The Revolution rallied for a 2-1 win over the Chicago Fire in the opener of their MLS playoff series Sunday at Gillette Stadium. The return game of the total-goals series is scheduled at 8:30 p.m. Saturday in Bridgeview, Ill.

REVOLUTION-CHICAGO 2-1
REVOLUTION: Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Emmanuel Osei, Darrius Barnes, Jay Heaps; Sainey Nyassi (Wells Thompson 93d+), Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Kenny Mansally (Mauricio Castro 70th); Edgaras Jankauskas (Pat Phelan 52d), Kheli Dube.
CHICAGO: Jon Busch; Brandon Prideaux, C.J. Brown, Dasan Robinson, Mike Banner (Gonzalo Segares 64th); Chris Rolfe (Justin Mapp 88th), Loan Pause, Baggio Husidic, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Marco Pappa (Patrick Nyarko 74th); Brian McBride.
Referee: Baldomero Toledo. Goals: Rolfe 17th, Osei 46th+, Joseph 75th. Attendance: 7,416.

75TH MINUTE: Shalrie Joseph gave the Revolution a 2-1 lead over Chicago, roofing a close-in shot off a scramble following a corner.

69TH MINUTE: The Revolution moved Shalrie Joseph to striker as Edgaras Jankauskas departed with an "illness." Joseph led the Revolution with eight goals this season.

45TH MINUTE: Seconds before the halftime whistle, Emmanuel Osei tied the score, heading Kenny Mansally's free kick for the first goal of his MLS career.

Sainey Nyassi set up the score, winning possession against Mike Banner and C.J. Brown, then drawing a foul from Brown just beyond the penalty area on the left. Mansally's in-swinger curled to the goal area, Osei losing Banner and flicking past goalkeeper Jon Busch.

18TH MINUTE: Cuauhtemoc Blanco made his mark on the MLS playoffs in the early-going as the Chicago Fire took a 1-0 lead over the Revolution.

Chris Rolfe scored in the 17th minute, but it was Blanco's play setting up the goal.

Blanco, with his back to goal, played the ball into space, Marco Pappa running onto it on the right side of the penalty area. With Jay Heaps and Kenny Mansally converging on him, Pappa sent a low cross to the top of the goal area. The cross went between three defenders and goalkeeper Matt Reis, who made a diving stop, but popped the ball directly to Rolfe, who one-timed under the bar.

The Revolution set up in a 4-4-2 alignment for their opening playoff game against the Chicago Fire Sunday. The Fire countered with a 4-5-1, with Cuauhtemoc Blanco performing in an advanced midfield slot behind lone striker Brian McBride. Kickoff was set at 2 p.m.

REVOLUTION-CHICAGO
REVOLUTION: Matt Reis; Kevin Alston, Emmanuel Osei, Darrius Barnes, Jay Heaps; Sainey Nyassi, Shalrie Joseph, Jeff Larentowicz, Kenny Mansally; Edgaras Jankauskas, Kheli Dube.
CHICAGO: Jon Busch; Brandon Prideaux, C.J. Brown, Dasan Robinson, Mike Banner; Chris Rolfe, Loan Pause, Baggio Husidic, Cuauhtemoc Blanco, Marco Pappa; Brian McBride.
Referee: Baldomero Toledo.