Pros

MLS Play-Off Preview: New England Revolution v Chicago Fire By Andrew Hush
October 22, 2006


Eastern Conference Semi-Final Series Schedule

1st Leg: Sunday 22 October, 1pm (Toyota Park)
2nd Leg: Saturday 28 October, 7:30pm (Gillette Stadium)

The two MLS teams in the best form will come together in the first round of the play-offs, with the series winner likely to be named as the favorite to lift the Alan I. Rothenburg trophy on 12 November.

Both sides boast attacking threats of varying styles, as well as solid midfields and consistent defenses that are backed up by goalkeepers, who are on top of their games. Given that, where are the main areas in which this series is going to be won and lost?

New England has the edge in the goalkeeping department. Matt Reis should have won the league's Goalkeeper of the Year award and, with the exception of one or two shaky moments that have seen him spill shots he should have held, has had another excellent season and his post-season experience will be critical to the Revs.

For Chicago, Matt Pickens is the new kid on the block and has done well to unseat the sizeable rival that is Zach Thornton. Since the 24-year-old assumed the starting role, the Fire have gone 7-3-0. However, Pickens has potential while Reis is proven, particularly in the post-season.

Defensively, it's a toss-up. The Revs had the best record in MLS, giving up just 35 goals all season and have found the right blend at the back with the cerebral play of Michael Parkhurst ably complementing the more in-your-face styles of Jay Heaps and Avery John. New England's defenders will have their hands full with the varied offensive threats of the Fire's forwards.

The Fire also play a three-man backline, with veterans Tony Sanneh and CJ Brown flanking Gonzalo Segares. Chicago's defense is a little short on pace when compared to the Revs, but it will be up to the Revolution to exploit that weakness.

In the engine rooms, again, there is little to choose between the two teams. The Revolution are boosted by the return of Shalrie Joseph, provided the Grenadian is fully fit after missing four weeks and is not hindered by his hand injury, which will be heavily wrapped.

Alongside Joseph in the first leg, though maybe not next week at Gillette Stadium depending on the series situation, will be Andy Dorman and Jeff Larentowicz. Neither man has ever started a play-off game and, for Larentowicz, this will be his first post-season playing experience, so it must be hoped the duo's regular season form does not go missing.

For Chicago, the wily veteran, Chris Armas, is playing well having missed the early part of the season with a knee injury. With Diego Gutierrez, Armas offers a protective barrier in front of his back three which allows Fire's attacking midfielders to focus on what they do best. That group could include Justin Mapp, a cultured passer of the ball and Thiago, a thorn in the side of the Revs in previous meetings.

Out wide, Steve Ralston is a proven player at the top level and the Revolution veteran has been in good form recently. His crosses will be vital if Taylor Twellman is to have a more successful post-season than he did last year, when he failed to find the net. On the other wing, Joe Franchino needs to stay out of the referee's notebook and focus on providing a quality of service similar to Ralston. In the first leg, however, his usefulness may be more at the defensive end.

Nate Jaqua has been playing on the right side for Chicago over the past few games and watching him go up against Franchino will be an interesting battle, especially given the consensus from the Revolution that the Fire man deliberately went over the top of the ball and injured Franchino in the side's 3-3 tie on 11 June. On the left, Ivan Guerrero is a classy player capable of hurting defenses with his crosses, as his nine regular season assists prove. Mapp is another outside option for the Fire.

Up front, the Revs key man is undoubtedly Clint Dempsey, who will be given license to roam and influence the game from all areas of the field. Ideally, the Texan will be able to pick up possession in areas where he can isolate Brown and Sanneh, though he will have to be aware of Armas, part of whose remit in the series will be to slow ‘Deuce' down.

Taylor Twellman will, no doubt, suffer further bumps and bruises against his old sparring partner, Brown. What the Revolution need from their leading scorer is for him to link play by holding the ball up effectively with his back to goal. Furthermore, his sharpness in the box makes him the best pure finisher on either side and his ability to put away half chances will be crucial.

Chicago could go with Jaqua as a power threat, though they have been using Andy Herron and Chris Rolfe as strikers in recent weeks. Herron was most upset by the ruling out of a late goal in last year's Eastern Conference Championship and, since returning from a lengthy ban that resulted from his confrontation with game officials that day, has been focused on making everyone, including the Revs, pay with his pace, flair and scoring touch.

Rolfe is a bright, clever player who makes good runs and is a constant menace to opposing defenses. He had a slow start to the season as he worked his way back from concussion problems but is now playing well and will have to be watched closely as he works across the front line, often looking for space in behind the Revolution outside backs.

Over the course of the two-game series, it is almost certain that there will be an impact made by a substitute and the Revolution are well served in the bench department. Jose Cancela proved last year what an asset he can be as a late replacement in the play-offs and look too for Pat Noonan to offer an alternative attacking threat. The versatility of Daniel Hernandez, James Riley and Khano Smith as well as the ability in the penalty box of Jose Manuel Abundis are further options that could make the all-important difference.

Verdict: New England advance – It won't be easy and could need extra time and even penalties next week at Gillette Stadium but the experience of the Revolution, coupled with the form they are currently in, means that they should get past this tough opponent.

The Revs will be happy with a drawn first leg but should not fall into the trap of playing for a tie. A goal or two on the road will set them up nicely for the return game. Indeed, the form guide this season has seen New England handle the Fire better away from home and though it is unlikely Chicago will win for the third time this season in Foxboro, such an eventuality would be easier to deal with if the Revs enter next week's game in control of the tie.