FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – When it comes to clinching a spot in the Audi 2015 MLS Cup Playoffs, the New England Revolution are hoping third time’s the charm.
The Revs (13-10-8, 47 pts.) will have their third crack at securing a postseason berth on Saturday night when they visit the already-eliminated Chicago Fire (7-18-6, 27 pts.) at Toyota Park. A win or draw would lock up a playoff spot for New England, who would also clinch if Orlando City SC drops points against the Montreal Impact.
Kickoff is set for 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday night, with local television coverage on Comcast SportsNet. Radio listeners can catch the call on both 98.5 The Sports Hub (English) and WMVX 1570 AM (Portuguese).
Current Form: 2nd-place Revs aim to lock up playoff berth; Fire under new leadership
Philadelphia Union goalkeeper Andre Blake’s otherworldly performance – a club-record 10 saves, many spectacular – prevented the Revs from clinching their playoff spot last weekend, as they were forced to settle for a 1-1 draw on a night they saw their five-game home winning streak come to an end.
READ: Patient Revs confident goals will come so long as chances continue
Lee Nguyen actually had the Revs in front following a first-half penalty kick, but Fernando Aristeguieta capitalized on the Union’s only real chance to draw the visitors level, leaving the Revs frustrated at their inability to put their opponents away despite a heavy 11-2 advantage in shots on target.
“Not exactly what we wanted, but I think we have to move forward now,” said Diego Fagundez. “It’s going to be a tough stretch coming up and we just have to fight to the end and make sure that one chance, they don’t score, and that we can finish our others.”
Chicago is the only side officially eliminated from playoff contention entering this weekend’s action, having lost all five of their games in the month of September. All five of those losses, however, were by a single goal; the Fire haven’t lost by multiple goals since mid-July.
The last two losses have been under the direction of interim head coach Brian Bliss, who has the Fire operating a little differently since taking over for Frank Yallop two weeks ago.
“We’re looking at film differently with Brian Bliss there now,” said head coach Jay Heaps. “There’s a little different feel in how they are and how they’re set up, but it’s not total, drastic change. It’s very hard to do that in a short period of time.”
Past Meetings: Season series wraps up as Revs search for another result in Chicago
Saturday night’s meeting at Toyota Park will round out the three-game season series between the Revs and Fire, with New England looking to make it seven points from a possible nine against their rivals.
A goal-of-the-year candidate from Diego Fagundez and a clever finish from Charlie Davies helped the Revolution to a 2-0 win at Gillette Stadium back in June, while Kelyn Rowe’s late goal helped the Revolution salvage a 2-2 draw in the most recent meeting at Toyota Park in late July.
After the Revs went winless in 10 regular-season meetings with the Fire between 2007 and 2011, Heaps has drastically altered the club’s fortunes in this series since taking over in 2012; the Revolution are 6-3-2 in 11 meetings with Chicago since the current head coach took the helm.
Injury Report: A healthy Jones puts Revs near 100 percent down the stretch run
Jermaine Jones, making his second straight 90-minute appearance in last weekend’s draw with Philadelphia, earned high praise from Heaps after inspiring the Revolution’s late push for a match winner.
Although a winner never came, Jones was instrumental in spurring his side’s emotional response after conceding, as the Revs pelted Blake with eight shots on target in the final 20 minutes.
“In terms of what Jermaine brought from a physical standpoint, what he brought from a ball-wining standpoint, what he brought from a presence standpoint, from a leadership standpoint – that was well beyond 100 percent,” said Heaps. “I thought he was awesome, I really did.
“That was, for me, the big story for our group – really picking a time to lead and he certainly did.”
Final Thoughts: Revs expect prideful Fire to “make it as hard as possible” on Saturday
“They’re still playing for pride,” Fagundez said of the Fire. “They want to show what kind of team they are – that they want to win at home. We just have to be ready for that.
“We still have that fight. We can still clinch a playoff spot, so they’re going to make it as hard as possible to get there. We just have to go there and do everything we can to get those three points.”
