2008 New England Revolution season

The 2008 New England Revolution season was the thirteenth season of the team's existence. The regular season began on March 29, 2008 with a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo and ended on November 6 with a 3-0 playoff loss to the Chicago Fire.

New England Revolution
2008 season
OwnerRobert Kraft
Head coachSteve Nicol
MLSConference: 3rd
Overall: 5th
MLS Cup PlayoffsConference Semifinals
U.S. Open CupSemifinals
SuperligaChampions
Champions LeaguePreliminary Round
Top goalscorerLeague: Ralston (8)
All: Ralston (9)
Average home league attendance17,580 (regular season)[1]
5,221 (playoffs)

Background

After losing a third straight MLS Cup final in 2007, the Revs began the 2008 season with high hopes. For the first time in team history, New England participated in four different competitions during the regular season. Their 2007 U.S. Open Cup had qualified them for the preliminary round of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, and their top-four finish qualified them for the 2008 North American SuperLiga. The Revs also played matches in the 2008 Open Cup and the 2008 regular season.

Review

The club started the season well, reaching their July league-fixture recess at the top of the overall MLS table. This early-season success continued in the 2008 SuperLiga, which the club won on August 5, 2008 by beating their 2-time MLS Cup rival the Houston Dynamo on penalties.[2] Injuries, fatigue, and fixture congestion eventually caught up with the Revs, however, and the team performed poorly after returning to MLS league play. In an effort to spell his regular starters, coach Steve Nicol started mostly reserves in an Open Cup semifinal against D.C. United. The Revs lost the match, and Nicol was widely criticized for the decision. The Revolution also crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions League, losing to regional minnows Joe Public FC of Trinidad and Tobago 6-1 on aggregate, including an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Gillette Stadium.

Mostly on the strength of their hot start, the Revolution managed to make the playoffs. They were unable to advance, however, as they drew 0-0 at home and lost 3-0 away to the Chicago Fire.[3]

Match results

  Win   Tie   Loss

MLS regular season
See also: 2008 Major League Soccer season
March 29, 2008 New England Revolution3–0Houston DynamoFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Ralston  15'
Cristman  32'
Nyassi  92+'		 (report) Mulrooney  58' Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 11,116
Referee: Michael Kennedy
April 3, 2008 Chicago Fire4–0New England RevolutionChicago, Illinois, United States
7:00 PM CDT Barrett  4'  50'
Mapp  17'
Frankowski  22'  39'
Blanco  37'
Gutierrez  89'		 (report) Larentowicz  7'
Joseph  7'		 Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 15,553
Referee: Baldomero Toledo
April 09, 2008 Kansas City Wizards1–3New England RevolutionKansas City, Missouri United States
7:00 PM CDT (report) Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark
Attendance: 8,096
Referee: Terry Vaughn
April 12, 2010 New England Revolution0–1Colorado RapidsFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
April 19, 2008 New York Red Bulls1–1New England RevolutionEast Rutherford, New Jersey United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Giants Stadium
April 24, 2008 FC Dallas0–1New England RevolutionFrisco, Texas, United States
7:30 PM CDT Stadium: Pizza Hut Park
May 3, 2008 New England Revolution0–3Chicago FireFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
May 11, 2008 Chivas USA1–2New England RevolutionCarson, California, United States
12:00 PM PDT Stadium: Home Depot Center
May 17, 2008 New England Revolution2–0San Jose EarthquakesFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
May 24, 2008 Columbus Crew0–1New England RevolutionColumbus, Ohio, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium
May 29, 2008 New England Revolution2–2D.C. UnitedFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
June 6, 2008 New England Revolution2–1FC DallasFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
6:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
June 12, 2008 Houston Dynamo0–2New England RevolutionHouston, Texas, United States
8:00 PM CDT Stadium: Robertson Stadium
June 18, 2008 New England Revolution1–1New York Red BullsFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
June 21, 2008 Real Salt Lake2 - 1New England RevolutionSalt Lake City, Utah, United States
7:30 PM MDT Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium
June 28, 2008 New England Revolution2 - 1Toronto FCFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
July 4, 2008 Los Angeles Galaxy1 - 2New England RevolutionCarson, California, United States
PDT Stadium: Home Depot Center
August 9, 2008 New England Revolution1 - 2Chicago FireFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
August 16, 2008 San Jose Earthquakes4 - 0New England RevolutionSan Jose, California, United States
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Buck Shaw Stadium
August 20, 2008 New England Revolution2 - 1D.C. UnitedFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
August 23, 2008 Toronto FC1 - 1New England RevolutionToronto, Ontario, Canada
7:30 PM Stadium: BMO Field
August 30, 2008 New England Revolution2 - 2Los Angeles GalaxyFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
September 6, 2008 Columbus Crew4 - 0New England RevolutionColumbus, Ohio, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium
September 11, 2008 New England Revolution4 - 0Chivas USAFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:00 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
September 20, 2008 Colorado Rapids1 - 1New England RevolutionCommerce City, Colorado, United States
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park
September 27, 2008 New England Revolution0 - 1Columbus CrewFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
October 4, 2008 New England Revolution2 - 2Real Salt LakeFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
October 11, 2008 Kansas City Wizards1 - 0New England RevolutionKansas City, Kansas, United States
7:00 PM CDT Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark
October 16, 2008 D.C. United2 - 1New England RevolutionWashington, D.C., United States
8:00 PM EDT Stadium: RFK Stadium
October 25, 2008 New England Revolution3 - 1Kansas City WizardsFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
7:30 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium

