COLORADO RAPIDS 1, NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 0
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION HEAD COACH STEVE NICOL
On the game:
"I guess tonight the new guys found out what MLS is all about -- three games in a week, play away on Wednesday, travel all day on Thursday and then you have to go again on Saturday. It's not easy, that was a real problem for us. We didn't have that zip that we've had. We still didn't deserve to lose the game; the only way they were going to win the game was on a set piece, albeit a free kick that shouldn't have been a free kick. We had some half chances and could've scored, but we certainly didn't deserve to lose the game. ... Obviously, we are going to be going forward. (Colorado) came for a point and ended up getting three. (Matt) Reis didn't have much to do all night, but we're going to move on. Everyone is quiet in the dressing room because we know we let an opportunity slip by ... but that is what MLS is all about."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION DEFENDER JAY HEAPS
On outshooting Colorado 17-4 and losing 1-0:
"It's just the way the game goes. On Wednesday night, we didn't really dominate, but we got three goals. Tonight, we dominated but couldn't get anything ... We definitely played well enough to win, but give Colorado credit: they came in and did exactly what they drew up on the board -- sit in and wait for their opportunity and kill the time. They were delaying in the first half -- they didn't want to go. You have to give them credit for executing their game plan like that."
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION GOALKEEPER MATT REIS
On the goal:
"So far this year, we've given up quite a few goals on set plays. Teams are going to see that and are going to try to come in here and when they have set plays, that's what they're going to try to capitalize on. We have to be better. We have to defend better."
COLORADO RAPIDS HEAD COACH FERNANDO CLAVIJO
On the game:
"After we outplayed Kansas City last week and we got out with nothing, today we got the goal when we needed. Great saves by Matt (Reis) and Jay Heaps on (Christian) Gomez early on. But at the end of the day you've got to work and you've got to kill the game as much as you can and we did it. Many teams go back to Colorado and do the same thing, so today we put the ball away and we were able to manage the game good enough to finish it."
On goalkeeper Bouna Coundoul's performance:
"He made some good saves. Sometimes you need somebody to step up and I think Bouna has been great. Some of the younger guys -- (Nick) LaBrocca, (Colin) Clark, (John) DiRaimondo, (Kosuke) Kimura out of the back -- are all from reserve team, all doing outstanding. ... Everybody worked together as a team, pulling in the same direction. I told them if you lose playing like that you have to keep your head up -- but if you play like that you won't lose too many. I am extremely proud, but there are still 27 games left to go -- nothing yet, we've just started."
On young players:
"They have been given opportunities and I always say opportunities will be given and it's up to them to take it and run with it. (John) DiRaimondo scored last week, (Nick) LaBrocca today. They have big shoes to fill and we have guys that are eager to step into the lineup. We have a good group and I am proud of them."
COLORADO RAPIDS MIDFIELDER NICK LABROCCA
On the game:
"Well, (the Revolution) overload the midfield. We are on the road and we can't come in every time and outplay every team. New England is a great team and you know we had to be disciplined and the result fell for us."
On Coundoul's performance:
"Bouna (Coundoul) has been great for us this year and all last year. We rely on him. It's nice to have him back there."
