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With very slim playoff hopes still alive, the New England Revolution host the Seattle Sounders FC at 7:30 p.m. EDT on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium (TV/Radio: CSN/WBZ-FM).
Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - New England's slim playoff hopes will likely evaporate this weekend and defender Chris Tierney admitted "it's just throwing caution into the wind at this point."
New England has to win its final four matches to have any chance of qualifying for the playoffs, but even with a victory over Seattle Sounders FC on Saturday at Gillette Stadium, it could be eliminated.
D.C. United, the Portland Timbers, and Red Bull New York must all also lose to keep New England alive - should it defeat Seattle.
New England (5-13-12) is last in the Eastern Conference entering the match, so the fact it's still in the playoff hunt is amazing as the regular season heads into its last month.
"Things are looking dire for playoffs," Tierney said, "so we have to go out there with a nothing-to-lose attitude. We have to go forward, take people on, and take chances."
The Revolution suffered a 3-2 loss to the Chicago Fire in their last game, and coach Steve Nicol said afterward, "the reason we lost the game was because we gave three bad goals away. Well, they weren't bad goals but ridiculous goals.
"We really hurt ourselves more than anything."
New England lost in Seattle, 2-1, earlier this year, but has won both previous matches against the Sounders at home.
Seattle (15-6-9) defeated Vancouver Whitecaps FC 3-1 last week and have sealed a playoff berth. With the U.S. Open Cup final Tuesday in Seattle against the Chicago Fire, the Sounders may field a weaker lineup this weekend.
Especially after it played in the CONCACAF Champions League on Tuesday when it sealed a berth in the knockout stage with a 2-2 draw against Comunicaciones.
"We set it as a goal that we wanted to advance and to have assured us of advancement with a game to go, I couldn't be prouder and I think it's great for the organization," Schmid said.
Schmid's squad still has enough depth to compete with the Revolution, and are still in a clash with Real Salt Lake for second place in the West, so expect a a competitive match against New England.
For more New England Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket.
Sounders 2, Revolution 1: Fredy Montero, Seattle Eliminate New England From Playoff Contention
Foxborough, MA (Sports Network) - Seattle put New England out of its misery on Saturday night at Gillette Stadium.
Fredy Montero scored twice as Sounders FC tuned up for the U.S. Open Cup final with a 2-1 win in Major League Soccer over the Revolution, who were officially eliminated from playoff contention.
Sixteen-year-old Diego Fagundez scored for New England (5-14-12), which is the worst team in the Eastern Conference and has just a five-point cushion against expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC for the worst record in the league.
Montero's 10th and 11th goals were enough to keep Seattle (16-6-9) in the hunt for first place in the Western Conference, and sends the Sounders into Tuesday night's Open Cup final against the Chicago Fire on a three-game win streak.
Sounders FC has won five of its last six, and seven of its last 10 and Montero again provided the spark after Fagundez gave New England the early lead.
Fagundez nearly set up the opening goal in his first MLS start, but his square pass to Ryan Guy was smothered by Sounders goalie Kasey Keller. But Keller was no able to deny Fagundez, who headed over the veteran in the 35th.
Fagundez, who also scored in his first MLS appearance, has two goals this year in just four appearances.
But before New England's fans finished celebrating the Fagundez goal, Montero was dancing on the other end of the pitch after tying the match. Just seconds after the restart, Montero found the top-right corner to knot the score.
Montero followed with his 11th goal of the season two minutes into the second half, as he took a pass from Nate Jaqua and poked home the goal from a couple yards out.
Seattle will turn its focus to the U.S. Open Cup final at CenturyLink Field as it looks to win its third straight title. The Sounders return to MLS action on Oct. 8 against the Philadelphia Union, then plays the San Jose Earthquakes and Chivas USA in their final two regular-season matches.
New England, which lost its third straight, hosts the San Jose Earthquakes on Oct. 8, and closes out the regular season with games Oct. 15 against Columbus, and Oct. 22 against Toronto FC.
For more New England Revolution coverage, visit our team page and blog, The Bent Musket
Oct 02 12:19p by Jared Stegall