Open Cup
See also: 2008 U.S. Open Cup
July 1, 2008 Third RoundNew England Revolution3–0Richmond KickersNew Britain, Connecticut, United States
7:00 PM EDT Brill  46'
Germanese  63'
Twellman  67'		 (report) Stadium: Veteran's Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 3,950
Referee: Tony Russo
July 8, 2008 QuarterfinalsNew England Revolution1–1
(5-3 p)		Crystal Palace BaltimoreNew Britain, Connecticut, United States
7:00 PM EDT Mansally  6'
Igwe  33'
Hilgenbrinck  59'		 (report) Lader  20'
Teixeira  78'
Harkin  109'
Flores  119'		 Stadium: Veteran's Memorial Stadium
Attendance: 2,590
Referee: Hilario Grajeda
Penalties
Hilgenbrinck
Dube
Tierney
Igwe
Castro 		Harada
Harkin
Mbuta
Teixeira
August 12, 2008 SemifinalsD.C. United3–1New England RevolutionWashington, D.C., United States
7:30 PM EDT Emilio  4'  81'
Quaranta  48'
McTavish  50'		 (report) Germanese  34'
Igwe  38'
Thompson 		Stadium: RFK Stadium
Attendance: 6,797
Referee: Jorge Gonzalez

SuperLiga
See also: 2008 North American SuperLiga
July 14, 2008 Group BNew England Revolution 1 - 0 Santos LagunaFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 PM EDT Dube  70' (report) Rodriguez  40' Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 10,118
Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde
July 16, 2008 Group BNew England Revolution 1 - 0 PachucaFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 PM EDT Smith  96+' (pen.) (report) Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 9,614
Referee: Walter Quesada
July 20, 2008 Group BChivas USA 1 - 1 New England RevolutionFullerton, California, United States
5:00 PM PDT Razov  59' (report) Joseph  78' Stadium: Titan Stadium
Attendance: 4,738
Referee: Abiodun Okulaja
July 30, 2008 SemifinalNew England Revolution 1–0 PueblaFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 PM EDT Joseph  30'
Heaps  90+'		 (report) Rey  85'
Zamora  90+' 
Vilar  90+' 
Muñoz  90+'
Venegas  90+'		 Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 8,302
Referee: Carlos Batres
August 5, 2008 Final New England Revolution2–2
(6–5 p)		 Houston DynamoFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 EDT Ralston  41'
Joseph  82',  102'		 Report Davis  14'
Jaqua  18'
Kamara  98'		 Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 9,242
Referee: Howard Webb
Penalties
Ralston
Reis
Joseph
Twellman
Smith
Larentowicz
Tierney
Albright 		Waibel
Wondolowski
De Rosario
Ching
Clark
Barrett
Kamara
Ashe

