New England Revolution at Chicago Fire: Your Running Commentary

The Chicago Fire will play host to the New England Revolution tonight in the second leg of their first-round Eastern Conference playoff series. The winner of tonight's match will book a place in the Eastern Conference final after the teams tied, 0-0, in the first leg at Gillette Stadium.

The scenarios are clear. If either team wins tonight's match in regulation, they win the series. If the teams are tied after regulation, then they will play a 30-minute mini-game that is NOT sudden death. If the teams are still tied, the series will be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

The Fire will be heavily favored against a Revs squad missing injured stars Taylor Twellman and Steve Ralston, suspended starter Khano Smith and playing with hobbled midfielder Shalrie Joseph, who has been given the all-clear to play tonight.

Here are tonight's lineups:

CHICAGO FIRE

-------------------McBride------------------------

Mapp--------------Blanco------------------Rolfe

-------------Pause-------Thorrington-----------

Segares---Soumare---Conde-----------Prideaux

--------------------Busch--------------------------

NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION

------------Mansally----Dube--------------------

Castro-------Joseph----Larentowicz----Nyassi

Igwe--------Heaps----Parkhurst-----Albright

--------------------Reis--------------------

If you will be watching tonight's match, please feel free to share your thoughts, opinions and some play-by-play in the comments section below.

Enjoy the match.

Comments

[Isaac]

Rolfe hasn't been sharp, not putting himself into the game. I geuss you could say alot of the balls last week came to him instead of the other way around, however atleast he was trying.

[NewGuy]

So, I am new to the MLS , and I do not understand how the goal aggregate is tied.

Isn't Chicago up 2-1? and if they tied 0-0 Chicago would win?

[WeatherManNX01]

Hmm...yeah, we're going to lose. Boo Fire.

Alexi Lalas doesn't make that bad of a studio analyst...and he makes a better broadcaster than he does team president and GM. Not as good-looking as Julie Foudy, but I think I can overlook that.

[Isaac]

Wow...nice job Thorrington.

[northzax]

in what world is that not a straight red on Thorrington? Way late, from behind ankle breaker. Pathetic.

[Isaac]

NewGuy they're 0-0 and if its 0-0 again they go to extra time and if still tied after that penalties. Larentowicz off Phelan on.

[WeatherManNX01]

Chalk up another one to injury. There is no freaking way we can win the Cup now.

[northzax]

um, newguy, they tied last Thursday at Gillette, 0-0.

[Isaac]

Im sick and tired of all the bull**** tackles this season. Seriously guys, you've turned the beautiful game into a gridiron football match.

[WeatherManNX01]

Looking at a possible ankle-break. Fan-freaking-tastic.

[NewGuy]

Haha my bad I must have mixed them up with the KC/'Bus game.

[Isaac]

Not bad Cuate. His area really isnt heading.....even with McB on his team

[Isaac]

fitting how the team with a player that has only 32 fouls in his career has possibly the most injuries this season.

[Isaac]

CHRIS ROLFE SCORES!!!! GOAL!!!!

[WeatherManNX01]

Craaaaaaaaaaaaap.

Hey, can anyone tell that I'm down on my Revs? It's not that obvious, right?

[Isaac]

Weatherman? For the Revs? SCANDELOUS!

[eric]

Blanco really stepped up at the end of the half, and managed to first keep possession, and then create, with Joseph all over him. Well played, sir.

[Isaac]

Anyways, Rolfe put back in a rebound off the shot from Blanco that Reis saved. The kid is on fire....geuss it makes sense considering who he's playing for....bad pan #2....

[Tim Crawford]

I could've sworn that JUMPING into a player for a tackle was a red (and leading with the cleats). Thanks. Good strategy, Fire, just eliminate all of our good players and keep all of yours on the field with yellows. This sucks. How many bogus red cards have the Revs gotten against teams like the Fire and DC in the last couple of years? This is ridiculous.

[Isaac]

lol......Steve Nipple.....

[WeatherManNX01]

Ha ha. Yeah, Isaac, it's like, "gee, ya think?"

And this year looked so good until right after SuperLiga...

[WeatherManNX01]

Larentowicz has apparently been sent to the hospital.

[paul Lorinczi]

"I could've sworn that JUMPING into a player for a tackle was a red (and leading with the cleats)" - Tim Crawford

They are saying he broke his ankle. yeah...should have been red.

[paul Lorinczi]

Is it me, or is John Harkes kind of dreadful tonight?

[Isaac]

Goal CONDE!!!

Maybe he will stay.

[WeatherManNX01]

Goal. Can we go home now? It's either that or put Stevie Nicol and Paul Mariner in uniforms...

[Isaac]

WeatherMan

Not before Chicago injures this entire damn squad.

