Fire 1 - 1 Revolution
Final
  for this game

Revs aim to open flood gates vs. stingy Fire defense

Jun 17, 2011 - 9:22 PM Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - The Chicago Fire travel to take on the New England Revolution in Major League Soccer action at Foxborough Stadium on Saturday.

The Fire are coming off a 1-0 win at Columbus on Sunday thanks to late substitute Cristian Nazarit's stoppage-time goal, Chicago's first goal in three games.

The win snapped an 11-game winless streak for the Fire (2-4-8), who are hoping to move up the table while there is still plenty of time left in the season.

"We just have to keep working hard," Fire defender Gonzalo Segares told the league's website. "If we get a few more points we're right there."

It has been the Fire's defense, however, that has contributed to the fact that it has just one loss in its last nine. The team has earned three straight clean sheets and given up just eight goals in the last nine.

"I think everyone is just maturing," Segares said about his team's defensive improvement. "I think the younger guys are maturing in those positions and we're not making the same mental mistakes that we were making at the beginning. I think we're sharper."

The Revs (3-7-5) hope they can break down the Chicago defense after being shut out in three of their last four. They have the league's worst offense by a large margin. On top of that, the team is on short rest after battling to a scoreless draw vs. Toronto on Wednesday.

"We need to score goals," New England coach Steve Nicol said after the game vs. Toronto. "We put pressure on them, which we wanted to do, make it hard for them. We did that. But again, we come back to the crux that we're just lacking that killer pass or that killer finish or killer run ... we were just half a yard short."

Nicol is hoping the goal draught ends vs. a stingy Fire defense on Saturday.

"We're almost [there], but almost doesn't get you goals," he said. "But we have to keep banging away, and all it'll take is a break, or a good ball or a finish or something and you hope that it'll kind of open the flood gates and we'll start putting the ball in the net more often."






Related News