MLS: Chicago Fire 1, New England Revolution 0 on July 9


Two sides weakened by Gold Cup absences duke it out for first place in the east, but the Revs can't pull the last-minute magic that saved them last week against the L.A. Galaxy.

(FUTBLOG) The Revolution are a shadow of the team that had lost only one game going into its July 4 match with the L.A. Galaxy. The heart of the team, its hard-working midfield, is on international duty with the United States at the Concacaf Gold Cup. The timing of the Gold Cup strips MLS of dozens of top players- both U.S. and foreign - during a two- or three-week period. Most international competitions take place during the summer, but most leagues run from fall to spring and are thus on break.
Well, them's the breaks, I guess. But for critics of MLS who already don't think much about the quality of play, these dog days of summer provide even less.
However, perhaps its best to think of it as a chance to see the new up and coming players on the various teams, and indeed there are flickers of talent on display.
In the July 4 game, keeper Matt Reis stood out, and Cancela took advantage of the unclogged midfield to register a good performance for the Revs. Edozien, a Nigerian forward, came in as a sub,, but Taylor Twellman seemed still dogged by a recent injury.
A few days later, the showdown with Chicago at Soldier's Field, the Revs looked pretty thin. They once again played without Shalrie Joseph, a tough ball-holding midfielder who is suspended for yellow card accumulation. The Fire have suffered losses to the national team as well as injury.
Joey Franchino, the veteran team captain, seems out of place in midfield, trying and largely failing to play a defensive midfield position. He was much more assured last week as a left side defender.
In the 23rd minute, there are appeals for a penalty as Reis charges out to intercept Rolfe and clips him in the process. But the ball had bounced away from the two men, and there was no call, rightly so. Reis saves well low in the 28th from a Buete shot. A minute later, it's Buete again, chipping high from a Rolfe headed pass.
Reis saves well again in the 34th, but a minute later at the other end Twellman gets past his defender, but the cross falls awkwardly for Smith. In the 35th, Rolfe rifles a shot in and Reis saves at full stretch for a corner. The half ends with chances at both ends, but Chicago seem the better team. Segares especially comes forward well as the teams head in for halftime.
After the resumption of play, it is Segares who gets the ball in the box in the 58th, moves it well to his other foot and shoots quickly to score and make it 1-0. Just three minutes later, it looks like the wheels have come off the Revs defense when Leonard shoves Mapp in the box, then appears to just touch his back leg. A penalty is called. It's a harsh call, I think, and Reis pushes the PK wide just to prove it! Nevertheless, the Rev defense is a mess here, although it settles down a few minutes later as the team presses forward.
The Revs are seeking the last-minute equalizer, which they found against the Galaxy in the final minute of play five days earlier. Edozien gets off a great header in the 89th, but Thornton saves for the Fire. Chicago has some chances too, as the Revs push forward. In the 90th minute, the final Revs chance comes in a goal-mouth scramble, but no one can put their foot to it decisively. Chicago wins 1-0.
Next up for Chicago: a U.S. Open Cup game against the Western Massachusetts Pioneers in Ludlow, Mass. I'll be at the game, so here's hoping for a better display than what we got in this MLS game. Let's hope that Gold Cup wraps up quickly.

Posted: Tue - July 12, 2005 at 11:30 PM          

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