Revolution cross signals

“I said, ‘Away,’ and [Osei] must have thought I said, ‘Keeper,’ ’’ Reis said of Gino Padula’s 34th-minute free kick. “Just a miscommunication and, unfortunately, it cost us the game.’’

The failure to communicate, Cool Hand Luke-style defending left the Revolution (10-10-8, 38 points) in the eighth and final playoff qualifying place in the overall MLS standings with two matches remaining, against Chicago Saturday and at Columbus. The Revolution have advanced to the playoffs seven successive seasons.

“I definitely think we have enough talent to get to the playoffs,’’ Reis said. “We just have to regroup and refocus and try again.’’

The Revolution played aggressively in the opening half, committing three yellow-card offenses. Osei set the tone with a hard foul on Eddie Gaven, referee Paul Ward cautioning him in the seventh minute. But, on the deciding play, Osei failed to aggressively head the ball away, appearing to avoid it intentionally in an attempt to leave it for Reis, allowing the ball to bounce into the goal.

“There’s really two things,’’ Revolution coach Steve Nicol said. “Whatever we did, whatever we tried, there was no quality in it. There’s no getting away from it. At the same time, we have what’s definitely a penalty, which puts us 1-nil ahead. It’s a huge call for us. Absolutely, we didn’t play with any quality, but if you get a penalty and go 1-nil ahead, it’s a totally different ballgame.’’

The Revolution appealed for a penalty after defender Andy Iro appeared to handle in the 30th minute. In fact, a Revolution official contacted the league office about the non-call and was told it should have been ruled a penalty kick, according to a team source.

Columbus’s best opportunities were off set pieces, as the Crew (13-5-10, 49 points) moved central defenders Eric Brunner and Iro, plus striker Steven Lenhart, into the goal area. Lenhart’s physicality seemed to knock the Revolution central defense off balance; he was whistled for a foul, charging into Reis on a seventh-minute free kick.

The Revolution failed to produce many threats in the opening half, or early in the second half. In the 59th minute, Shalrie Joseph went to forward, Michael Videira replacing Kenny Mansally and going to central midfield. The tactical change helped spark the Revolution. Crew midfielder Emmanuel Ekpo was red-carded, a harsh decision by Ward, in a clash with Kevin Alston in the 65th minute.

And the Revolution were on the verge of capitalizing on the numerical advantage. Their best chance, though, was a Sainey Nyassi volley, punched away by William Hesmer, Joseph going wide on the rebound in the 68th minute. The sequence started as Alston launched Nyassi on the right wing, Nyassi’s goal-bound rocket stopped. The Revolution went to a three-defender setup in the 69th minute, adding Nico Colaluca to the attacking in place of Osei. The Revolution went forward desperately in the final minutes, adding Mauricio Castro on the left wing in the 78th minute.

But the Revolution failed to remain composed and were unsuccessful in attempting to play directly into the Crew penalty area.

“Everybody knows how important it is,’’ Nicol said, “and were they forcing it a little? Yes.’’

The defending MLS Cup champion Crew is two points from clinching the best regular-season record.

“We defended well, they get clear chances,’’ Columbus coach Robert Warzycha said. “We are going to try [to repeat]. Whoever gets the momentum in the end is going to win.’’

Revolution assistant coach Paul Mariner could be headed to England. Mariner, 56, has received an offer from Plymouth Argyle, one of the clubs he starred for as a player, to become technical director of the League Championship (second division) team. Mariner, who scored 13 goals in 35 appearances for England’s national team, has been top assistant to Nicol since 2004. “Plymouth has asked permission to speak to Paul from our organization,’’ Revolution vice president of player personnel Mike Burns said before last night’s game. “We’ve granted that. They have spoken to him, they have had conversations. But nothing is final.’’ Mariner would not comment. “Paul brought an excellent change to this club and to me, personally, he changed me 100 percent as a player,’’ Burns said. “The combination of Stevie and Paul has been phenomenal.’’