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NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION v CHICAGO FIRE
GILLETTE STADIUM, Foxborough, Mass.
3 p.m. ET (WB-56)
April 30, 2006 (WEEK #5) / MLS Game #28
The New England Revolution finally make their home bow this year against the Chicago Fire - still on their season-opening road odyssey - in a rematch of last year's taut Eastern Conference Championship. The Revolution are looking for goals - while they negotiated their difficult start with a win, draw and loss, they did so scoring just a solitary goal. The Fire are still looking for a first victory of the season as they play the fourth game of their nine-game road trip to begin the campaign, though they have claimed draws in their last two contests.
REFEREE: Alex Prus. SAR (bench): Craig Lowry; JAR (opposite): Michael Salyers; 4th: Gus St. Silva
MLS Career: 98 games; FC/gm: 30.7; Y/gm: 3.5; R: 22; pens: 34
MLS 2006: 2 games; FC/gm: 34.5 (avg: 31.7); Y/gm: 3.5 (avg: 3.82); R: 1 (MLS: 4); pens: 0 (MLS: 3)
Games involving Revolution: P24 W8 L14 T2; FC/gm: 32.0; Y/gm: 3.6; R: 9; pens: 6
Games involving Fire: P14 W7 L4 T3; FC/gm: 32.4; Y/gm: 4.1; R: 4; pens: 6
INJURY REPORT: NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION - OUT: MF Khano Smith (L knee surgery); MF Jani Galik (R hamstring strain); DF Marshall Leonard (L Achilles tendon rupture); MF Ryan Latham (abdominal strain); QUESTIONABLE: MF Steve Ralston (L groin strain); FW Pat Noonan (R hamstring strain); DF Joe Franchino (R hamstring strain) ... CHICAGO FIRE - QUESTIONABLE: FW Nate Jaqua (L shoulder)
INTERNATIONAL ABSENCES: NE: DF Avery John (Trinidad & Tobago)
SUSPENDED: CHI: FW Andy Herron (through May 13)
LEAGUE HEAD-TO-HEAD
ALL-TIME (24 meetings): Revolution 11 wins (0 shootout), 38 goals ... Fire 8 wins (0 shootout), 30 goals ... 5 draws
AT FOXBOROUGH: (12 meetings): Revolution 8 wins (0 shootout), 23 goals ... Fire 3 wins (0 shootout), 13 goals ... 1 draw
This is the first of four league meetings scheduled between the Eastern Conference clubs, the first of two at Gillette Stadium. Their next two meetings will be at Bridgeview Stadium - the Revolution opening up the new soccer-specific stadium on June 11, then making their second appearance less than a month later on July 8. The league season series finale is scheduled for Aug. 20 on Route 1.LAST YEAR (MLS):
4/27: CHI 0, NE 3 (Dempsey 32; Noonan 43; Twellman 90)
5/7: NE 2, CHI 0 (Noonan 34; Dempsey 58)
7/9: CHI 1, NE 0 (Segares 58)
10/15: NE 1, CHI 0 (Twellman 35)
A year ago, the Revolution won three of the four league meetings between the clubs, winning both matches in Foxborough without allowing a goal (in fact, all four victories in the season series came by shutout).
In addition, the teams met in the fractious Eastern Conference Championship at Gillette Stadium on Nov. 6, Clint Dempsey's fourth-minute strike the only goal of the match as another shutout was recorded. It was the fourth time the teams have met in the MLS Cup Playoffs, the second time they met with a trip to the MLS Cup Final on the line. In the first, in 2003, the Fire triumphed in extra time by a 1-0 scoreline (Armas 101)
Over the past three years, the Revolution have won seven of the 12 meetings, with two ending in draws.
Coaches record: Steve Nicol vs. CHI: P16 W10 L5 D1 ... Dave Sarachan v NE: P12 W3 L5 D4NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION
The New England Revolution return to action after a weekend off, losing for the first time this season in their last outing, a 1-0 loss to the Kansas City Wizards at Arrowhead Stadium on April 15. The Revolution are tied for third place in the Eastern Conference with four points from three matches, level with the Columbus Crew, five behind the second-place Wizards and six behind first-place D.C. United.
LAST MATCH
The Wizards had won their first two matches of the campaign, while the Revolution had not lost - nor conceded a goal.
But that changed very early on, as a looping header from Jimmy Conrad from a corner kick somehow found its way under the crossbar and into the goal to give the Wizards a third-minute lead. It was the first appearance of the year for the 2005 MLS Defender of the Year, recovering from a sports hernia injury.
The home side then had a glorious opportunity to double their lead in the seventh minute, but Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis blocked Josh Wolff's penalty attempt after center back Michael Parkhurst was adjudged to have pulled down the U.S. international as he ran toward goal.
Revolution head coach Steve Nicol made one change to the team that played to a scoreless draw with the New York Red Bulls the week before at Giants Stadium. Michael Parkhurst made his 2006 MLS debut, coming into the heart of central defense as Daniel Hernandez moved into central midfield and Andy Dorman shifting to the right flank, Steve Ralston out with a groin injury suffered while on international duty with the USA.
Here's Nicol's team (3-4-3) Matt Reis - Jay Heaps, Michael Parkhurst, James Riley - Andy Dorman, Shalrie Joseph, Daniel Hernandez, Joe Franchino (Marshall Leonard 14) - Taylor Twellman, Clint Dempsey, Pat Noonan (Jose Cancela 46). [Substitutes Not Used: Kyle Brown, Avery John, Jeff Larentowicz, Tony Lochhead, Doug Warren]
"I think the fact that we were forcing the game and we were away from home in Kansas City, who is undefeated, kind of tells you that the backbone of team. We did make changes, we were forced into a couple of changes, but it never knocked us off our straight, we kept pushing forward," Nicol said. "But we just never got that break in the penalty box when we needed it. It's just not running for us in the penalty box at the moment."TEAM NEWS
For their off time, the Revolution played games against local college sides. They first knocked off the University of Connecticut 3-0, but then lost to Boston College 3-1 on Monday.
