The New England Revolution remain confident that they can progress to their third consecutive Eastern Conference Championship despite Sunday's 1-0 first-leg defeat at the hands of the Chicago Fire in the conference semifinals.
Steve Nicol's side was beaten by Justin Mapp's first-half free kick, which was backed up by a fine goalkeeping display by Matt Pickens, who made eight saves to deny the Revs the goal they threatened to score from as early as the second minute when he kept out an effort by Steve Ralston.
"We are stunned we never got anything out of the game today," said Nicol. "We had, by far, the better chances. Although it's only halftime, we are extremely disappointed that we are a goal behind. We certainly didn't deserve to be. I think we just have to be better in front of goal."
In addition to Ralston's early opportunity, the Revolution can point to a Jay Heaps header one minute after they fell behind, which was on course for the right corner until it hit the back of the unaware Clint Dempsey. In the 64th minute, Taylor Twellman had a headed chance that also looked goalbound, only for Pickens to make a fine sprawling save.
"That's how it goes sometimes," said a philosophical Twellman after the game. "If you're not getting chances, then you are worried. We have just got to hope their 'keeper is not there next time."
The Revolution fell behind in the 35th minute when Mapp curled a free kick that appeared to go through the defensive wall, which left Reis frustrated, particularly as he was rarely tested afterwards by a Fire side that seemed content to hold its one-goal lead.
"The wall was there; it just went right through," said the Revolution goalkeeper. "He hit a good free kick and got it around the wall. Outside of that, their chances were very few. If you look at their team it looks like they want to defend and then counterattack. They have a lot quick players."
New England can expect to see a similar look from their opponents in Saturday's return leg at Gillette Stadium. Chicago will look to exploit the pace of strikers Chris Rolfe and Andy Herron once again and Nicol is well aware will have to be careful to leave things tight at the back as they go in search of the goals to take them through.
The Revs boss can take some solace from recent history. In the first round of last year's playoffs, the Revolution lost the away leg 1-0 in New York only to fight back and win the tie overall with three goals in the final 20 minutes of the second game.
"The first thing we have to be is patient," said Nicol. "It's not a cavalry charge. Obviously, knowing we have done it previously can only give us confidence that we can do it again."
With a do-or-die game ahead of his side, Reis called upon the New England fans to make sure that the most is made of the home-field advantage the side secured by finishing second in the Eastern Conference regular season standings.
"We are in the exact same situation and we will hopefully use our experience from last year," Nicol said. "You have to look at this situation as basically four quarters. At halftime we are down one-nothing. This is the great thing about getting home-field advantage. Now we go home and hopefully the fans will all come out and give us an extra boost."
The Revs were dealt a further blow when Dempsey limped off with an ankle injury late in the game and the status of the midfielder for next week's game could be uncertain. Dempsey will certainly be needed, though the Revs believe they can take today's performance, if not the result, as a positive sign.
"We played well. They scored on the free kick but we had better chances and their 'keeper made some big saves," said Twellman. "Either way you look at it, we have to win our game at home so we still see ourselves as bring in the driver's seat. I think we'll be fine."
Andrew Hush is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.
