CHICAGO FIRE 2, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 1
CHICAGO FIRE HEAD COACH JUAN CARLOS OSORIO
On the win:
"I think there is no way to hide the fact there is a lot of pressure; not only on us but on Columbus and the rest of the teams, like Kansas now. I kept telling the players it's about having the mental strength to deal with that pressure now that we, the three teams [Columbus, Colorado, Kansas City], playing with our backs to the wall that the strongest team will survive. I think we showed that tonight. The fact that we came back from one-nil deficit before halftime shows a lot about the strength and character of our team. I think both Denis [Hamlett] and Daryl [Shore] did a good job and it was good result for us tonight."
On the team's performance:
It was a great performance for us tonight. The first half I wasn't too happy because I think we lost of the ball quite easy. I had a few things to say at halftime but what makes me very happy is the reaction of the players in the second half. In the second half I think we totally dominated and I remember New England hitting the post once but we had the better play, and I think we scored when we were playing better than them. I thing from then on we just controlled the game and the back five limited a great team to very few chances."
CHICAGO FIRE ASSISTANT COACH DENIS HAMLETT
On the match:
"We got three important points tonight. I felt the first half wasn't as good. A key goal by [Chris] Rolfe, at the end of the first half and in the second half I think you saw in the first 15 minutes we had a very good push and created some really good chances and got that great goal by Chad [Barrett]."
On getting a win after four consecutive ties:
"Obviously we've had a hard month in terms of not getting our three points. We've had good leads in games and we've sort of lost it at the end in terms of just getting a tie. But we've been playing with a lot of pressure and I think you saw tonight it didn't get to us and we went out and we know it was an important night as far as getting three points. Being a goal down to one of the better teams, we just kept pushing and pushing and that's what this team has been about since the beginning, since we went to Toronto. We've been playing with our backs against the wall and these guys come out and fight, and you saw the result tonight."
CHICAGO FIRE FORWARD CHAD BARRETT
On the Fire's scoring opportunities:
"I think it was the turning point in the game when Rolfe finished that shot -- right at halftime, and that's such a momentum killer for them. We came out firing in the second half, we had a bunch of chances and I had an open net that I should have finished. Luckily I got a second chance and I finished it."
On his goal:
"[Wanchope's] defender stepped to me, so I just clipped it a little bit over his defender and Paulo missed a great shot and it's a shot I've been waiting all season for, one to fall right to me."
NEW ENGLAND HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the lineup change:
"We knew Chicago was just going to fight for every ball because they have to win. Really, the key for us was to hold onto the ball better in the middle of the park, and that was the reason we made the change."
On whether the change worked:
"I think there was a period in the first half where if we'd have taken the opportunities that came our way to score again that it could have changed the outcome but we didn't. And as I said, they had nothing to lose. They had the crowd behind them. And they got a goal."
NEW ENGLAND MIDFIELDER STEVE RALSTON
On the match:
"I think in the first half we played pretty well, we were possessing the ball, we were finding the open guy in the middle of the field, and besides a 10-minute stretch in the first half I thought we played really well. I felt in those 10 minutes we slipped up and we got punished. When they got that goal right before the half, I felt that it took the wind out of our sails. In the second half they were going for the win, they're trying to get into the playoffs, they're pushing hard and they got one. We had some opportunities, we hit the post, but you could tell we were pretty tired in the game. After an emotional win in Dallas on Wednesday and then coming in tonight, not trying to makes excuses, but we could have done better. But give them credit, they had to win and they did."
NEW ENGLAND DEFENDER MICHAEL PARKHURST
On tonight's match:
"It's a disappointment for sure. Any time you have the lead, even though we played Dallas a couple days ago and we are here, it's been a long trip but to have the lead it's disappointing not to walk away with at least a point. I thought we played well enough but that's the way the cookie crumbles."
On how the team wants to finish the season:
"On the highest note possible, that's for sure. Obviously we've already qualified for playoffs so we don't have to worry about that but we want to go in into the playoffs with high confidence, individually as well as a team. We have to get that confidence up, so these next few games are important for us."
