FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – One night and one trophy could salvage a season for the New England Revolution.
With the Revs' shoddy domestic form suggesting a ninth consecutive playoff berth appears unlikely at this point, the SuperLiga final against Monarcas Morelia probably represents the last opportunity to rescue something from an otherwise disappointing campaign.
The incentive of collecting a second SuperLiga title in three seasons and securing yet another trophy at Gillette Stadium on Wednesday night should provide ample motivation for a Revolution side still reeling from a last-gasp 2-1 defeat to Philadelphia on Saturday.
“People are saying that they're going to be up for it after the disappointment at the weekend,” New England coach Steve Nicol told MLSsoccer.com on Tuesday. “If they're not, there's something severely wrong.”
WATCH:Revs preview SuperLiga final
Motivation may not pose a problem for the Revs, but they will have to strike the proper balance between anxiousness and eagerness as they approach the most important match of the season to date. The mentality within the squad, however, will allow New England focus on the task at hand rather than the ramifications of the final result, according to Revolution captain Shalrie Joseph.
[inline_node:315300]“I'm always loose, and that's pretty much how this team is,” Joseph said. “We're focused to try and play the game [Wednesday] to win a championship. That's what you play for.
"We've already got [a few] championship banners and now we have the chance to bring another SuperLiga title back to Boston. We're going to give it our all.”
The importance of the occasion could see Kevin Alston (left hamstring strain) and Matt Reis (sore back) return to the starting XI after missing out on last weekend’s devastating defeat to the Union.
The news isn't quite as positive for Kenny Mansally and Sainey Nyassi, as the Gambian duo will miss the title decider – and Saturday's potentially rainswept MLS encounter with Seattle – while away on national-team duty.
Nicol said he has decided on Nyassi's replacement on the right side of midfield, but his identity will not be revealed until his lineup is handed in shortly before kickoff.
No such mystery surrounds the task ahead of the Revolution in this reprisal of a Group B fixture, won 1-0 by New England on July 20. Morelia enter Gillette Stadium with the express purpose of acquiring possession and retaining it frequently enough to create chances and seize control of the match.
The circumstances will require the Revolution to impose its will on the game in the early stages and mandate a choppier contest with less cadence and more aerial and physical battles.
“They have good players,” Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis said. “They're a team that's going to keep possession and they're going to want to pass the ball a lot. They'll want to do little combinations and 10-yard passes and they'll want to play out of the back. We're going to try to force them to play the ball in the air and play to our strengths.”
An early goal would further reinforce those positives, particularly with the Revolution's proclivity to score just once on any given evening. In this finely poised final with penalty kicks looming at the end of regulation time in the event of a tie, the first goal could play a significant role in determining whether the Revs can seal the salvation they seek.
“We just need to get the early one,” Joseph said. “If we can get the early one, we'll have much more confidence. It'd be huge for this team.”
