2008 New England Revolution season

New England Revolution
2008 season
Owner Robert Kraft
Coach Steve Nicol
Major League Soccer 3rd East
5th Overall
Playoffs Conference Semifinals
U.S. Open Cup Semifinals
Superliga Champions
Champions League Preliminary Round
Top goalscorer League: Ralston (8)
All: Ralston (9)
Average home league attendance 17,580 (regular season)[1]
5,221 (playoffs)
Home colors
Away colors
← 2007
2009 →


The 2008 New England Revolution season was the thirteenth season of the team's existence. The regular season began on March 29, 2008 with a 3-0 win over the Houston Dynamo and ended on November 6 with a 3-0 playoff loss to the Chicago Fire.

Background

After losing a third straight MLS Cup final in 2007, the Revs began the 2008 season with high hopes. For the first time in team history, New England participated in four different competitions during the regular season. Their 2007 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup had qualified them for the preliminary round of the inaugural CONCACAF Champions League, and their top-four finish qualified them for the 2008 North American SuperLiga. The Revs also played matches in the 2008 Open Cup and the 2008 regular season.

Review

The club started the season well, reaching their July league-fixture recess at the top of the overall MLS table. This early-season success continued in the 2008 SuperLiga, which the club won on August 5, 2008 by beating their 2-time MLS Cup rival the Houston Dynamo on penalties.[2] Injuries, fatigue, and fixture congestion eventually caught up with the Revs, however, and the team performed poorly after returning to MLS league play. In an effort to spell his regular starters, coach Steve Nicol started mostly reserves in an Open Cup semifinal against DC United. The Revs lost the match, and Nicol was widely criticized for the decision. The Revolution also crashed out of the CONCACAF Champions League, losing to regional minnows Joe Public FC of Trinidad and Tobago 6-1 on aggregate, including an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at Gillette Stadium.

Mostly on the strength of their hot start, the Revolution managed to make the playoffs. They were unable to advance, however, as they drew 0-0 at home and lost 3-0 away to the Chicago Fire.[3]

Match results

      Win       Tie       Loss

MLS regular season

Open Cup

SuperLiga

Champions League

Playoffs

Standings

Conference

Eastern Conference
Pos Club Pts GP W L T GF GA GD
1 Columbus Crew 57 30 17 7 6 50 36 +14
2 Chicago Fire 46 30 13 10 7 44 33 +11
3 New England Revolution 43 30 12 11 7 40 43 –3
4 Kansas City Wizards 42 30 11 10 9 37 39 –2
5 New York Red Bulls 39 30 10 11 9 42 48 –6
6 D.C. United 37 30 11 15 4 43 51 –8
7 Toronto FC 35 30 9 13 8 34 43 –9
2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
2008 MLS Cup Playoffs (Wild Card)

Overall

Pos
Team
 Pts
 GP
 W
 L
 T
 GF
 GA
 GD
Qualification or relegation
1 Columbus Crew (SS) (E1) 57 30 17 7 6 50 36+14 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage 2
2 Houston Dynamo (W1) 51 30 13 5 12 45 32+13
3 Chicago Fire 46 30 13 10 7 44 33+11 2009 North American SuperLiga 4
4 New England Revolution 43 30 12 11 7 40 43−3
5 Chivas USA 43 30 12 11 7 40 41−1
6 Kansas City Wizards 42 30 11 10 9 37 39−2
7 Real Salt Lake 40 30 10 10 10 40 39+1 2008 MLS Cup Playoffs
8 New York Red Bulls 39 30 10 11 9 42 48−6 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 3
9 Colorado Rapids 38 30 11 14 5 44 45−1
10 D.C. United 37 30 11 15 4 43 51−8 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round 3
11 FC Dallas 36 30 8 10 12 45 41+4
12 Toronto FC 35 30 9 13 8 34 43−9
13 LA Galaxy 33 30 8 13 9 55 62−7
14 San Jose Earthquakes 33 30 8 13 9 32 38−6

Notes

  1. ↑ "2008 Full Season Stats". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  2. ↑ McCarthy, Kyle (August 6, 2008). "Revs Capture SuperLiga 2008 Crown". Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  3. ↑ "Fire 3, Revolution 0". New England Revolution. November 6, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2010.

External Links