Champions League
August 26, 2008 Preliminary RoundJoe Public 2–1 New England RevolutionMacoya, Trinidad and Tobago
9:00 EDT Richardson  50'
Gay  70'		 Castro  76' (pen.) Stadium: Marvin Lee Stadium
Attendance: 2,100
Referee: Courtney Campbell
September 2, 2008 Preliminary RoundNew England Revolution 0–4 Joe PublicFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 EDT Richardson  17'  45'  81'
Nelson  48'		 Stadium: Gillette Stadium
Attendance: 4,000
Referee: Steven Depiero

Playoffs
See also: 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
October 30, 2008 Conference SemifinalsNew England Revolution0–0Chicago FireFoxborough, Massachusetts, United States
8:00 PM EDT Stadium: Gillette Stadium
November 6, 2008 Conference SemifinalsChicago Fire3–0New England RevolutionBridgeview, Illinois, United States
7:45 PM CDT Thorrington  36'
Rolfe  47+'
Conde  49'
Busch  62'
Segares  74'		 (report) Albright
Igwe  47'
Joseph  53'		 Stadium: Toyota Park
Attendance: 17,312
Referee: Jair Marrufo

Standings

Conference

Eastern Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 Columbus Crew 57 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14
2 Chicago Fire 46 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11
3 New England Revolution 43 30 12 11 7 40 43 –3
4 Kansas City Wizards 42 30 11 10 9 37 39 –2
5 New York Red Bulls 39 30 10 11 9 42 48 –6
6 D.C. United 37 30 11 15 4 43 51 –8
7 Toronto FC 35 30 9 13 8 34 43 –9
2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
2008 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card)

Overall

Pos Team Pld W L D GF GA GD Pts
1 Columbus Crew (SS, E1) 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14 57 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
2 Houston Dynamo (W1) 30 13 5 12 45 32 +13 51
3 Chicago Fire 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11 46 2009 North American SuperLiga 4
4 Chivas USA 30 12 11 7 40 41 −1 43
5 New England Revolution 30 12 11 7 40 43 −3 43
6 Kansas City Wizards 30 11 10 9 37 39 −2 42
7 Real Salt Lake 30 10 10 10 40 39 +1 40 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
8 New York Red Bulls 30 10 11 9 42 48 −6 39 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 3
9 Colorado Rapids 30 11 14 5 44 45 −1 38
10 D.C. United 30 11 15 4 43 51 −8 37 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 3
11 FC Dallas 30 8 10 12 45 41 +4 36
12 Toronto FC 30 9 13 8 34 43 −9 35
13 LA Galaxy 30 8 13 9 55 62 −7 33
14 San Jose Earthquakes 30 8 13 9 32 38 −6 33
Source:

(SS) = Supporters Shield winner; (E1) = Eastern Conference champion; (W1) = Western Conference champion

  • ^Note 1 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team.
    If they had qualified for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
  • ^Note 2 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Soccer Championship.
    If they had qualified for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
  • ^Note 3 - The winner of the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield (Columbus Crew) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. As they also won MLS 2008, the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield runner-up (Houston Dynamo) also entered the Group Stage. The runner-up of MLS Cup 2008 (New York Red Bulls) and the winner of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup (D.C. United) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round.
  • ^Note 4 - SuperLiga 2009 berths are awarded to the top 4 finishing teams from MLS who do not qualify for Champions League (Chicago, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City).

Notes
  1. "2008 Full Season Stats". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 5, 2010. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  2. McCarthy, Kyle (August 6, 2008). "Revs Capture SuperLiga 2008 Crown". Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  3. "Fire 3, Revolution 0". New England Revolution. November 6, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2010.

External Links

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.