REVS MAKE IT TO THE FINAL

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. (AP) -- Clint Dempsey scored four minutes into the game to lift New England over the Chicago Fire 1-0 on Sunday and help the Revolution advance to the MLS finals.

The Revolution will take on the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup on Sunday in Frisco, Texas, in a rematch of the 2002 final, which Los Angeles won 1-0 in double overtime.

``Sometimes you win games by attacking, some games you win by defending -- today we did both,'' Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. ``Chicago is a big, strong team. Certainly there were some hard challenges.''


And hard feelings, too, after Gonzalo Segares' apparent tying goal in stoppage time was disallowed because he was ruled to be offside.

``It's frustrating when you're battling and battling,'' said Chicago coach Dave Sarachan. ``If it's 100 percent offside, then hats off to the referee. If the game is about time of possession, we came out clearly ahead. But, we gave up an awful goal -- we fell asleep.''

Dan Hernandez quickly took a free kick after a Chicago foul, catching the Fire defense off-balance. He played the ball to Shalrie Joseph, who crossed it to the goal line, where a charging Dempsey touched it into the net.

Dempsey, the MLS Rookie of the Year in 2004, scored 10 goals during the regular season for New England.

``We did a good job of clearing the ball, but we have to do a better job of possessing the ball,'' Dempsey said.

Matt Reis made seven saves to record his 11th shutout of the season. The Revolution allowed 13 goals in 16 regular-season home games.

Reis made a great save on Chad Barrett in the 63rd minute, a blast from the left wing that was earmarked for the right corner. He then stopped a right-footed drive by Thiago inside the penalty area destined for the left corner of the net.

On Saturday night, Landon Donovan scored twice to put Los Angeles in the MLS Cup with a 2-0 victory over the Colorado Rapids.

New England, playing in its fourth straight Eastern Conference title match, earned its second trip to the MLS Cup.

 

The Fire had a stoppage time goal disallowed on a very close offsides call. As a Fire fan, I will admit he was offsides by the slightest bit. It was disappointing to lose, but expected. The Revs should win it all, but with the way LA has been playing, anything is possible.

 

Fire lose ..

Heh.. looks to me like Sarachan's job is safe for another year; he made a lot out of little and the Fire play like a team, again.

Meanwhile... I have to hope that NE win it all. Sampson, whom we all love to disdain, has done just enough to keep his job, as well. ..Now LA can slink off to enjoy the SoCal hiatus and let a consistently GOOD team have the glory.

While the manager, who LA might have been fired for his body image as much as anything, rebuilds Columbus into the wrecking Crew we have been promised for years.