[northzax]

ok, I am no Revs fan and I think a Fire win would be good for the league. BUT, the revs are getting screwed by the refs tonight. Shameful.

[WeatherManNX01]

:o

Blanco didn't dive! Who knew?

[WeatherManNX01]

Isaac, at the rate we're going, Stevie Nicol is probably going to sprain his ankle on his way to the post-game press conference. Yeesh.

[Isaac]

A great save by Busch.

[Isaac]

oh ho......the sock is on the other arm. Busch is down.

[Isaac]

....He's changing boots....probably wasting time....

[Isaac]

Whoa....Busch got carded for time wasting.....WeatherMan I think you can go home.... hurry or else John Thorrington will come through your window and give you a torn ACL

[WeatherManNX01]

Looks like Wells Thompson will be coming in.

[WeatherManNX01]

Hey, Isaac, you're going to help me wrap myself in bubble wrap, right? At the rate we're going, we're going to have to do that with the Revs in the offseason - wrap them and stick them in a closet until next year.

[Isaac]

lol Maybe they should do what the Earthquakes did, 'disappear' for a season and come back.....and then lose to the Galaxy

[Isaac]

I love how Blanco acts like a diva when he gets called against.

[Isaac]

Segares goal.....Did you order that bubble wrap WeatherMan?

[WeatherManNX01]

Blaaaaaaaaaaah. Another 3:0 drubbing by the Fire. Story of our season.

[Isaac]

WeatherMan despite the crappy defending, you have to admit that was some clever dribbling by Rolfe.

[WeatherManNX01]

Yeah, give the finger to the camera. Stay classy, Chicago.

[WeatherManNX01]

Isaac, I cannot deny that Chicago has looked very good overall (I mean, when they're not sending our guys to the hospital). The only guy on the Fire that doesn't impress me is Blanco, because he's an actor and a diva.

[Isaac]

WeatherMan

I thought he was using his index.....

[WeatherManNX01]

Well, I would think ESPN would cut away from fans giving the finger...

[Isaac]

Blanco has created chances like he's supposed to and had the time to act like someone just broke into his make up cabinet.

[adam b]

talk about classy play huh?

[WeatherManNX01]

Wow...Albright with a red. Could this game get any worse for the Revs?

[Isaac]

Wow so Albright leaves the field without getting injured....

[adam b]

that was a dumb play by albright. no need to tackle that hard in that area of the field. shoulda let blanco play, would have passed it back.

[Isaac]

awwwwww its almost cute watching New England fight back.

[WeatherManNX01]

Isaac, he probably did that on purpose to save his body.

[Isaac]

Haha the ball went in to the hot dog stand....

[Isaac]

WeatherMan

The game could get worse for the Revs if Khano Sith came back. 'nuff said.

[WeatherManNX01]

I think with the amount of fight the Revs have shown, they'd actually be competitive if they had their full roster (and not like half of it sitting with injuries or suspensions).

[Isaac]

Weatherman

The only good thing for New England in this game is that Chicago hasnt gone into the crowd and injured the New England fans.

[WeatherManNX01]

It's over! Now we can go get healthy for next year. Almost mercifully, the postseason is here for the Revs.

[Tim Crawford]

It's quite clear that Albright got the red for retaliation for Blanco's ridiculous no-look pass with NO ONE around him. That man is such a snothead. And I quote Mr. Albright - "It's 3-f*#@ing-0 and he's still doing that s$*#."

[WeatherManNX01]

I meant offseason there.

Isaac, this was brutal. Now I'll probably get up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom and trip over a Fire player...

[Delegate_Zero]

Tissues for all Revs fans!!!!!

[eric]

Chicago comes back like championship contenders! Glad to see it, except for Joseph I was done with the Revs for the year - and they're out of players anyway.

I didn't realize Joseph was injured, that might be why Chicago was able to work around him. Still a great individual performance, and as much as I like having him in MLS, that's one dude who deserves to play where ever he wants while he's still in his prime. Free Shalrie!

[Danny]

When did Fire fans get so scummy?

[kebzach]

New England fans talking about how they were cheated? The same new England team that has never had a problem with boot em up play?

Give me a break. Tell Joey franchino that Bocanegra said hi.

Go home and shut yer freakin lobster lovin yaps Revs fans.

[Joe Quake]

Did anyone listen to the pre-game show? Lalas was talking about how Arena needs to give the Galaxy captaincy to someone that is going to be a real leader, or something like that. When asked if Beckham is the same player he once was, he said no but he brings other things to the table. I thought this was pretty interesting insight into what's been going on with the Galaxy.

Glad the Fire won. I hope they are in the final along with the Dynamo.

[JRhode]

It's too bad Steve "Nipple" and the Revs didn't have a full roster for this series. Still have to give Fire credit, they played well.

