Kickoff, for the nationally televised game on Fox Soccer Channel, will be 8:30 pm, but the broadcast starts 30 minutes earlier. WRKO 680 AM has the radio call.
Because this round consists of a two-game, aggregate-goals series, the Revolution can advance with a draw in tomorrow's game. A one goal loss will result in a 30-minute extra-time period because MLS, unlike other leagues around the globe, does not weigh away goals as a tie-breaker. If the game remains tied after over-time, the winner will be determined via penalty kicks.
The winner of this series will meet the winner of the other series between Real Salt Lake and defending champion Columbus Crew, on Saturday, November 14, to determine the Eastern Conference Champion.
Last Sunday Chicago got off to the better start against a Revolution side that was missing its top two offensive weapons, all-time leading scorer Taylor Twellman and captain Steve Ralston, both out with season ending injuries.
This good start lead to two decent chances in the opening minutes, both courtesy of former U.S. international Brian McBride, who was able to get open in the area but the first header sailed just wide, the second was far off target.
"We went out with the mindset that we wanted to get a win," Fire Coach Denis Hamlett said.
"I thought when we got the ball down on the ground and started passing the ball, we looked really dangerous," added Fire defender Brandon Prideaux.
In the 17th minute, the visitors did hit the target. Mexican international Cuauhtemoc Blanco, returned to the lineup after recovering from a hamstring injury, lifted a pass towards Marco Pappa, on the right side and he slipped past Jay Heaps before sending a low cross through the Revolution area. Keeper Matt Reis dove and pushed the ball away, but sent it right into Chris Rolfe's path and he fired home the rebound.
The local side finally got rewarded during injury time. Kenny Mansally took a free kick, awarded when C.J Brown fouled Sainey Nyassi just outside the box to make up for a bad pass Banner. He bent a sharp cross into the area, allowing Osei to shake his marker and flick a header past Busch.
The goal proved to be a turning point in the game.
The second half was played at a more conservative pace. Then, in the 52nd minute, the injury bug struck again when former Benfica and FC Porto striker Edgaras Jankauskas had to leave the game with an unannounced illness. Kevin Phelan took his place, as coach Steve Nicol elected to move Joseph to a forward spot. Joseph made the switch pay dividends when he turned in his first career playoff goal minutes later. The play started on a corner kick taken by Mauricio Castro, with Phelan firing towards the net. Gonzalo Segares tried to clear, but the ball landed in front of Larentowicz, who put it back in the area, where Phelan got a touch that placed the ball in front of Joseph and he fired past Busch.
This was the Revs first win over Chicago since claiming the Eastern Conference Championship on November 8, 2007. After the game, both sides seemed to agree that the Revolution had earned a well deserved victory.
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