Revs familiar with playoff foe Fire
New England has faced Chicago in postseason for each of past four years
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"It's definitely going to be one of those games where you're going to have to leave your mark on it," Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph said.
There won't be many surprises, not between two teams who know each other so well and who battled to a 0-0 draw on Oct. 17. Joseph said he and his teammates know the difficulty of the task ahead and understand how they need to proceed in order to edge in front prior to next Saturday's decisive second leg at Toyota Park.
"We know their strategy and we know their team like the back of our hand," Joseph said. "We know what they're about, we know their players and we know their personnel, but tomorrow, you never know. They could put out a different XI or play in a different way. We studied it this week and we know what it takes to win."
In order to grind out a victory, the Revs will have to combat the Fire's intensity from the opening whistle and display a willingness to fight in the trenches in what is expected to be a physical and tight series.
"We have to be ready for it tomorrow," Revolution defender Kevin Alston said. "They're going to come out physical and we have to match their intensity. We have to be ready to play and match whatever they bring."
New England did just that in the 0-0 draw two weeks ago, but the circumstances have changed with both teams handed a fresh start ahead of the Eastern Conference Semifinal Series.
"Two weeks ago, we weren't in the same spot points-wise," Alston said. "Now we're even. We're both on level ground, playing for the same common goals. We just have to go out there and do what we need to do."
Revolution coach Steve Nicol is expected to name an unchanged side from the one that defeated Columbus 1-0 last Sunday to seal a playoff berth. Regular starters Alston (left foot contusion), Kheli Dube (left adductor strain) and Jeff Larentowicz (right knee bone bruise) are carrying minor knocks, but the three players are expected to retain their place in the starting XI.
New England will hope to maintain its stingy defensive record in recent weeks (three goals conceded in the past five matches, including two shutouts), while improving upon its spotty attacking form (two goals in the past five).
Although the Revs haven't scored from the run of play since a 2-1 win over Seattle on Sept. 26, they can rely on a defense that hasn't conceded from the run of play since a 1-0 loss at FC Dallas on Sept. 30 to keep the match close.
Nicol believes it is only a matter of time before the attack breaks through and provides some leeway for the sturdy back line, but said the key is to find those goals without creating gaps at the back.
"If you don't lose any goals, you're not losing the game," Nicol said. "It's that simple. That's the bottom line, but at the same time, it can take just a simple spark from somewhere to get us goals. That, in turn, means that teams will have to come at you and leave holes, which makes it easier to score. It's really about continuing the defensive stuff we've done, but there's no reason why Edgaras (Jankauskas), Kheli, Nico (Colaluca) or anybody like that can give us a wee spark and we end up scoring goals."
With the home side winning all but one of the previous 13 previous playoff meetings, the time is now for the Revs to act to bolster their hopes of a seventh Eastern Conference title game berth in eighth years and avoid falling to the Fire in the playoffs for the second consecutive year, according to Alston.
"This is our chance," Alston said. "We're playing at home. We need to get the result that we desire right now. That makes things easier when you go and play away in Chicago."
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com
