MLS playoffs

Razov scores twice for Chicago which thwarts Revolution 2-1 to even series.

NAPERVILLE, Ill. (Sunday, September 29, 2002) -- Striker Ante Razov's two goals and a stifling defense allowed the Chicago Fire to come from behind to defeat the New England Revolution 2-1 tonight, thus evening the Major League Soccer quarterfinal playoff series before 9,434 at Cardinal Stadium.

In the "first to five" format, each team has a victory and three points with a third and final game Wednesday night at New England's Gillette Stadium. If the game ends in a draw, 20 minutes of additional sudden death will be played. If that does not determine a series winner, penalty kicks will.

In Thursday's opener, it was Chicago that managed only one shot on goal in the Revolution's 2-0 triumph at home. Tonight, the Fire dominated play throughout, limiting New England to one attempt on frame.

Chicago outshot the Revolution 21-5, 9-1 on target.

Razov was the beneficiary of offensive pressure in the 76th minute. Defender Carlos Bocanegra slipped the ball in from the left sideline to midfielder Kelly Gray who made a diagonal run in his direction. Carrying a defender with him, Gray found Razov who hammered his shot past a sprawling Brown for the 2-1 lead.

New England was dealt a blow with the late ejection of key defender Carlos Llamosa. Llamosa was shown his second yellow card in the 90th minute for a hard foul on midfielder Dema Kovalenko on the flank. Llamosa will be suspended for the series finale Wednesday.

In the 15th minute, the Revolution and goalkeeper Adin Brown managed to parry away a series of Chicago thrusts as the Fire brought numbers forward. Three minutes later, Hristo Stoitchkov saw his free kick blast beat Brown only to ricochet off the bottom of the crossbar, bounce on the goal line and spin back into play.

Defender Joey Franchino kept Chicago scoreless in the 23rd minute, clearing a Bocanegra header off of the goal line.

New England took a 1-0 lead in the 29th minute off a restart following a disallowed goal by Chicago's Dema Kovalenko. Brown sent a long kick sailing downfield where it was headed forward by a Chicago defender as players jostled for the ball. Midfielder Brian Kamler raced onto the ball and blasted a low left-footer beyond the reach of keeper Zach Thornton off the right post and into the net.

The Fire equalized at 1-1 in the 42nd minute when Razov was brought down inside the penalty area from a collision with New England defender Jay Heaps. Razov coolly converted the PK to the right side as Brown dove in the opposite direction.

Chicago 2, New England 1

Lineups: Chicago - Zach Thornton, C.J. Brown, Carlos Bocanegra, Jim Curtin, Dema Kovalenko (Orlando Perez 92+), Kelly Gray, Peter Nowak, DaMarcus Beasley, Jesse Marsch, Ante Razov, Hristo Stoitchkov (David Vaudreuil 89). New England - Adin Brown, Jay Heaps, Carlos Llamosa, Daouda Kante, Joe Franchino, Daniel Hernandez, Steve Ralston, Leo Cullen (Winston Griffiths 82), Brian Kamler (Braeden Cloutier 64), Wolde Harris, Taylor Twellman.

Scoring:
New England - Kamler (unassisted) 28.
Chicago - Razov (penalty kick) 43.
Chicago - Razov (Gray, Bocanegra) 76.

Total shots: Chicago 21 (Razov 6); New England 5 (Franchino 2, Hernandez 2). Shots on goal: Chicago 9 (Razov 4); New England 1 (Kamler 1). Saves: Chicago - Thornton 0; New England - Brown 6. Fouls: Chicago 20 (four players with 3), New England 21 (Harris 4, Llamosa 4). Offside: Chicago 7, New England 0. Corner kicks: Chicago 7, New England 0. Yellow card cautions: Chicago - Beasley 44, Nowak 64, Stoitchkov 84; New England - Franchino 14, Hernandez 22, Heaps 29, Kante 52, Llamosa 58. Red card ejection: New England - Llamosa (second yellow card) 90.

Referee: Ricardo Valenzuela. Assistant referees: Chris Strickland, Paul Scott. Attendance: 9,434 at Cardinal Stadium in Naperville, Ill. Weather: Fair, 85 degrees, 47 percent humidity.