MLS Playoffs Player Ratings: NE Revolution 2-1 Chicago Fire
Job Busch – 5
He had no time to react on Osei’s goal from a set piece, but fumbled the ball and looked timid when Joseph scored the game winning goal. Would have conceded more if not for the post.
Brandon Prideaux – 7
Played his part on the defensive side and got forward well, providing several combination passes to spring Pappa and Blanco. Faded out of the attack in the second half, but had several goal-saving interceptions at the back.
Dasan Robinson - 6
He effectively challenged every long ball to Jankauskas, but really struggled with Shalrie. He failed to clear several crosses from the opposite side, but Prideaux bailed him out.
C.J. Brown – 6
Marked Dube out of the game. He conceded the free kick that lead to the goal, but was put in that situation by a bad pass from Banner.
Mike Banner – 4
Gave possession away far too many times. His horrible back-pass forced Brown to concede a free kick and Banner let Osei get free to score the equalizer. Should be angry with himself, and you wouldn’t like him when he’s angry.
Chris Rolfe – 7
Provided several key passes to open up the New England defense. Most importantly, when the ball fell to him early in the first half he calmly put it in the goal.
Logan Pause – 5.5
Quietly went about his job sitting in front of the back four and played a simple passing game. Along with Husudic, he allowed Larentowicz and Joseph too many chances.
Baggio Husidic – 6
Did nothing in the first half, but in the second half a tactical adjustment moved him closer to goal and greatly improved his impact. He rattled the cross-bar with an incredible shot, but wasted his other chances. Defensively he did little to help Pause.
Marco Pappa – 6.5
He looked great in the first half, firing in a series of effective crosses, including the one that lead to the Rolfe’s goal. Disappeared in the second half before being substituted.
Cauhtemoc Blanco – 5.5
Was his usually creative self, but failed to sync up with McBride and struggled to get away from New England’s fast, young defenders.
Brian McBride – 5
Got on the end of several crosses early in the game, but his headers were off-target before he rattled the goal post. Largely marked out of the game by Barnes in the second half.
Substitutes
Gonzales Segares - 5
Replaced Mike Banner, but struggled with Nyassi and didn’t add anything to the attack.
Patrick Nyarko – NA
Justin Mapp – NA
New England Revolution
Matt Reis - 5
He gifted Chris Rolfe the first goal after he deflected Pappa’s cross right to him. Much like his counterpart he was beaten several times and bailed out by his post.
Kevin Alston – 6
Responded well after losing Rolfe for the first goal and held down his area for the rest of the game.
Emmanuel Osei – 7
Did not do anything special in defense, but didn’t make any mistakes either. Scored the equalizer at the stroke of half-time with a superb header on a difficult cross.
Darrius Barnes – 7
The rookie looked calm and assured at the back as he challenged effectively in the air and marked McBride out of the game. Saved a goal when he beat McBride to a near post cross late in the game.
Jay Heaps – 6
Allowed several crosses in from his side in the first half, but along with the rest of his team, played better in the second half. Did a great job holding up the ball in the box before laying it off to Larentowicz for another shot off the post.
Sainey Nyassi – 6.5
Tortured Mike Banner with his defensive pressure in the first half. He looked effective with the ball at his feet dribbling at players and both his crosses and his shots were on target, including another shot off the post.
Jeff Larentowicz – 7
Dominated the midfield, along with Joseph and Phelan, and made several key passes. He continued to find space throughout the game and his powerful shots put the fear into Busch.
Shalrie Joseph – 8
Was his usual physically dominating self in the first half, but really showed his versatility when he was pushed up top early in the second half. He proved too much for the Chicago central defenders and his tireless effort paid off with the scrappy game-winning goal.
Kenny Mansally – 6.5
Provided exquisite service on the free kick leading to the equalizer. He played with confidence on the left wing and delivered several good crosses in to the front men before being substituted.
Kheli Dube – 5
Did not have much of an impact on the game as C.J. Brown was on him the whole game. Had a great opportunity in the first half, but he blazed his shot high into the stands.
Edgaras Jankauska – 4.5
Apparently, he was playing with a stomach bug, and it showed. He lost nearly every 50/50 ball to Robinson before he was replaced by Phelan just after half-time.
Substitutes
Pat Phelan – 6.5
Made Steve Nicol look like a genius when Nicol replaced a striker with a defensive midfielder and New England took over the game. He sat in front of the back-four and helped Larentowicz choke up the center of the field. He put a header on goal from a corner that lead to Joseph’s goal.
Mauricio Castro – NA
Wells Thompson - NA
Terence Steed, Goal.com
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