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The New England Revolution are all set to take on Toronto FC in the Great White North this afternoon for the final game of the 2011 season. Neither team will be making postseason appearances this year, leaving it a fight for pride future job security. For the Revs, that should be nothing new, since they've been out of it for weeks now. Both teams will be looking to end on a high note.
Toronto is already coming in on a decent run of form, coinciding with a goalscoring explosion from designated player Danny Koevermans. The former Netherlands international has struck seven league goals in nine league games, spearheading a Reds revival that has fans at BMO salivating for next season. They can also point to the excellent play of their other two big-salary players, Torsten Frings and Julian de Guzman, as inspiration for their recent turnaround.
As previously mentioned in the match preview, this could very well be the last match Revolution fans will see Shalrie Joseph and Steve Nicol in New England colors. At the time of this writing, there has been no word as to changes in their contract statuses. Shalrie himself has cryptically indicated that he believes he won't be returning, and as good a coach as Stevie is, these last two dismal seasons should probably mark the end of his tenure in Foxboro. Only time will tell, but in the meantime, let's enjoy them for what might be the last time.
Also, if I may, I think it's absolutely deplorable that Ryan Kinne, Andrew Sousa, and Alan Koger don't even make the bench today. What on earth does anyone have to lose by letting them play? How now does anyone know if they're good enough to come back next year? Absolutely ridiculous.
Lineups to follow when released, and the live blog per usual will be embedded after the jump.
Lineups
Revolution: Shuttleworth; Alston, Coria, Barnes, Tierney; Guy, Joseph, Feilhaber, Zerka; Lekic, Caraglio
Bench: Murray, Dube, Phelan, Loewy, Schilawski, Cochrane, Mansally
Toronto: Kocic, Stinson, Iro, Harden, Morgan; Frings, de Guzman, Johnson, Soolsma; Koevermans, Plata
Bench: Frei, Avila, Marosevic, Henry, Zavarise, Dunfield, Yourassowsky