FOXBOROUGH - The MLS playoff schedule has disrupted the Revolution's routine, as tomorrow's Eastern Conference championship game against Chicago will be played with less than five days' rest.
But midfielder Steve Ralston said he does not consider the setup a disadvantage.
"I'm glad we are playing [tomorrow]," Ralston said yesterday at practice. "We had a good session, probably our best of the year."
The Revolution took a 1-0 victory over New York in the two-game first-round series that concluded Saturday.
The Fire will have had a full week off after ousting D.C United in their first-round series.
The last time the Revolution met Chicago, the Fire took a 2-1 victory at
"We had just played in the US Open Cup [Oct. 3] and we played really well in the first half," Ralston said. "They scored right at the end of the half and took the wind out of our sails. They are the hottest team in the league and they have a lot of confidence."
The home team won in the teams' other two meetings, Chicago taking the season opener April 7, 1-0, and New England rolling May 6, 3-1.
Wish on a star
One of the Revolution's concerns tomorrow night will be limiting Chicago's Cuauhtemoc Blanco."We have to stay close to him and not give him time to get his head up," Ralston said. "He can hurt you by getting balls in behind the defense.
"He finds holes and pockets. So you have to keep him in front of you, and that's easier said than done because he roams around. We have to get to spots when the ball turns over so we're close enough to get to him."
Chicago's Wilman Conde presents another unpredictable factor. Conde has played in central defense, left back, holding midfield, and as an attacking midfielder since following coach Juan Carlos Osorio from Millonarios in Colombia to the Fire in August.
"Where he plays, you can toss a coin," Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. "You know he is going to be solid and you are going to get a good performance from him. Whether they use him wide, in the middle, or up front, he is going to cause problems."
