Fire can't fend off Revs' rally

Chicago scores first, but New England comeback sets up second leg

Joseph bundled home from close range after Pat Phelan poked Jeff Larentowicz's cross into his path after Chicago failed to clear from a corner. Joseph's strike capped the Revolution comeback after Emmanuel Osei's header in first-half stoppage time canceled out Chris Rolfe's 17th-minute opener.

The result hands New England a narrow advantage heading into the second leg at Toyota Park next Saturday night.

Chicago coach Denis Hamlett made one change to the side that defeated Chivas USA 1-0 on Oct. 22. Cuauhtemoc Blanco recovered from a hamstring injury to take his place in the starting XI. Patrick Nyarko made way for the Mexican international with Rolfe maintaining his place in the side. Gonzalo Segares (left MCL sprain) and John Thorrington (athletic pubalgia) were fit enough to make the bench, but Wilman Conde (migraines/hip contusion) didn't make the trip.

New England retained the same starting XI that defeated Columbus 1-0 at Crew Stadium to seal a playoff berth last Sunday. Revolution coach Steve Nicol had no fresh injury doubts with Larentowicz continuing to soldier on despite a right knee bone bruise. After grabbing two draws with the Fire during the regular season, the Revolution hoped to emerge with their first victory against Chicago since the 2007 Eastern Conference final in order to build a cushion ahead of next Saturday's return match.

Chicago started the livelier of the two sides and constructed two half-chances for Brian McBride within the first eight minutes. McBride did well to stoop to push a header just wide of the far post before sending a diving header well wide of the near post moments later.

New England gradually tried to push out and drew a free kick in a dangerous spot after 13 minutes when C.J. Brown hauled Kenny Mansally down on the edge of the penalty area. Larentowicz couldn't replicate his free-kick winner in Columbus as he drove his low effort into the Fire wall.

Rolfe made the Revolution pay for the missed opportunity on 17 minutes as he handed the Fire the opener. The move started with Blanco's sumptuous ball over the top for Marco Pappa down the right side. Pappa eluded Jay Heaps and served a low cross through the penalty area. Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis dove to divert the effort away, but pushed it right to Rolfe on the penalty spot and the Fire attacker tucked home to draw first blood.

McBride nearly doubled the advantage three minutes later. Rolfe created just enough space down the right side to send in a cross. McBride hit it first-time with his right foot and watched as the ball smacked the far post and bounced away.

Larentowicz passed on a gilt-edged chance to equalize on 25 minutes. Busch rushed out to punch away from Joseph on the left edge of the penalty area, but collided with the midfielder and didn't get much purchase on the clearance either. With Busch still on the ground well out of the goalmouth, Joseph pulled back for Larentowicz to tuck into the empty net, but Larentowicz hit the outside of the left post.

New England started to turn the screw as the first half progressed and pushed extra bodies into the attack in search of the equalizer. Larentowicz drew a fine diving save out of Busch in the 31st minute as the Fire 'keeper shook off the effects of hitting his head on the ground in the clash with Joseph. Osei then rattled the side of the goal frame after good work by Heaps in the corner set the Revs center back up for a rare attacking foray.

Osei notched his first MLS goal in the first minute of first-half stoppage time. The active Sainey Nyassi tempted Brown into conceding a free kick on the right wing. Mansally whipped in the subsequent free kick and Osei beat Mike Banner to the ball and flicked home the effort with the back of his head to give the Revs a precious goal and square the proceedings heading into halftime.

Although there continued to be plenty of space as the match entered the second stanza, the chances decreased considerably in its early stages.

New England switched Joseph up top in the 52nd minute as Phelan entered the match in place of Edgaras Jankauskas after the Lithuanian forward had to leave the match with an illness. Joseph marked his switch by dragging wide after Kheli Dube flicked him through on 63 minutes.

Chicago went close to reclaiming the lead in the 71st minute. Darrius Barnes did well to head Pappa's cross out of the penalty area, but could only direct it into the middle. Baggio Husidic hit the clearance first time and rang the underside of the crossbar with the lash, the ball bouncing almost straight down onto the line and then away from goal.

Joseph notched his first career playoff goal by polishing off an almighty scrum in the penalty area with a quarter of an hour to play. New England substitute Mauricio Castro swung a corner in from the right. Phelan took advantage of Brown's slip and headed straight at Busch. Fire substitute Gonzalo Segares hooked clear as far as Larentowicz on the right side. Larentowicz drove a low cross back into the mix, Phelan poked to Joseph and he beat Busch to the ball to bundle home.

Nyassi nearly doubled the lead three minutes later after he volleyed off the outside of the near post. That effort was the closest either side would come to adding to the scoreline in the late stages as the Revolution earned a one-goal advantage to take to Toyota Park ahead of next Saturday's decisive second leg.

Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com.

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