
The New England Revolution fell 2-0 to the Chicago Fire in the second leg of the Eastern Conference Semifinals in front of a sell-out crowd of 21,528 at Toyota Park. The Revolution beat the Fire 2-1 at Gillette, but the final result (3-2) of the aggregate goal series sent the Fire forward in the playoffs and New England off to the golf course.
John Thorrington scored first for the Fire in the 35th minute assisted by Marco Pappa and Brandon Prideaux. Cuauhtemoc Blanco executed the decisive lethal strike in the 83rd minute after a misplay by Emmanuel Osei with Patrick Nyarko led to chaos in front of the net.
The first half was punctuated by aimless long balls and giveaways by both teams, but as the Fire gained traction in the second half the Revolution fell back and Chicago battered keeper Matt Reis, who was forced to make ten saves. Altogether the Fire pelted the Revolution with 21 shots, 12 on goal, while New England lobbed 12 in that direction with four on target.
New England was further hampered when recent substitute Mauricio Castro was knocked into the boards and cut his hand, requiring stitches and an additional sub, Wells Thompson.
The Fire now face Real Salt Lake at Toyota Park next week for the Eastern Conference Championship.
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