While the main focus of attention this weekend will be on the MLS All-Star Game in Chicago, the New England Revolution are concentrating on their latest road trip, which sees Steve Nicol's side head to the West Coast to face Chivas USA on Sunday evening.
The game against Bob Bradley's side will form the opening act of a doubleheader that will conclude with an exhibition game between Chivas Guadalajara and the current Spanish champion and 2006 UEFA Champions League winner, FC Barcelona. It is expected that a large crowd will turn out for the showpiece occasion, which pleases Nicol.
"It's part of the reason why you play professional soccer," said Nicol on Friday. "If you can't get motivated and excited about playing in front of such a big crowd and the noise and excitement that is going to be generated, then you're in the wrong game."
The Revs played a strong side against the Rochester Raging Rhinos on Wednesday in a game that saw the MLS club squeeze through to the U.S. Open Cup quarterfinals after winning a penalty shootout that followed 120 minutes of scoreless play. In the past, Nicol has used the competition to rest some of his regulars but, with the exception of Clint Dempsey and Jay Heaps, the side that started in Rochester was a familiar one.
The missing pair is likely to return against Chivas. The results of an MRI on Dempsey's right ankle, which was injured against Kansas City last weekend, were negative and he should replace Jeff Larentowicz. Heaps has missed the last two games through separate suspensions and will replace Avery John, who will be absent on international duty with Trinidad and Tobago. Also away with his country is New Zealand's Tony Lochhead.
With Heaps back alongside Michael Parkhurst and James Riley, the Revolution will have their first-choice defense together once again and the men at the back will need to be on top of their game to quell the threat of the Chivas offense. Led by 12-goal scorer Ante Razov, who is well supported by Juan Pablo Garcia (five goals and five assists) and Francisco Palencia (four goals and four assists), it is an attack that is capable of striking at any moment, a fact that Nicol is well aware of.
"Chivas have really punished other teams when they have turned the ball over, particularly at The Home Depot Center," said Nicol. "That is the big key for us. When we do turn the ball over we have to be in good positions to stop them getting at us."
The Revs boss is keen to see his side take its own attacking chances. Three consecutive draws have seen the Revs net just one goal of their own - Steve Ralston's last-minute equalizer against Kansas City came a week after an own goal by Houston's Craig Waibel - and none of the side's front three of Dempsey, Taylor Twellman and Pat Noonan have scored since Twellman's goal against Real Salt Lake on July 14.
In the only previous meeting between these two sides this season, New England fought back from a goal down to defeat Chivas 3-1 in driving rain at Gillette Stadium on May 13. The Revs are looking for their first-ever positive result on the road against the side that currently sits in fourth place in the Western Conference but boasts a 5-1-3 record at home. Last year, a Douglas Sequeira goal gave Chivas the points at The Home Depot Center.
Nicol was talking on Friday from Logan Airport in Boston, where his side's flight was delayed by over two hours. Given the amount of travel his side has had in recent weeks - since July 22 the Revolution have played in Houston, Kansas City and Rochester - the hold-up was the last thing New England needed. With two games in three days coming up, the Revs boss is keen to get through the busy stretch and prepare for the regular season run-in.
"Everybody feels they've been on the road permanently so after Chivas on Sunday and Kansas on Wednesday we'll have a bit of time (off)," said Nicol. "Hopefully, when we come back from that, we'll be pushing on towards the playoffs."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
