Revolution hope their toughness kicks in

Seven of the Revolution's 13 games in US Open Cup competition since 1997 have been decided after the 90th minute. But Revolution coach Steve Nicol said the team would not practice taking penalty kicks in anticipation of tonight's match at Rochester, N.Y.

"You can practice them all you want," Nicol said. "But when it comes to the day, it's completely different. Practicing helps, but it is more a question of mental strength. And, also, physical strength."

The Revolution have had little success in overtime and/or penalty situations, the latest example an MLS Cup loss to Houston last November. The first time the Revolution played an extra-time match, they lost to the Long Island Rough Riders, 4-3, on a golden goal in a '97 US Open Cup match in New Britain, Conn.

The Revolution were so discouraged by the result they did not enter the competition again until 2000, when they experienced an even more devastating loss, this time against the Mid Michigan Bucks by a score of 1-0. Former Revolution coach Fernando Clavijo had convinced management to stage the game at Foxboro Stadium, though an extremely low turnout was expected in what was considered a lose-lose proposition.

But Clavijo's insistence in taking the US Open Cup seriously paid off the next year as the Revolution utilized the home-field advantage to advance to the final, a 2-1 overtime loss to the Los Angeles Galaxy in Fullerton, Calif., a preview of the next season's MLS Cup final.

Nicol has continued the trend of fielding the most competitive team possible in the tournament, which has been conducted annually since 1914, and said the Revolution plan to go all-out for a victory against the Raging Rhinos.

Last year, the Revolution defeated Rochester on penalties, Jeff Larentowicz converting the decider in the seventh round. Larentowicz (eye injury) and Shalrie Joseph (groin) will miss the game but are expected to return for the Revolution's visit to the New York Red Bulls Saturday.

Rochester was the last non-MLS team to win the Open Cup in 1999 and the Rhinos' leading scorer, Hamed Diallo, is so eager to play in the game he paid $1,000 to reschedule a flight to Paris for a meeting with immigration officials.

One of Rochester's starting defenders, Scott Palguta, played for the Cape Cod Crusaders when they won Premier Development League national championships in 2002 and '03.

The Crusaders recently had a 36-match unbeaten streak snapped but continued a 25-match regular-season home unbeaten streak with a 1-1 tie against the Albany Capitals Saturday in Barnstable. The Crusaders (6-1-6, 24 points), 2 points behind Brooklyn in the Northeast Division standings, meet the Long Island Rough Riders at 5 p.m. Saturday at Bowditch Stadium in Framingham in the opener of a doubleheader, followed by the Boston Renegades-Rough Riders women's game.

Revolution striker Taylor Twellman considers the US' experience in Copa America a positive one, despite defeats to Argentina (4-1), Paraguay (3-1), and Colombia (1-0).

"We defended well for 60 minutes against Argentina," Twellman said. "And if we had done the little things right in the second half, we would have had a chance to get a result. And we outplayed Paraguay but didn't get a result."

Twellman is anticipating further call-ups after playing in eight matches for the US in the Gold Cup and Copa America, his international career revived by coach Bob Bradley.

"Obviously, we didn't play well in Copa America, but it was great for me to get into meaningful games," Twellman said. "Looking to the future, I told Bob I want to be a part of it and I will do everything it takes to be on the team."

The Copa America, held in Venezuela for the first time in its 91-year history, has been an advertisement for wide-open play. The lowest-scoring quarterfinal match was Argentina's 4-0 win over Peru, a spectacular display of a team's ability to break down defenses with individual enterprise and teamwork. Argentina meets Mexico, a 6-0 winner over Paraguay, tomorrow. Brazil (6-1 over Chile) and Uruguay (4-1 over Venezuela) meet in the other semifinal tonight.

Revolution defender Amaechi Igwe has been playing as a reserve defender for the US in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Canada. The US upset Brazil, 2-1, on goals by the Red Bulls' Jozy Altidore in Ottawa last week and will meet Uruguay in the round of 16 tomorrow in Toronto.

The Brazilians also lost to Poland (1-0) but advanced to the next round against Spain in Burnaby, British Columbia, with one of the best third-place records.

The tournament, which started June 30 and concludes with the final July 22 in Toronto, has been a box office success with more than 1 million tickets sold.

Giuseppe Rossi could establish the highest transfer fee ever paid for a US-born player. Manchester United has set the price tag for Rossi, a native of Teaneck, N.J., at $10 million. Rossi scored nine goals while on loan to Parma in the second half of last season and could remain in Italy with either Milan or Parma or move to UEFA Cup champion Sevilla in Spain. Manchester United recently indicated Rossi's availability, a change in policy after coach Alex Ferguson had said Rossi could only leave the club on loan.

Frank Dell'Apa can be reached at f_dellapa@globe.com.