contributing to a current streak of five consecutive trips to the postseason where the New York club hasn't advanced past the first round. In fact, in eight previous postseason appearances, New York hase gotten out of the opening round only once (2000). However, even with two losses and a draw in three regular season meetings with New England this season, there is confidence in the Red Bulls camp heading into the first leg. "We know how to play them," left back Dave van den Bergh said. "We know how they play. I think it's an advantage." ... Still, there aren't many who were around the last time the clubs met in the playoffs. On that occasion, the MetroStars took a 1-0 first-leg victory and led 1-0 at New England after an hour of the second leg -- only for the Revolution to score three goals in 16 minutes and eventually advance to the MLS Cup Final. Only Carlos Mendes and Seth Stammler, on the current roster, were with the MetroStars then. And players such as 19-goal man Juan Pablo Angel realize everything starts anew this weekend. "We've played (them) a few times already," he said. "The last couple of meetings we have played well but in the playoffs it's a completely different story. We have another game at hand and we have to get it right here, get some injured players back. We are looking forward to it. It's going to be my first experience in the playoffs and hopefully, we get it right." ... The Red Bulls come into the match as healthy as they have been all season. Dave van den Bergh was forced off of the season finale at halftime with an ankle injury, but returned to full training during the week. Claudio Reyna and Francis Doe, who did not make the trip to Los Angeles for that 1-1 draw on Oct. 18, have also returned to training and will be available for selection. ... That game completed a two-game set, which began with a 2-1 home win against Kansas City, that the Red Bulls hoped to use as a dress rehearsal. "There's always work to be done but you definitely feel confident," forward John Wolyniec said. "We looked at the last two games as kind of a playoff series in itself. To get a win and a tie, that would be good enough to advance. We feel pretty good about ourselves and we're excited to get going."
REVOLUTION: The New England Revolution have become known for late-season charges into the playoffs. But things were a little different this season. From 2002-2006, the Revolution went 21-8-6 in games played after Sept. 1. But this year, the Revolution went 2-4-1 down the stretch, including coming into the postseason with a three-game winless streak. "We didn't end the season the way we wanted to, for the first time since I've been here," Taylor Twellman said to The Boston Globe. "We won the U.S. Open Cup [3-2 against FC Dallas Oct. 3] and we put a lot into it. After that, it was like, let's start the playoffs now. We have kind of been waiting a little bit and now it's here. Hopefully, we'll set the tone early and play well. We are going down there to win. We don't necessarily have to win, but we need to get [at least a tie]." ... Equally troubling has been the club's inability to hold leads late. Over the past three games, New England took first-half leads, only to see their opponents come back with second-half rallies; in the last two games, against Columbus and Toronto, they were hit for game-winning goals in the final five minutes. In the last meeting against New York, the Red Bulls scrambled a draw with an 84th-minute equalizer. "It's the same thing as the past few weeks, and it's getting out of control really. It's a huge disappointment that we can't not only get a shutout but keep a lead and it's embarrassing," said Michael Parkhurst. "We take pride on doing well in the back, and it's really discouraging, but what's past is past and we have to look forward and be confident going into the playoffs that we can shut teams out." ... The Revs are also trying to stop a trend of losing the opening playoff game in a 1-0 defeat, as has happened each of the last two years against New York and Chicago -- though the team rebounded for a trip to the MLS Cup Final. "We have started off a little slowly and that leads to a long week of training as you wait for the second leg. It would be nice if we can get out of (Saturday) with a draw or with a win," Jay Heaps said. "We feel that we have a pretty competitive team so it is important for us to go into New York and put them on their heels. When we start playing well, moving the ball and getting guys behind it defensively, then we are tough to beat."
