Rules: There are ties in the playoffs. It takes 5 points to win a series. A win is worth 3 points and when there is a tie both teams get 1 point. Therefore, one tie guarantees a 3rd game.
This was the first time the Revs ever played a three game playoff series. In the 5th minute Razov of the Fire scored a goal to give the Fire a commanding one goal lead. In the 14th minute Hristo Stoitchkov scored to take a big 2 goal lead. In the 17th minute Hristo Stoitchkov scored yet another goal to give the Fire an unbelievable 3 goal lead. The Revolution were just not playing good at all! In the 47th minute Hristo Stoitchkov scored his third goal to take a 4 goal lead. At halftime the game looked pathetic for the Revs. In the 65th minute Razov scored his second goal of the night to give the Fire a 5 goal lead. In the 75th minute Sam George scored a goal to give the Fire a 6 nothing lead. What a pathetic end to a good season.
The Chicago Fire tied the playoff record of 6 goals in a game for one team. The Revolution have been eliminated from the playoffs and the Fire will play the NY/NJ Metrostars in the semifinals.
Rusty Pierce is out of this game due to injury. John Harkes is playing defense instead of midfield like he normally does. In the 18th minute Eric Wynalda scored a great goal. It was his first goal of the season for the Revolution. The goal was very important because the Fire were dominating the game before that. In the 50th minute (still first half) Jeff Causey made yet another PK save to keep the Revs in the lead 1 to nothing as the Fire and Revs headed to the locker rooms. In the 83rd minute David Kovalenko scored a heartbreaking goal to tie the game at 1 to 1. In the 85th Mauricio Wright headed a goal in to the net to take the lead for the Revs (2-1). The score would stay the same and the Revs continue in the playoffs.
The Revs and Fire now have 3 points and it takes 5 points to win a series. A tie in game 3 would not win the series for anyone. It would send the series to a 20 minute mini-game to see who would win the series.
This game was the first win in the playoffs ever for the Revs.
The No. 7 Revs took on the Chicago Fire who are ranked 2nd. The Chicago Fire had too many chances in the very beginning of the game. The first half was played fairly evenly. Neither team could capitalize in the first half and they went into the locker rooms with no goals on the board. In the 50th minute Wolde Harris scored a goal to give the Revolution a very important 1 to nothing lead. In the 54th minute Mauricio Wright had an own goal and the game was tied. In the 73rd minute David Kovalenko scored a goal for the Fire to give them a 2 to 1 lead.
The Fire now have 3 points and need 5 points to win the series. If the Revs tie or win in game 2 they can bring the series to a 3rd game.