For Joseph, it's a game of chances
Midfielder demonstrates a knack for goal scoring
FOXBOROUGH - Revolution midfielder Shalrie Joseph is discovering he can be an offensive threat this season.
In SuperLiga play against Atlante last Wednesday, Joseph's header off Steve Ralston's corner kick was the difference in a 1-0 win. The two also teamed up against Chivas USA July 20 when Joseph scored his first goal of the season in a 1-1 tie, also in SuperLiga play. He added a goal last night against the Dynamo in the SuperLiga final.
When it comes to set pieces, Joseph said, he is making more of an effort to use his 6-foot-3-inch, 180-pound frame to gain an advantage.
"The last couple of games, the coaches have been telling me just to be a little bit more aggressive, especially on set pieces," Joseph said. "I just want to be a difference-maker."
Joseph said Ralston and Mauricio Castro have been able to set him up with quality opportunities in front of the goal.
Scoring is not entirely new for Joseph, who in college at St. John's played forward, midfield, and defense.
"People always perceive me as a threat because of my height of 6-3," Joseph said. "I haven't done well enough to get on the ball at the end of those early on in the season and now it just comes my way and I get on target and it goes in.
"I just change my mentality and try to be more aggressive and be a little more dominant."
Revolution coach Steve Nicol said Joseph's recent scoring chances come with his knowledge.
"It's experience," Nicol said. "He's been there so many times and he's now starting to finish it. He's calming down and not getting excited too early. And he's just staying calm and making a good connection whether it's with his head or his foot."
News on Noonan
Forward Pat Noonan, who has been playing with Aalesund FK in Norway, is on his way back to the US, and an announcement is expected today about his future, according to league sources. The MLS rights to Noonan belong to the Revolution, but there have been reports that the Columbus Crew are interested in acquiring him. Noonan left the Revolution in January as the team's second all-time leading scorer, with 46 goals in all competitions.
His two cents on Nicol
The Revolution and Dynamo have played their share of competitive matches, but it has not affected the respect between the teams. Houston coach Dominic Kinnear said he can see how Nicol has been so effective with his team in recent years. "I think his players like to play for him," Kinnear said. "You can tell by the way they play and the way they interact with him on and off the field. He understands the game; you can tell by his player selection in the draft, and on game day he knows what he's doing. I don't think he tries to overcomplicate things."
Taking it year by year
SuperLiga doesn't appear to be going anywhere soon. In an interview with the Globe last week, MLS commissioner Don Garber said the tournament is a year-to-year agreement with the Mexican federation. "The assumption is that it will continue to go forward," Garber said. This is the second year of the tournament, which pits the top four Mexican teams against the top four MLS teams. Pachuca FC won the tournament last year when it defeated the Los Angeles Galaxy in a shootout.
Monique Walker can be reached at mwalker@globe.com
