Revolution can't close deal on Califf
GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador -- The Revolution were on the verge this week of acquiring defender Danny Califf from Los Angeles, but the Galaxy made a last-minute deal to send him to San Jose, according to New England coach Steve Nicol.
"We are obviously disappointed," Nicol said, after the Revolution lost, 2-1, to Barcelona SC in their final preseason match Thursday night. "We thought we had [Califf] and he wanted to come to the Revolution. But San Jose came in and took him."
Califf, a former United States national team player, missed most of last season with injuries to both knees.
"We spoke to the doctors and they said everything was OK," Nicol said. "We are going to fly in another [defender] next week." San Jose traded a future player allocation to the Galaxy for Califf on Wednesday.
The Revolution are soon expected to add Brazilian midfielder Cassio, and are counting on the return of four national team players for the MLS opener at San Jose a week from today.
The Revolution, 2-1-1 in the preseason, squandered the lead for the second time in three days and had two players ejected in the loss to Barcelona in the southern port town of Machala. On Tuesday, the Revolution played to a 2-2 tie with Emelec's Under-20 team, the Ecuadoran age-group champions.
Against Barcelona, Jose Cancela opened the scoring as he did against Emelec, setting himself up by taking the ball off a defender. Cancela made the steal about 25 yards from goal, took a touch past another defender to the edge of the penalty area, and slammed a left-footed shot just under the crossbar in the 33d minute, leaving goalkeeper Daniel Camacho no chance for a save. Barcelona countered six minutes later, Ezekial Amaya gaining possession in midfield and holding off Cancela with a hand to the face. Referee Roberto Arculla allowed play to continue while Cancela protested, and Barcelona moved forward, Amaya roofing a left-footed shot from 22 yards. A minute later, Amaya and the Revolution's James Riley were cautioned after clashing 35 yards from the Revolution goal.
The Revolution had chances to regain the lead just before the halftime whistle. Cancela was taken down by Juan Manuel Herbella, who was cautioned, then sent a bicycle kick high and wide. Cancela's pressure led to another turnover, this time Khano Smith making the steal, dribbling past a defender into the left side of the penalty area, then sending a low, left-footed shot past the goalkeeper but inches wide to the right of the net.
Danny "El Cholo" Vera headed in a cross from Amaya to break the tie in the 12th minute of the second half. Four minutes later, forward Connally Edozien was ejected for a tackle from behind, the Revolution switching to a 3-5-1 formation for the rest of the match. Joe Franchino was ejected for a foul just before the final whistle, the fourth Revolution player to be red-carded in two games.
"The only thing you are guaranteed in games like this is that decisions are going to go against you," Nicol said. "The red card [on Edozien] was a joke. But you have to accept it.
"I thought we did well. We passed the ball well and had chances, but, unfortunately, we didn't take them, and that has bitten us in the back before. When we went down to 10 men, I thought we did well, because the one thing we didn't want to do is to start chasing it. We let them put themselves to sleep knocking it around endlessly and, eventually, we got possession. They didn't cause us a lot of problems because we were in good positions. We made two mistakes and got punished. We should have closed them down better on the first goal, and it was an error in judgment on the second, Michael [Parkhurst] tried to hit it back to [goalkeeper Matt Reis] and misjudged it.
"[The Revolution] had to do some extra [running] and that won't do them any harm at this stage. This showed our fitness is good, and that is one thing you are always unsure of at this stage.
"The trip was less than perfect, I would be lying to you if I said anything different. The games we have had and the trip has not been the best for preparation. But we have good players and good spirit and we won't be too far away when we start the season."
