Revs Approach 2nd Leg with Caution

Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz

After Saturday’s explosive performance at Crew Stadium, it would take a complete meltdown or a historic comeback to keep the Revolution from advancing to the Eastern Conference Finals. But don’t tell that to coach Jay Heaps.

Following his club’s four-goal offensive flurry in the first leg of the Conference Semifinals, Heaps was already contemplating the challenge that awaited the Revolution in Sunday’s return leg at Gillette Stadium.

“We know we have a quick turnaround in a week’s time to play the same team, and that’s very difficult,” Heaps told the media after the match. “The MLS Playoffs are difficult, because we have a physical game out here (in Columbus), and now we have to ramp it back up, and have another physical match on Sunday night.”

How physical that match proves to be will be one storyline worth watching on Sunday. After all, the Crew, who need at least three goals to overcome the aggregate goal deficit, might be better off focusing their energy on crashing New England’s net rather than pummeling their playmakers.

“Since we scored here (in Columbus),” Jermaine Jones told the media after the match, “we know it will now be difficult for them to come out and win that game in New England.”

Only two teams in recent MLS history have overcome multiple-goal deficits to advance on aggregate: the 2003 San Jose Earthquakes and the 2004 Kansas City Wizards, both of whom rebounded from two-goal ditches to prevail. But both comebacks were completed within the friendly confines of the each club’s home park.

One aspect of Saturday’s match that kept the Revolution from breathing a little easier going into Sunday’s contest was Federico Higuain’s stoppage time penalty strike, which came as a result of a handling call on Jose Goncalves inside the area. But after the match, Heaps stopped short of saying that it changed the dynamic of the series.

“We’ll see,” Heaps said. “You got to play out the series and hopefully we take care of business of home.”

To ensure that the Revolution take care of business on Sunday, veteran Chris Tierney said that they’ll have to cast the aggregate goal advantage aside. Instead of resting on their laurels, they’ll have to adopt the same approach seen last week, and go for the jugular.

“The mindset is the same as it was coming into today – which is (that) it’s a 0-0 game,” Tierney told the media after the match. “We always want to win, especially when we’re at home, so we’re not going to sit back and just defend our lead and try not to concede; we’re going to expect to win the game at home and we’re going to prepare this week to do so.”