[Tim Crawford]

Oh sure, cuz the Revs always benefit from questionable red cards and all . . . sure, cuz we've ended people's seasons with dirty tackles frequently . . . sure, cuz we've whined and compalined and gotten people suspended for playoff games . . . the fact is Thorrington deserved a red. And it's quite obvious that that would have changed the game drastically. Ya know, a red is hard to give in a playoff game, but the fact is the Revs lost a player from that tackle, and Chicago deserved to lose one too.

[Sticky]

Goodbye Revs, see you next year.

Chris Albright, thanks for your display of sportsmanship! You really showed Cuauh who's boss.

Thorrington put in a late tackle. He does those things. Red card? Could have been. But wasn't. Too bad for the Revs. Better luck next year.

[LDQ]

I'm cancelling my MLS season Tix. I hate the GD fire and Blanco, that fat "Central University of North Texas" graduate.

[CD]

Columbus vs Chicago in the next round would be a nice match up. McBride's return match would get the Columbus faithful all jacked up. With Blanco and Schelotto creating in the middle for speedy attackers it should be a very good game. Kansas City I am not trying to be a jerk but just go away this year please.

[Fire_Juve10]

That's what happens when you mess with Thor, the Thunder God... you get sent home in a cook county ambulance.

Besides, New England's strategy was to be as physical as possible... kinda sucks getting some of your own medicine, huh?

[Isaac]

CD

With this league, I've learned not to expect what is to be expected. Chicago Columbus looks like free roam for Schelloto and Blanco but I really doubt it'll happen.

[Brant]

"When did Fire fans get so scummy?
Posted by: Danny | November 06, 2008 at 11:06 PM"
____________________________________________

1998.

[Tim Crawford]

Fire_Juve, there's a difference between physical and completely taking out a guy's legs. That's what's known as "dirty". I'm pretty sure Khano Smith could tell you Mr. Thorrington should have gotten a red.

[chicagosoccerguy]

Funny to hear the rev fans talk about bad tackles. Who has more red cards this season, Fire or Revs? REVS Please reckless tackle, yes but every team has them.
Go Fire

[Darkman]

Having a revs fan tell us how classy we are not is like a blind man telling Van Gogh his paintings are crap.

Yeah sure the revies didn't have their starters...SO FREAKIN WHAT!!!!

You still have to play the game and the better team won. Case closed.

I find it sad that a team like the revies who have been in the MLS Cup for the past three straight years (They were the best in the east all those years)could only manage just over 5,000 "fans" at the their stadium. Just sad..sad, sad, sad.

Congrats new england for showing the U.S. how bad you really are.

Over 17,000 at Toyota Park last night was fun. The whole crowd was into the game and Section 8 was fun.

LET'S GO WIZARDS!!!!!

[rednow.red4ever]

The funny thing is the talk on BS is much more realistic. Ives' blog must bring out the whiny Revs' fans that (like the typical New Englander) thinks they are owed the finals appearance in every league...

[Justin]

First off, if I were a Revs fan and all of our stars were out with injuries or suspended, I wouldn't be showing up to a game in freezing cold temperatures. It is no coincidence they had crappy attendance last week.

Second, I am tired of all the talk of Blanco being such a good part of Chicago. Remember the incident in the U.S Open Cup? And not to mention, he dives like he should play for Italy. But when someone else dives he yaps his mouth. Shut up and play, quit disgracing the beautiful game. One last thing, just because you can kick the ball one way while looking the other, especially with no one around you like most of the time, does not make the the "sh*t". I APPLAUD Chris Albright for what he did. Personally, I would have loved to see him do more. I wonder how Chicago would fare without one of their best players. Or for the heck of it, without Blanco and Rolfe/McBride. Then they would be on level playing terms. Good job Chicago, you FINALLY beat the Revs for once, so go yapping your jaws. Sadly, it was against a bunch of 2nd team scrubs. We'll see if you can get past the likes of Columbus or Houston later on.....

[Tim Crawford]

Regardless of past events, the Revs have NOT been a dirty team at all this year. The only red I remember us deserving is the Khano one. Otherwise, we've been victimized by terrible officiating. I don't know how many dumb reds Shalrie has gotten over the years, and I think you can replay that Larentowicz red against the Fire a million times and it still won't look as bad as Thorrington's tackle last night. I'm just saying that he should've been sent off, and yet the Revs lose their 1,000,000th player with no consequences for the opposition. Next year, the Revs should gameplan to injure Thorrington, Herc, Angel, and Schelotto, and THEN we won't get reds. Sounds like a plan . . . Quit telling me the Revs of old were hard tackling. That's fine. We had consequences. Hard tackling is fine, but last night is criminal. Jeff Larentowicz in a hospital with Thorrington still on the field is absurd.