MLSnet.com

September 4, 2007

Revs survive Open Cup scare
By Kyle McCarthy

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. -- It wasn't easy. It wasn't pretty. But the New England Revolution survived and earned their second trip to a Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 victory against USL First Division side Carolina RailHawks in extra time at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

The night started poorly for New England as it conceded within the first six minutes despite holding the majority of the play.

The night worsened when the talismanic Shalrie Joseph earned his marching papers after a conflict with former Revolution teammate Connolly Edozien in the 42nd minute.

As such things are wont to do when the larger team takes on the smaller team in the latter stages of a cup competition, things gradually got better.

"We came in to win," Pat Noonan said. "We did what we could."

Jeff Larentowicz started the comeback in first-half stoppage time with a diving header to send the Revolution into the break on level terms.

New England pressed forward in the second half searching for the second goal -- and had a vital contribution from Michael Parkhurst in saving off the line.

"I think it was a combination of a lack of concentration and they hung with us in the final third," said Noonan as to why the match stayed knotted so long.

That cause was aided when Carolina was reduced to nine men when former D.C. United defender David Stokes was dismissed 10 minutes from time after he hauled Adam Cristman to the ground when Cristman was through on goal.

"Once the game opened up, we were bound to get chances," Noonan said.

With the MLS side up a man, the breakthrough was inevitable and Noonan capped a night in which he clanged two posts by scoring three minutes into extra time to send New England into the second Open Cup title game in club history.

Revolution head coach Steve Nicol said that his team "had chances it should have taken" but noted that it was always going to be difficult to secure passage to the team's first final since 2001. Los Angeles defeated New England 2-1 in extra time in that match at Titan Stadium in Fullerton, Calif.

"From the minute MLS teams join, it's going to be tough," Nicol said. "It was give and take tonight."

Part of that take included the RailHawks upending the script with Anthony Maher's sixth-minute goal.

"Credit to them for getting the early goal," Noonan said.

It was a shot over the bow to tell New England that the place in the final was not granted easily. Carolina constructed a stern front, one that earned praise from RailHawks head coach Scott Schweitzer.

"We played a great game," Schweitzer said. "I'm really proud. I thought we deserved the game."

But New England found a way to claw out the result through Larentowicz's equalizer and Noonan's extra-time finish.

"Adam saw me coming and he was unselfish," Noonan said of his winner. "He let me have a go at it."

Noonan's goal was, in part, developed through debutant Sainey Nyassi. The Gambian under-20 international made his debut on the evening and made the run that started the move that led to Noonan's goal.

"He had a part in the second goal," Nicol said of Nyassi. "He's got some ability. He showed tonight that he's got some talent."

Nyassi could be an important of the Revolution's bid for a first piece of hardware in club history in just less than a month's time, which will have to be achieved away from home without the efforts of Joseph.

Kyle McCarthy is a contributor to MLSnet.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Soccer or its clubs.