''If we had won the game, we don't get points for it," Nicol said to The Boston Globe. ''This is a good reminder. It doesn't matter who you play against, you've got to do the right things. You've got to make decisions, pass the ball. If you don't, it doesn't happen. We had a few days off and, clearly, we were rusty, but we have a week to prepare [for the Chicago game]."
Midfielder Marshall Leonard has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after suffering an tear to his Achilles tendon in his left leg in the match against BC. "There was nobody around him," Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said. "It was just one of those things ... It gives us one less option. Marshall came on and did well [against Kansas City]. He's come a long way back from his hernia injury."
Steve Ralston is facing a real fitness battle not only for inclusion in the team for Sunday's match - but also in his bid to be included in Bruce Arena's final 23-man U.S. squad for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
"It's a risk-reward thing. If I do go out and try and play and get hurt again, then I'm definitely out. I've got no chance to go. If I'm ready, then great," said Ralston. "It's getting better. I've been doing a lot more in the last couple of days. I've got a day off (on Wednesday) and then hope to come back in on Thursday and really see where I am at and test it out. Hopefully I'm going to play this weekend but, in reality, we'll see."
Ralston battled injuries throughout the postseason, then suffered a torn quadriceps during the U.S. national team camp at the start of the year. He recovered, only to receive a groin strain in the USA's friendly against Jamaica.
"It has been really difficult. I've never really had too many injuries and now, to have two back-to-back at the worst time of my career really, with a pretty good opportunity to go to the World Cup," he said. "To have these injuries, knowing this is probably my last chance, is hard to swallow."
Through their first three matches, the Revolution have hit for just one goal - a remarkable total, given the personnel included in the club's new-look three-pronged attack.
"I think it's just our lack of concentration on that final pass, that final touch," said Pat Noonan, who hasn't scored a goal for the Revs since June 25 last year. "Maybe it's adjusting to the new roles we have - myself included - playing out wide now (in the three-man attack). It's about knowing when to be out wide, and also knowing when to sneak into the middle to run at guys."
Still, Nicol is not overly concerned - yet. "Sometimes, you just have to settle down and let things happen and not try and force it," he said. "We expect a lot out of ourselves, which is a good thing, but you have to make sure that it doesn't hold us back in any way."
CHICAGO FIRE
The Chicago Fire return to action after a week off still looking for a first victory on the 2006 campaign, drawing for the second consecutive week in their nine-game road trip to begin the season in their last match, a 1-1 result April 15 with the Columbus Crew. The Fire are at the foot of the Eastern Conference with two points from three matches, one behind the fifth-place New York Red Bulls and eight adrift of pace-setting D.C. United.
LAST MATCH
The Fire had a win and a draw from the first two games to start their nine-game road swing while their new stadium is completed, while the Crew were the only team in MLS without a point from their first two games.
The visitors took the lead early in the second half, as Ohio native Chris Rolfe once again showed you can go home again. Chad Barrett raced through the heart of the Crew defense before slipping a through ball to Rolfe, who finished with aplomb from inside the area (49). It was his fourth goal in three league matches in Columbus against the Crew.
But the hosts pulled level just six minutes later. Jim Curtin was adjudged to have bundled over Kei Kamara from behind, and Sebastian Rozental perfectly slotted his penalty inside the left-hand post for the leveller.
Fire head coach Dave Sarachan made no changes to the team that played to a 1-1 draw with the Los Angeles Galaxy the week before at The Home Depot Center, though he changed his formation, going with four in the back to face the Crew.
Here's Sarachan's team (4-1-3-2): Zach Thornton - Logan Pause, C.J. Brown, Jim Curtin, Gonzalo Segares (Floyd Franks 79) - Diego Gutierrez - Justin Mapp, Thiago, Ivan Guerrero - Chad Barrett (Calen Carr 67), Chris Rolfe. [Substitutes Not Used: Chris Armas, Matt Pickens, Brian Plotkin, Dasan Robinson, Jack Stewart]
"The idea when you go on the road is to come away with points and obviously from the standpoint of points we go one today. I felt we earned three. We really limited Columbus. They posed not a lot of threats against us and somehow when you look up on the board its 1-1," Sarachan said. "We have a group inside the locker room that's competitive and felt we could have had three today. But again, a point on the road, an important point, and we are going to continue to build on that."TEAM NEWS
Rolfe again had the opportunity to shine in front of family, friends and former teammates who were rooting him on from the stands. A year ago, in his rookie season, Rolfe scored three goals in two league games in Columbus.
"It's a place I grew up watching games at and aspiring to play at so I think when I come here I got an extra little boost. My family's here. I don't know if that has anything to do with it but I think I am just fortunate to get the chances," Rolfe said. "It is just a great feeling to come to play here. It was a great effort by Chad (Barrett) and he deserves a lot of credit on my goal."
Still, Rolfe was upset with his first-half chance after dispossessing Chad Marshall right on the top of the Crew penalty area, seeing his shot come back off the base of the post. "It's the second time this year that if I make those two shots, there's three points for us in the standings," he said.
Fire original Zach Thornton became the 29th player, and fourth goalkeeper, in MLS history to make 200 league appearances with his outing in Columbus. Thornton joined Scott Garlick (209), Kevin Hartman (218) and Tony Meola (233) - who Thornton began his career backing up with the then MetroStars. Oddly enough, Thornton's MLS debut in 1996 resulted in a loss to the Columbus Crew.
