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.
| 2008 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Owner | Robert Kraft | ||
| Head coach | Steve Nicol | ||
| MLS | Conference: 3rd Overall: 5th | ||
| MLS Cup 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) | ||
|
| |||
Background edit
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 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 edit
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 D.C. 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 edit
Win Tie Loss
Friendlies edit
On March 6, the Revolution played a match against CF Atlante in Playa del Carmen.[4]
MLS regular season edit
| March 29, 2008 | New England Revolution | 3–0 | Houston Dynamo | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Ralston  15'Cristman 32'Nyassi 92+' |
(report) | Mulrooney  58' |
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 11,116 Referee: Michael Kennedy |
| April 3, 2008 | Chicago Fire | 4–0 | New England Revolution | Chicago, Illinois, United States |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Barrett 4' 50' Mapp 17'Frankowski 22' 39'Blanco 37'Gutierrez 89' |
(report) | Larentowicz  7'Joseph 7' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 15,553 Referee: Baldomero Toledo |
| April 09, 2008 | Kansas City Wizards | 1–3 | New England Revolution | Kansas City, Missouri United States |
| 7:00 PM CDT | (report) | Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark Attendance: 8,096 Referee: Terry Vaughn |
| April 12, 2010 | New England Revolution | 0–1 | Colorado Rapids | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| April 19, 2008 | New York Red Bulls | 1–1 | New England Revolution | East Rutherford, New Jersey United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Giants Stadium |
| April 24, 2008 | FC Dallas | 0–1 | New England Revolution | Frisco, Texas, United States |
| 7:30 PM CDT | Stadium: Pizza Hut Park |
| May 3, 2008 | New England Revolution | 0–3 | Chicago Fire | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| May 11, 2008 | Chivas USA | 1–2 | New England Revolution | Carson, California, United States |
| 12:00 PM PDT | Stadium: Home Depot Center |
| May 17, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–0 | San Jose Earthquakes | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| May 24, 2008 | Columbus Crew | 0–1 | New England Revolution | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium |
| May 29, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–2 | D.C. United | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| June 6, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–1 | FC Dallas | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 6:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| June 12, 2008 | Houston Dynamo | 0–2 | New England Revolution | Houston, Texas, United States |
| 8:00 PM CDT | Stadium: Robertson Stadium |
| June 18, 2008 | New England Revolution | 1–1 | New York Red Bulls | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| June 21, 2008 | Real Salt Lake | 2–1 | New England Revolution | Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
| 7:30 PM MDT | Stadium: Rice-Eccles Stadium |
| June 28, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–1 | Toronto FC | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| July 4, 2008 | Los Angeles Galaxy | 1–2 | New England Revolution | Carson, California, United States |
| PDT | Stadium: Home Depot Center |
| August 9, 2008 | New England Revolution | 1–2 | Chicago Fire | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| August 16, 2008 | San Jose Earthquakes | 4–0 | New England Revolution | San Jose, California, United States |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Stadium: Buck Shaw Stadium |
| August 20, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–1 | D.C. United | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| August 23, 2008 | Toronto FC | 1–1 | New England Revolution | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| 7:30 PM | Stadium: BMO Field |
| August 30, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–2 | Los Angeles Galaxy | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| September 6, 2008 | Columbus Crew | 4–0 | New England Revolution | Columbus, Ohio, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Columbus Crew Stadium |
| September 11, 2008 | New England Revolution | 4–0 | Chivas USA | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| September 20, 2008 | Colorado Rapids | 1–1 | New England Revolution | Commerce City, Colorado, United States |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Stadium: Dick's Sporting Goods Park |
| September 27, 2008 | New England Revolution | 0–1 | Columbus Crew | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| October 4, 2008 | New England Revolution | 2–2 | Real Salt Lake | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
| October 11, 2008 | Kansas City Wizards | 1–0 | New England Revolution | Kansas City, Kansas, United States |
| 7:00 PM CDT | Stadium: CommunityAmerica Ballpark |
| October 16, 2008 | D.C. United | 2–1 | New England Revolution | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Stadium: RFK Stadium |
| October 25, 2008 | New England Revolution | 3–1 | Kansas City Wizards | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Stadium: Gillette Stadium |
Open Cup edit
| July 1, 2008 Third round | New England Revolution | 3–0 | Richmond Kickers | New Britain, Connecticut, United States |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Brill 46' Germanese 63'Twellman 67' |
(report) | Stadium: Veteran's Memorial Stadium Attendance: 3,950 Referee: Tony Russo |
| July 8, 2008 Quarterfinals | New England Revolution | 1–1 (5-3 p) | Crystal Palace Baltimore | New Britain, Connecticut, United States |
| 7:00 PM EDT | Mansally 6' Igwe 33'Hilgenbrinck 59' |
