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U.S. Open Cup preview as Revs, Hoops square off

Fri 14th, September 2007

Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - FC Dallas travels to New England Saturday for a Major League Soccer fixture between two teams that are virtual locks for the upcoming MLS Cup playoffs.

The Revs are currently second in the East, seven points back of leaders D.C. with a game in hand while the Hoops are third in the West, within striking distance of the top two teams - CD Chivas USA and the Houston Dynamo. In the second and final league match between the two clubs, they will be battling for playoff position as well as sending a message for an upcoming game for the U.S. Open Cup championship, which will be played between the Revs and Hoops at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco, Texas - the home of FC Dallas - on Oct. 3. The first meeting saw the Revs pull out a 1-0 win in Frisco behind a Taylor Twellman tally in the first month of the season. Both teams have evolved since that early season contest, meaning it should have no relevance to Saturday's fixture. The Revolution are coming off a 4-2 loss to D.C. United, the current league leaders. Coach Steve Nicol was ejected from that game and will be suspended for Saturday's contest after arguing a non-call that led to D.C.'s go-ahead goal Sunday. "I'm not talking about a hairline decision one way or the other," Nicol said. "I'm talking about a free kick that everybody within 20 yards could see what it was. Not one of them saw it? That's what they'll probably tell you. And if they did see it - are you kidding me?" FC Dallas is coming off a 2-0 win over Toronto FC, but head coach Steve Morrow wasn't happy that it took two penalty kick goals to best the expansion franchise. "I didn't think it was our best night," Morrow said. "We're happy to get the win and I think we deserved to get three points. It's often the sign of a good team when you don't play your best, win 2-0 and keep a clean sheet." The Hoops will have to step up their game considerably to be successful at Gillette Stadium against the second highest scoring team in the league. TFC, currently on a league-record 732 minute scoreless streak and the lowest scoring team in the league, had numerous quality chances on a shaky Dallas defense last week. "We certainly gave up a few more opportunities than I would have liked and at times, it was a bit uncomfortable," Morrow said of the Toronto fixture. "They got the ball into the box a lot. I thought we needed to get a little more pressure on that first ball and stop the delivery in the first place. We could have done a better job in those situations of marking in the box. I thought we dealt well with their direct style for the most part." The Revs have a number of attacking options with Twellman and his team-leading 12 goals leading the way. Andy Dorman, Pat Noonan, Adam Cristman, Shalrie Joseph and Steve Ralston are just a handful of players who can find the back of the net on the New England roster. New England will also have to be wary of the Dallas attack that features Juan Toja, Carlos Ruiz and Denilson among others. Denilson, the league's latest designated player signing, scored his first MLS goal last week against Toronto and is slowly finding his groove with his new team. "He nearly got on the end of a few things," Morrow said. "We just have to get used to the way Denilson plays. When he gets on the ball, we have to make runs. I think it will take a few games to adjust to that." New England will clinch a spot in the '07 playoffs this weekend if it defeats FC Dallas on Saturday, Columbus fails loses at Kansas City and CD Chivas USA beats Colorado on Sunday. After Saturday's fixture, New England will travel to Eastern rival Red Bull New York for a Sept. 22 fixture while the Hoops host playoff bubble team, Chicago, on Thursday.