansas City pushed forward in greater numbers and Sealy's goal was reward for a more aggressive approach. The Trinidad & Tobago international found space behind his international teammate, Avery John, and fired a pinpoint finish beyond Matt Reis. Sealy had been played onside by Heaps, who failed to step up alongside his fellow defenders in search of an offside decision.
"The goal we lost could have been avoided had we stepped up, but we didn't," said Nicol. "We defend as a unit and everyone has to get out at the one time. It certainly could have been avoided had we stepped out, which we should have done."
In search of the lead again, the Revolution went to their bench and the introduction of Khano Smith and Jose Cancela brought new life to a tired-looking home attack. Nicol as pleased with the roles his replacements played.
"We brought (Smith) on so he could run at their fullback which he did. I thought he did great. You can't live with him when he gets going with his pace," Nicol said. "With (Cancela), we just felt that we weren't getting hold of the ball and we didn't want to sit and just gamble on being tight. We thought he could give us something attacking-wise."
A win would have wrapped up a postseason berth for the Revolution, who must now wait until the visit to Gillette Stadium of the Colorado Rapids next Saturday to try to secure a place in the MLS Cup Playoffs. Though he admitted he would have preferred to secure their progress tonight, Nicol remains confident that his side is still in a good position for the tougher tests to come.
"We would have preferred it but we have seen enough in the last couple of games that I am sure we will be in the playoffs," said Nicol. "It's not the end of the world. It's another point towards the playoffs and we move on to next week."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
