Fire defeat Revolution in SuperLiga semifinal
Blanco nets winner to end Revs' defense of SuperLiga title
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Cuauhtemoc Blanco's 63rd minute free kick provided the margin of victory after Brian McBride and Edgaras Jankauskas traded first half goals.
The result ended New England's SuperLiga title defense, while putting Chicago through to the finals to face the winner of the nightcap between Tigres UANL and Santos Laguna.
New England head coach Steve Nicol handed Jankauskas his first start in a Revolution uniform. Steve Ralston partnered the Lithuanian striker up top after Chris Tierney returned from a left knee injury to fill the vacant left-back spot Ralston filled in Saturday's 0-0 draw with the Kansas City Wizards in MLS action. Tierney came into the side in place of the suspended Emmanuel Osei and midfielder Jeff Larentowicz dropped back into a central defensive role. As anticipated, Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph was left out of the squad, despite declaring himself fit to play with a right knee injury.
Chicago named an unchanged side from Saturday's 0-0 draw in MLS play against the Columbus Crew, with Wilman Conde still struggling to overcome a left hamstring injury. The Fire entered the match looking to extend its unbeaten streak over the Revolution to seven matches in all competitions.
Both sides started tentatively, preferring to lump long balls rather than getting the ball down on the park and play. As the early stages passed, the long balls decreased and the play through the midfield increased as both sides tried to carve out chances.
The first real opportunity arrived on 18 minutes after Ralston weaved his way through the right side of the penalty area and chipped a ball to the far post. Jankauskas rose over his man to head the ball, but couldn't keep his effort underneath the crossbar.
Chicago attempted to respond through a series of half-chances -- Baggio Husidic lashed over the bar while McBride scuffed a header -- before New England spurned its second gilt-edged chance of the half. Michael Videira cleverly played Sainey Nyassi in behind Daniel Woolward. Nyassi reached the end line and unleashed a sharp angle shot at the far post.
Chicago went ahead after some shoddy Revolution defending off a throw-in allowed Blanco time and space, despite three players being at close attention. Blanco's cross found the unmarked McBride in the middle, and the former United States international side-footed home to seize the lead.
The advantage lasted just ten minutes as Jankauskas notched his first goal in a Revolution uniform a minute before halftime. Tierney played a ball from the left side. The Lithuanian striker took it down on his chest and fired towards goal. The goal-bound shot deflected off John Thorrington and past Jon Busch to level the scoreline heading into the break.
The early stages of the second half produced more of the same as the Revolution enjoyed the majority of the possession and looked the more threatening of the two teams. Kenny Mansally sliced open the Fire backline with a sumptuous diagonal for Nyassi, but Nyassi lashed his shot over the bar.
Chicago restored its lead on 63 minutes after McBride fell under Kevin Alston's challenge 25 yards from goal. Blanco curled his ensuing right-footed effort up and around the wall and into the right side of the net.
New England pressed for an equalizer by making changes as the match entered the final quarter of an hour. Kheli Dube came on for Tierney as the Revs switched to a three-man backline to get extra bodies in dangerous areas.
Dube nearly marked his arrival with his third goal of the competition after ringing an effort directly from a Larentowicz long ball off the crossbar with nine minutes left to play.
There was one last gasp for the Revs as the match entered stoppage time. Mansally's corner kick from the right corner found an unmarked Darrius Barnes in the penalty area, but the Revolution defender pushed his header just wide of the far post as the Revs' SuperLiga title defense ended in the semifinals.
Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com
