Fire, Revolution tie 0-0 in playoff opener
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. _ The Chicago Fire left New England with their first ever playoff point and a chance to knock off the defending Eastern Conference champions at home.
Brian McBride's header into the net was negated by an offside call in the 76th minute, but the Fire escaped with a 0-0 draw against the Revolution in the opener of the Major League Soccer playoffs on Thursday night.
Chicago, which had never earned a win or a tie in six previous playoff trips to New England, returns home for the finale of the two-game, total goal Eastern Conference semifinal series.
"We didn't come here trying to get a point," McBride said. "But it's not a bad result for us."
It's the fourth straight year the Revolution and Fire have met in the playoffs, and the sixth time in the last seven seasons. New England has won four of the last six playoff meetings -- winning each of the last three years on its way to the MLS Cup final but losing in the championship game each time.
In that, Chicago has something the Revs don't, having won it all in 1998.
The Fire swept the Revolution in the season series, outscoring them 9-1 in three victories. But Chicago sat back in the first half -- not a single shot went on net -- before opening up in the second, when the game grew chippier and every possession seemed to end in a takedown or a dive.
"We've played these guys enough that we knew it was going to be this type of game," Chicago coach Denis Hamlett said.
McBride had the Fire's best chance of averting the tie when he bounced a cross from Justin Mapp past Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis. The linesman promptly raised his flag for offsides.
"In a playoff game, those are the situations you're going to get," Hamlett said. "It's just about making one play and trying to get it right."
New England's best chance to score came a few minutes from the end when Sainey Nyassi brought the ball in from the right side and had it taken away just a few yards from the net. A rebound was also blocked, and cleared by Mapp.
New England also had a good chance when Fire midfielder Logan Pause pulled down Jeff Larentowicz a half-step outside the penalty box in the 59th minute, but the free kick was straight at goalkeeper Jon Busch.
"I thought we deserved to win the game," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "But for a little bit of luck and a wee but of guile, we would have won the game."
New England's hopes of finally breaking through with a title were probably scuttled when Steve Ralston, who led the team in goals and assists, cracked his fibula and Taylor Twellman, the co-leader with eight goals, was sidelined indefinitely because of a concussion. And it didn't help when defender Gabriel Badilla and midfielder Khano Smith were suspended after being sent off in the regular-season finale.
"It's doesn't matter if they're missing or not missing," Busch said. "They're a good team, the defending (conference) champions. Now we know what we have to do when we go home."