Neha Patil (Editor)

2008 New England Revolution season

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Owner
  
Robert Kraft

Major League Soccer
  
3rd East 5th Overall

U.S. Open Cup
  
Semifinals

Coach
  
Steve Nicol

Playoffs
  
Conference Semifinals

Superliga
  
Champions

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.

Contents

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. 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.

Match results

  Win   Tie   Loss

Standings

Conference

Overall

  • ^Note 1 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the U.S. Open Cup, as it is a Canadian-based team.
    If they had qualified for an automatic berth into the U.S. Open Cup, the next highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
  • ^Note 2 - Toronto FC cannot qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League through MLS. Rather, they can qualify through the Canadian Soccer Championship.
    If they had qualified for the Champions League through MLS, then the highest placed team not already qualified would have qualified.
  • ^Note 3 - The winner of the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield (Columbus Crew) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Group Stage. As they also won MLS 2008, the 2008 MLS Supporters' Shield runner-up (Houston Dynamo) also entered the Group Stage. The runner-up of MLS Cup 2008 (New York Red Bulls) and the winner of the 2008 U.S. Open Cup (D.C. United) qualified for the 2009–10 CONCACAF Champions League Preliminary Round.
  • ^Note 4 - SuperLiga 2009 berths are awarded to the top 4 finishing teams from MLS who do not qualify for Champions League (Chicago, New England, Chivas USA and Kansas City).

    • References

    2008 New England Revolution season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA