Revolution burned by Fire

FOXBOROUGH -- The Revolution's scoring struggles continued yesterday as they lost their hold on second place in the Eastern Conference. The Chicago Fire took a 1-0 victory over the Revolution, marking the sixth successive MLS match in which the Revolution have failed to score more than once and extending their scoreless streak to 252 minutes.

Chicago (7-8-7, 28 points) leads the Revolution (6-7-10, 28 points) on average points per game for second place. The teams will meet again in a US Open Cup game Wednesday in Bridgeview, Ill.

The Revolution's frustration became apparent after the game as coach Steve Nicol advanced through the center circle to show a stopwatch to referee Andrew Chapin, indicating that more time should have been allotted to the four minutes of injury time. Nicol was mostly upset about Chapin having cautioned both the Fire's Chad Barrett and the Revolution's Jay Heaps after a clash in the 31st minute.

``For me, there were two turning points," Nicol said. ``In the first half, [Barrett] should have been sent off -- if you lift your hands to anybody on the soccer field, you should leave the field -- and they should have been down to 10 men.

``And in the second half, Taylor [Twellman]'s header in the 6-yard box -- a player of his caliber has to put that in -- if he does, we go on to win. We wore them down completely in the second half. But you have to score on a free header."

Barrett floored Heaps with a two-hand shove to the chest after the players contested a high ball at the halfway line near the team benches.

But the Fire had taken the initiative in the early going, and the Revolution did not retaliate effectively until after Jose Cancela replaced Jeff Larentowicz after halftime.

The Revolution seemed slow arriving to the ball in the first half. Larentowicz (third minute) and Joe Franchino (39th) were cautioned for arriving late on tackles. The Revolution failed to break down the Chicago defense, either through Andy Dorman and Twellman in the middle of the field, or on the wings. Twellman broke through on his own for a left-foot blast that went wide in the 20th minute.

But the Fire had the most chances in the first half. In the 24th minute, Chris Armas lofted a long ball for Andy Herron, who was kept onside by defender James Riley; Herron took a couple of touches as Riley closed and goalkeeper Matt Reis advanced, then curled a shot from just inside the penalty area into the far side of the net in the 24th minute.

Chicago then went into defending mode, holding off the Revolution and benefiting as Twellman headed a Pat Noonan cross wide in the 49th minute.

``When you are leading on the road, the home team is going to make a push and that's what they did," Chicago coach Dave Sarachan said. ``But we expect there are going to be games like this where you have to grind it out and dig, and our guys did a good job getting through it."

The addition of Cancela quickly changed the dynamic.

Herron hit the right post in the second minute of the second half. Then, the Revolution had a succession of opportunities, starting with a Dorman drive saved by Zach Thornton in the 48th minute.

Cancela, who had not played since a July 14 loss to Real Salt Lake (3-1), improved the Revolution's midfield possession and earned free kicks. But the Revolution were unable to capitalize.

A Twellman goal was disallowed for offside in the 53d minute; a Noonan drive hit the bar in the 64th minute; Cancela and Ralston went close; and Twellman was called for a foul as Thornton grabbed a Cancela corner and fell over the goal line in the 88th minute.

``We had a poor first half and it's hard to figure it out because the way we practiced all week, everyone looked sharp," Nicol said. ``We didn't put into practice what we have been looking for and talking about.

``We were playing to feet into the middle, where they are strong. And when things aren't working, you have to change. Pepe [Cancela] did his bit and everyone stepped up. Pepe has qualities and he contributed when he came on."