Revs Salvage Draw with New York

Kenny Mansally scored a 90th minute equalizer to help the Revolution leave Giants Stadium with a point after a back-and-forth match against New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

A Jay Heaps own goal created by former Rev Khano Smith in the 35th minute left the team in an early hole, but despite missing six starters the Revs fought hard for an equalizer the rest of the way until Mansally finally found the back of the net to earn the 1-1 draw.

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Revs Top Quakes in Season Opener

Despite missing five potential starters, the New England Revolution went into San Jose and managed to come away with three points to kick off the 2009 season with a 1-0 win over the Earthquakes.

Injuries to Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Gabriel Badilla, and Mauricio Castro - as well as Chris Albright’s suspension - forced the Revs to start the season with a makeshift lineup that included rookies Darrius Barnes and Kevin Alston in defense. San Jose created several dangerous chances throughout the match but were unable to finish, and second year forward Kheli Dube’s 55th minute goal proved the game-winner for the Revs.

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Roller-Coaster Season Leaves Questions

Following another heartbreaking loss in MLS Cup 2007, the Revs entered the 2008 season having lost a few key contributors and replacing them with promising, but unproven foreign talent. The team started the season off very well and controlled first place through most of the season. After adding bringing the SuperLiga Championship, the Revs finished off the season in dreadful form and crashed out of the playoffs in the first round.

In the wake of Columbus’ 3-1 victory in the MLS Cup Sunday, it’s worth revisiting a Revs’ season that initially showed promise, but ultimately lacked the strong finish that vaulted past New England clubs to the championship game.

Things started off brightly for the Revs, with a dominating 3-0 victory over the 2007 MLS Cup Champion Houston Dynamo. The game saw the emergence of Gambian teenager Sainey Nyassi, who capped an impressive performance in his first start with a remarkable run and finish in the 93rd minute to put the result beyond doubt. Missing starters Taylor Twellman and Khano Smith, the match seemed to show the Revs had found new depth, despite losing midfielder Andy Dorman and defenders Avery John and James Riley in the offseason.

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Season Over for Revolution

The New England Revolution fell, 3-0, to the Chicago Fire on Thursday night, ending the team's faint postseason hopes and closing the door on a marathon 2008 season that ended more in a stagger than a sprint.

Missing Steve Ralston, Taylor Twellman, Adam Cristman and Khano Smith going into the match, the Revs suffered a huge blow in the first half when Jeff Larentowicz was forced to leave the field with a possible broken ankle.

Chicago took the lead just before half time and continued to build on it in the second half while the Revs tried to claw their way back. The loss marks the first time the Revs were eliminated before the Eastern Conference Final since Steve Nicol was in charge.

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Revs Limp into Chicago for Second Game

Who: Real Salt Lake at New England Revolution
What: MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal - Leg 2
Where: Toyota Park, Bridgeview, Ill.
When:Thursday, 8:45 p.m. (ESPN2)

The New England Revolution put in a good performance in Game One last Thursday at Gillette Stadium, but couldn't do enough to get a win. Now the Revs travel to Chicago for the final leg of their Eastern Conference Semifinal series with the Fire tied at 0-0 on aggregate goals.

Again without several key players due to injury, the Revs' offense will have to find a way through Chicago's backline if they are to advance to the Eastern Conference Final.

The Revs top three leading scorers, Taylor Twellman (8 goals, 2 assists), Steve Ralston (8 goals, 7 assists), and Adam Cristman (6 goals, 1 assist), are all out injured. Combined with the suspended Khano Smith (2 goals, 3 assists), the Revs will be without four players who combined to score 24 of the team’s 40 goals this season.

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Chicago and Revs fit for Draw

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. -- The New England Revolution put on their best performance in over a month, but couldn't find the back of the net and had to settle for a 0-0 draw against the Chicago Fire to kick off the Eastern Conference Semifinals on Thursday.

The Revs got off to a quick start and often had the Fire pinned back, but the home side extended their winless streak to seven games in front of just over 5,000 fans at Gillette Stadium.

"I think we deserved to win," said Revolution coach Steve Nicol. "It was a real rough tough game. Plenty of commitment [and there] probably should have been a couple of penalties for us on Sainey [Nyassi] and [Bakary] Soumare is trying to head the ball clear and headed it straight onto his arm. We finished the season over thinking when we were playing, basically. We decided to get rid of that and just go and play. Be committed, when you get the chance to pass the ball, pass the ball, and when you have to be strong, be strong."

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Depleted Revs Stagger into Playoffs

Who: Chicago Fire at New England Revolution
What: MLS Eastern Conference Semifinal Leg 1
Where: Gillette Stadium, Foxboro, Mass.
When: Thursday, 8:00 p.m. (ESPN2)

The once first place Revolution head into Thursday night's Eastern Conference Semifinal against the Chicago Fire as the third seed and underdog. Heading into the match, the Fire, who were a perfect 3-0 against the Revolution in the regular season, were already the favorites and injuries to key players and needless suspensions have made the Revs heavy underdogs.

"We expect the battle that it always is," said defender Michael Parkhurst. "We've got quite the rivalry with Chicago. Obviously they have had some success against us this year, but we don't really concentrate on those games now. They are in the past. We really need to focus on who we are and guys stepping up and taking some leadership and younger guys stepping up now. They had a chance early on in the season with a bunch of injuries to step up and get some playing time and they got the job done then. Hopefully we can use that experience here in the playoffs now that we need it."

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