The New England Revolution secured their place in the MLS Cup final with a 4-3 aggregate win over the New York Red Bulls as they drew 2-2 with Mike Petke's side this evening to win the Eastern Conference crown.
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The visitors threatened early on as Tim Cahill chased down a long ball to the edge of the penalty area and drilled a volley at goal, which went just over Bobby Shuttleworth's crossbar.
Thierry Henry almost put the ball on a plate for Cahill to open the scoring when he wrestled the ball away from Andrew Farrell and crossed into the area, but Shuttleworth raced off his line to punch the ball away from the Australian before he could head at goal.
Minutes later, Henry's cross did find Cahill at the back post and he did just enough to outmanoeuvre Jose Goncalves and poke an effort past Shuttleworth to get his side back on level terms in the two-legged tie.
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New England responded just before half time when Chris Tierney lifted a cross to the back post, where Charlie Davies was on hand to head home from close range.
After the break, the Red Bulls took the lead on the evening and pulled themselves level in the tie when Lloyd Sam lifted a cross into the area, which took a deflection off Farrell and bounced kindly for Peguy Luyindula, who fired past Shuttleworth.
The Revolution rallied once more and an error from Luis Robles presented a chance for three players to find the net but Davies, Lee Nguyen and Jermaine Jones were all denied.
However, Tierney then lifted a pinpoint cross into the box for Davies to guide a header past Robles to hand his side the overall advantage once more.
Ibrahim Sekagya came within inches of handing New York the lead in the tie on away goals when his header from a free kick looped over Shuttleworth, but the keeper backpedalled to tip the ball over the bar.
New York pressed late on but the Revolution held out to secure the Eastern Conference title and set up a showdown against the Seattle Sounders or the Los Angeles Galaxy in the MLS Cup final
Simon Sinclair
