New Orleans was still recovering, less than two years post-Hurricane Katrina, and this preseason game between the Revolution and CD Olimpia turned out to be unique among the sporting events related to the city’s rebuilding. Adam Cristman scored two goals, Andy Dorman one, for the Revolution (Argentinian Jose Pacini converted for Olimpia) before a predominantly Honduran 8,947 crowd that included Mayor Ray Nagin. Brad Knighton’s performance in goal also helped establish his status as a high-level backup.
The Revolution’s visit involved several New England connections. The trip was set up by New Orleans Shellshockers coach Kenny Farrell, a former Salem State star. The Revolution had conducted preseason training in New Orleans in 2004, and the venture had concluded with Carlos Llamosa’s season-ending knee injury on the turf at Tulane University in a game that included a 10th-minute ejection of Jose Cancela. After that experience, the Revolution were inclined to avoid New Orleans, but Farrell persuaded Steve Nicol to return, partly because Farrell pitched him on involving the Revolution in the city’s rehabilitation. Nicol was also convinced by the refurbishing of the soccer field at Tad Gormley Stadium, via a donation from the New Orleans’ Saints’ Reggie Bush (in ’04, most of the fields the Revolution trained on were poor quality). [Read more…] about March 25, 2007 – Revolution 3:1 Olimpia, Tad Gormley Stadium, New Orleans
