SEMIFINAL ONE
NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION vs CHICAGO FIRE
Wednesday, July 15, 2009 - 7 p.m. ET
Gillette Stadium, Foxborough, Mass.
REFEREE: Paul Ward (USA)
ASSISTANT REFEREES: Nate Clement (USA); Bill Dittmar (USA)
FOURTH OFFICIAL: Lee Suckle (USA)
MATCH BACKGROUND
The defending SuperLiga champion New England Revolution will face a very familiar rival in the Chicago Fire when the two meet in the first semifinal of SuperLiga 2009.
The Revolution defeated Houston Dynamo of MLS in a penalty kick shootout in last year's final at Gillette Stadium to win their first international honor in their third appearance in a continental competition. The Revolution finished atop a group that included Pachuca CF and Santos Laguna of Mexico and Chivas USA of MLS, then defeated Mexico's Atlante FC in the semifinal. Their first two appearances in the CONCACAF Champions' Cup ended in the round-of-16 (2003) and quarterfinals (2005), losing on both occasions to LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica.
The Chicago Fire reached the semifinals of their first ever international competition, the 1999 CONCACAF Champions' Cup. After defeating Joe Public FC (TRI) in the quarterfinals, they were eliminated on penalty kicks by LD Alajuelense of Costa Rica. The Fire reached the quarterfinals of the 2002 CONCACAF Champions' Cup (W v Municipal/GUA; L v Monarcas Morelia/MEX), then made it to the semifinals in the 2005 Champions' Cup, getting past San Juan Jabloteh (TRI) in the quarters before losing to Costa Rica's Deportivo Saprissa in the semifinals.
The teams have met each of the last four seasons in the MLS Cup Playoffs, and six times in the last seven. The Fire's win in last year's Eastern Conference Semifinal Series (3-0 on aggregate) last year was their first in a playoff series against New England since 2003, a 1-0 victory in the Eastern Conference Championship that propelled Chicago to its third MLS Cup Final appearance. The Revolution advanced in three consecutive playoff meetings 2005-07, on their way to the MLS Cup Final on each occasion. In the seven postseason meetings all-time, the Revs have won four series.
DOMESTIC FORM GUIDE
New England Revolution
04.07.2009:
Los Angeles Galaxy 1:0 New England Revolution
It took Alecko Eskandarian just eight minutes to open his account with his new club after moving from Chivas USA, and the lone goal stood up in an LA Galaxy victory at The Home Depot Center. Wells Thompson, nominally a right winger, played left back, while Amaechi Igwe filled in at center back with Emmanuel Osei suspended. Lithuanian striker Edgaras Jankauskas made his New England debut.
11.07.2009:
New England Revolution 0:0 Kansas City Wizards
Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis made a career-high 11 saves as his club held a 10-man Kansas City Wizards to a 0-0 draw at Gillette Stadium. Kansas City went down to 10 men in the 81st minute after Lance Watson was sent off with a straight red card. Steve Ralston was in the starting lineup for the first time since the SuperLiga opener on June 21 and slotted in at left back after Amaechi Igwe failed a late fitness test.
Chicago Fire
04.07.2009:
Colorado Rapids 1:2 Chicago Fire
The Chicago Fire put an end to a three-game losing streak in league play, handing the Colorado Rapids a rare July 4 loss, 2-1 at Dick's Sporting Goods Park. Marco Pappa (30) and Wilman Conde (37) gave the Fire a two-goal lead before the first half was out; Conor Casey's 76th-minute goal pulled a goal back for Colorado for a tense final quarter-hour. With Logan Pause and Gonzalo Segares on international duty, Daniel Woolard and Baggio Husidic were given starts. Bakary Soumare also returned from World Cup qualifying duty with Mali.
11.07.2009:
Chicago Fire 0:0 Columbus Crew
The two teams combined for 30 attempts at goal, and the Fire had 11 shots on goal, but neither team managed to score. Wilman Conde missed the game with a hamstring strain; his place with taken by C.J. Brown.