(report) | Lader 20' Teixeira 78'Harkin 109'Flores 119' |
Stadium: Veteran's Memorial Stadium Attendance: 2,590 Referee: Hilario Grajeda |
| Penalties | ||||
Hilgenbrinck  Dube Tierney Igwe Castro |
Harada Harkin Mbuta Teixeira |
|||
| August 12, 2008 Semifinals | D.C. United | 3–1 | New England Revolution | Washington, D.C., United States |
| 7:30 PM EDT | Emilio 4' 81' Quaranta 48'McTavish 50' |
(report) | Germanese 34' Igwe 38'Thompson |
Stadium: RFK Stadium Attendance: 6,797 Referee: Jorge Gonzalez |
SuperLiga edit
| July 14, 2008 Group B | New England Revolution  | 1–0 |  Santos Laguna | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Dube 70' |
(report) | Rodriguez 40' |
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 10,118 Referee: Enrico Wijngaarde |
| July 16, 2008 Group B | New England Revolution | 1–0 | Pachuca | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Smith 96+' (pen.) |
(report) | Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 9,614 Referee: Walter Quesada |
| July 20, 2008 Group B | Chivas USA | 1–1 | New England Revolution | Fullerton, California, United States |
| 5:00 PM PDT | Razov 59' |
(report) | Joseph 78' |
Stadium: Titan Stadium Attendance: 4,738 Referee: Abiodun Okulaja |
| July 30, 2008 Semifinal | New England Revolution | 1–0 | Puebla | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Joseph 30' Heaps 90+' |
(report) | Rey 85' Zamora 90+' Vilar 90+' Muñoz 90+'Venegas 90+' |
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 8,302 Referee: Carlos Batres |
| August 5, 2008 Final | New England Revolution | 2–2 (6–5 p) | Houston Dynamo | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 EDT | Ralston 41' Joseph 82', 102' |
Report | Davis 14' Jaqua 18'Kamara 98' |
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 9,242 Referee: Howard Webb |
| Penalties | ||||
| Ralston Reis Joseph Twellman Smith Larentowicz Tierney Albright |
Waibel Wondolowski De Rosario Ching Clark Barrett Kamara Ashe |
|||
Champions League edit
| August 26, 2008 Preliminary round | Joe Public  | 2–1 | New England Revolution | Macoya, Trinidad and Tobago |
| 9:00 EDT | Richardson 50' Gay 70' |
Castro 76' (pen.) |
Stadium: Marvin Lee Stadium Attendance: 2,100 Referee: Courtney Campbell |
| September 2, 2008 Preliminary round | New England Revolution | 0–4 | Joe Public | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 EDT | Richardson 17' 45' 81' Nelson 48' |
Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 4,000 Referee: Steven Depiero |
Playoffs edit
| October 30, 2008 Conference Semifinals | New England Revolution | 0–0 | Chicago Fire | Foxborough, Massachusetts, United States |
| 8:00 PM EDT | Report | Stadium: Gillette Stadium Attendance: 5,221 Referee: Alex Prus |
| November 6, 2008 Conference Semifinals | Chicago Fire | 3–0 | New England Revolution | Bridgeview, Illinois, United States |
| 7:45 PM CDT | Thorrington 36' Rolfe 47+'Conde 49'Busch 62'Segares 74' |
(report) | Albright Igwe 47'Joseph 53' |
Stadium: Toyota Park Attendance: 17,312 Referee: Jair Marrufo |
Standings edit
Conference
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus Crew | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 57 | MLS Cup Playoffs |
| 2 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 46 | |
| 3 | New England Revolution | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 43 | |
| 4 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 42 | |
| 5 | New York Red Bulls | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 39 | |
| 6 | D.C. United | 30 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 37 | |
| 7 | Toronto FC | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 35 |
Source: MLS
Overall
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | T | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Columbus Crew (C, S) | 30 | 17 | 7 | 6 | 50 | 36 | +14 | 57 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 2 | Houston Dynamo | 30 | 13 | 5 | 12 | 45 | 32 | +13 | 51 | |
| 3 | Chicago Fire | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 44 | 33 | +11 | 46 | North American SuperLiga |
| 4 | Chivas USA | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 40 | 41 | −1 | 43 | |
| 5 | New England Revolution | 30 | 12 | 11 | 7 | 40 | 43 | −3 | 43 | |
| 6 | Kansas City Wizards | 30 | 11 | 10 | 9 | 37 | 39 | −2 | 42 | |
| 7 | Real Salt Lake | 30 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 | 39 | +1 | 40 | |
| 8 | New York Red Bulls | 30 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 42 | 48 | −6 | 39 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 9 | Colorado Rapids | 30 | 11 | 14 | 5 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 38 | |
| 10 | D.C. United | 30 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 43 | 51 | −8 | 37 | CONCACAF Champions League |
| 11 | FC Dallas | 30 | 8 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 41 | +4 | 36 | |
| 12 | Toronto FC | 30 | 9 | 13 | 8 | 34 | 43 | −9 | 35 | CONCACAF Champions League[a] |
| 13 | LA Galaxy | 30 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 55 | 62 | −7 | 33 | |
| 14 | San Jose Earthquakes | 30 | 8 | 13 | 9 | 32 | 38 | −6 | 33 |
Source: MLS
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head record; 3) goal difference; 4) number of goals scored
(C) Champions; (S) Supporters' Shield
Notes:
- ^ As winners of the 2009 Canadian Championship
Notes edit
- ^ "2008 Full Season Stats". Major League Soccer. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ McCarthy, Kyle (August 6, 2008). "Revs Capture SuperLiga 2008 Crown". Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
- ^ "Fire 3, Revolution 0". New England Revolution. November 6, 2008. Retrieved September 5, 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "New England Beats Atlante 1-0 in Superliga". Journal Tribune. Foxborough. July 31, 2008. p. 16. Archived from the original on January 7, 2024.
External Links